Who uses bark mix for their Phalaenopsis species and what watering do you employ?

[Vanda lover]

How do you tell when it needs water when it is in bark? I find clear pots handy for seeing the roots but I have more difficulty with bark.

[james mickelso]

I feel the weight of the pot before and after watering to tell when they need to be watered. Others use a stick to feel watering needs. Whatever works for you best. Most of my orchids are in a bark mix and when they feel light I water. The hanging basket of phals just has some moss on the top to help hold the bark mix in the pot and the other one with moss is also just top layer.

[Vanda lover]

I find that if they are in sphag in a basket it works well, because the sphag dies quickly and it is easy to tell when to water. That's the good thing about sphag. In the winter though, it is very humid here, and if they are in pots with sphag it takes a long time for them to dry out. The sphag seems to draw moisture out of the air.

[OhioBob]

Interesting conversation. I think I am going to be the exception but I use a small sized bark chip purchased as lizard bedding at the pet store. Seems to work great on my phals. I have two in just this bark- the pots are the ceramic pots with holes and a recent repotted phal with half bark and half volcanic rock. Generally they get watered once a week by the fire hose method but in the heat this summer I have occasionally watered extra in the week by adding water to the pot until it drains a little.
I worried the bark was too small and wouldn't allow air but the plants just seem to thrive and strangely enough I am getting flowers out of their normal blooming times.