touch me in the morning'
 

I guess I could always ask to go on the "graveyard shift"!

Charles, try watering by the weight method. Water thoroughly, heft the pot and plant to check the weight and water again when the plant is light. The skewer method doesn't seem to be working too well and that bark is very coarse. I can't believe overwatering could be a problem.

IMO skewers in coarse bark are a waste of time.

I'll admit that the skewer method is a little confusing as I leave them in the plant most of the time and sometimes they look wet by being darker colored or feel damp when I touch the end to my cheek which cedes me from watering.
:dunno:
I do check them by weight and the ones in clear or netted pots by root color, condition. I also have been keeping track of each plant by recording with a calendar.

I used to pour through the top flushing well & letting them sit in a little water for about 10 minutes before letting them dry out, lately I have been trying to soak from bottom after reviewing this method until somebody here mentioned he never saw it rain from the bottom-up in the tropics :biggrin:

Why I don't understand the overwatering but I do understand now the watering at nightime dillemma with the changing season ( the temps have not changed that drastically yet where they are kept) but work has me off and running at 6 with not much time to even tie my shoes let alone anything extra.

I have enjoyed the joy of coming home to care + study of plants there and find it very relaxing.
Guess I will have to plan the watering (less of) toward the free time of weekends and holidays.
;)

It's better to water when you can than not to water. The others will tell you that each envron is different. I know ES waters at night because he has time AND his climate is dry. I'm home most days and can water at will. You have to get into a rythmn that works for you and them.

FYI: I still soak my plants at least one a week. Other times I water in place and drain my saucers with an old turkey baster. Since I've joined the OB my plants have never looked better but you have to sift our advice too.

As an example: the Phal I sent you was in a bark mix and clay pot. When the moss got crunchy, I watered, usually once a week, and I also noticed the weight of the pot. But I arrived at my method by weighing each one's advice through the grid of my conditions. We're not gods, we're simply other growers. ;)

Here are a few tips that I have been using to prevent fungus issues:

I give the plants extra Calcium while they are growing to help them build stronger cell wall/membranes. Stronger cell walls and cell membranes help plants to resist attacks by fungus. Calcium is not mobile so this is done when the orchid is growing new pseudobulbs/ fans, leaves.

People often point out that, in nature/in their greenhouse/in their warm climate, orchids are just fine with the rain or being watered from a hose. If the climate is warm enough and there is good air movement, the leaves and crowns will dry quickly. In a cooler home, it is best to keep the water off the leaves as much as possible. If I water later in the day during the winter and get water on the leaves, I usually run a fan until the leaves are dry.

If you have fungus issues, watering by soaking your orchids is not a bad idea as long as the orchids are established. If I have just repotted an orchid or the orchid is putting out new roots from a new growth, I prefer not to move the orchid (I use red lava rock and that is rough on the roots). So...I keep that fan handy. :)

Good luck!

If I lived in some frozen wasteland like upstate New York, I would be sure to water in the morning only, except for the cold-growing cloud forest orchids that would fill my home. It's almost never a good idea to water orchids after noon when it's cool to cold outside - except for the cloud forest orchids. I can get away with it because my winters are warmer than many people's summers.