That black soil medium probably works well for commercial growers growing at much higher temperatures than most people keep their homes. Remember Dens in full growth use a lot of water, even more so when it's hot. I could easily see a Den. in growth in a warm greenhouse, in a reasonably-sized pot, using all the water in that medium within 2-3 days. Using such a medium lets the grower extend the watering interval, which saves labor and water costs.
In my hot summer conditions, when I water Phals. in dense sphagnum moss, I thoroughly soak the moss until it has no remaining air spaces. The plants use so much water in the heat combined with relatively low humidity that the moss typically dries to crisp in 3-4 days. I would never advise a home grower to do this if you keep your home in the 68-72 F / 20-22C range. Phals. don't use water fast enough at those temperatures to dry the moss fast enough. I would also not advise people growing Phals. outdoors in rainy conditions to let the moss get soaked, because it won't dry fast enough. But in my heat and low humidity it works well.
I've examined this kind of black medium when I've found it in pots. It's often used for Miltoniopsis, Oncidiums and Dens. It's not as dense as you might first think. It does have substantial air spaces. When I bring home a plant in this medium I leave it until the plant outgrows the pot.
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