C. dowiana culture: how dry is dry

[coirchlid]

I am on my third attempt raising this species. Many online sources mention that this Cattleya in particular needs to be dry during the non-growing season. During my 7 years of growing orchids I have yet to figure out what this means. My current knowledge suggests that this means that the potting medium and plant surfaces need to be completely dry before watering the orchid. Am I correct in thinking this? So if the plant is growing in a quickly drying medium (like fresh fir bark or mounted) then the plant can still be water quite frequently (let's say every other day with RH between 45 and 74%), right? Right now I'm afraid to water my dry-season-loving orchids too much but I seem to have also lost many orchids because of water deprivation while trying to keep them 'dry'.

So basically my question to growers of this species is:
What watering schedule has worked for you (considering growing seasons and other factors like medium and RH)?

I should note that I have succefully been growing Den. aggregatum and anosmum for a few years and it seems that Cattleya species don't like it that dry in their dormant period, any discussion will be appreciated. Thanks.