Hello, I am Billie from Oklahoma. I have had a dozen phals and paphs beginning around 10 years ago. Usually, they each bloomed once a year in the smallish decorative pots they came in from Lowes. I fed them Better-gro weakly/weekly. I was very proud of my happy, healthy orchids.
Then I decided they had to be repotted and needed new, pretty, glazed orchid pots. Someone suggested sphagnum moss. BIG sigh.
By the time I realized something was wrong, almost evey one had completely rotted roots. I repotted the few I thought I could save in orchid bark, but one by one I gave up and tossed them, except for two phals that are hanging in there.
Devastated, I started researching orchids (why didn't I do that 10 years ago?). Then I started selecting new ones online. I now have
3 noID phalaenopsis (the sufferers plus a new one)
Paphiopedilum Raisen
Oncidium Sharry Baby
Zygopetalum Master Ian
Angraecum sequipedale Darwin
Beallara Patricia McCully Pacific Matriarch
Cattleya Lc Sheila Lauterbach
Cattleya lc Drumbeat Triumph
Ordered but not here yet are:
Vanda Pakchura (going to try the vase method)
Vanilla planifolia
Paphiopedilum Pinocchio
And, afraid of rotting roots, I already killed a gorgeous blue Vanda
Poor, thirsty thing. But at least it went quickly.
My want list right now is a Paph Michael Koopowitz and a phal equestrian for sure and I want to try a phrag.
I thought this little variety and my gaining knowledge would result in glorious orchids and ease my pain at the deaths of the others. But I find that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know, lol.
I have always kept my orchids in a west window that has open shutters, so not much direct sun, and also some are along the tub edge in my bright bathroom that has a large west glass block window. When they bloom, they go up on the bar or into the living room to be enjoyed better and they get a lamp for light.
I just ordered a few S/H pots and PrimeAgra from Firstrays, and a few Oxygen Core Dual Pots to transplant into hoping it will help them thrive. I wanted to try both and see which does better for me. I decided those pretty glazed ceramic orchid pots had to go. I need to see those roots! I don't know if I need to change my fertilizer, add the K-L-N I bought to soak the little root of each my last two sufferers in, or just keep doing what I had been before the sphagnum moss. As these are different orchids, I am a little nervous. So, I am just researching your board, trying to figure out which things to do, or not do, and practice patience. I welcome any and all advice. I bow to your knowledge
New member from Oklahoma
You said you wanted to get into phrags do you know what one you want to try 
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