Indoors is more difficult (in my opinion) than outside in Zone 10. Though that might not be true for Phalaenopsis. I use a spray nozzle for my orchids all year. It just needs a bit of self control to only water when your orchids need it. That might 3 times a week in summer and once a week in winter.

Depends on what you want to grow and what sort of zone 10 you have. There is a thirty foot straggly banana next door that is loaded with fruit. Ah, some people would say "the tropics" not so!

As for misting. It is not recommended by many growers. The typical orchid likes to get wet and then dry out a bit before it is watered again.

I'm with Arthur. I would much rather try to grow orchids outside in Zone 10 than indoors anywhere. I am curious as to why you think it was "overwatering" that killed them? My father used to grow and kill orchids outside in South Florida. When I finally got down there to see what he was doing wrong I found that he had rigged all kinds of shade to protect them. So much so that they were now getting less light than they might indoors! In most areas windows let in light. Orchids need SUN. Few people growing indoors fail to give their orchids enough light. Many fail to give them enough SUN.

H

They get dappled light. I attached a couple to a palm out back. I water daily and fear the watering may be too much for them. Maybe it is the temps this time of year? I do know that the orchids in pots on the ground do not like that at all. I lost five last spring that way.
I have read and been told to refrain from watering too much because they get nutrients etc from sir thru roots.

Hey, $3 orchids are wroth the learning.

botanical_drifter

Dappled light can be fine for Phals, but dens usually need more light. What exposure, and where do you live?

Watering daily is too much. When the weather is hot and the plants are making growth, watering daily is fine if bare rooted. Slow growth, less light, cool temps, high humidity, watering needs to be adjusted. Fertilizer should be given during growth periods.
It is important to learn about the plants you are growing. Please Google Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis and read the basics for both plants. They need to be treated differently. You need to understand better your environmental conditions vs. the needs of these plants.

After doing that, come back with questions. It is not complicated, you need to fit the plant into your growing environment. Growing in pots or bareroot require different treatment.

Jane

I am curious to know why you decided to use two different mediums, one on top and one on the bottom. This would make for uneven watering, possibly one medium might dry out very quickly while the other would stay wet longer. And if you go by the dry one and water while the other medium is wet, that's the makings of disaster and a set-up for failure.

I see I wasn't exactly clear in describing how I potted the orchid up. The orchid mix is in the bottom 1/4 of the plastic pot, the moss is around the sides and some on top. I read to do this in a couple Orchid keeping books that I have for indoor orchids. The Phalaenopsis is doing great. Has been inside 3 weeks. I just moved the Dendrobium in on Sunday, before the Artic Express..40's for low.

The orchids are in a NW facing window. The awnings block the direct Florida sun which would cook the orchid's leaves.

I am learning still, gathering as much info as I can and looking for reassurance from "you guys" here, and personal experience.

I want plants inside. Nothing wrong in experimenting.

botanical_drifter

Well, the orchids I keep sure don't like air conditioning. Where I live, air cond is unnecessary at home, but we have it at the office. If the plant is near the cool air draft, the buds blast big time. So living in Florida, that's something to consider when keeping your chids inside.

Well, the orchids I keep sure don't like air conditioning. Where I live, air cond is unnecessary at home, but we have it at the office. If the plant is near the cool air draft, the buds blast big time. So living in Florida, that's something to consider when keeping your chids inside.

I still think the mix sounds uneven, but if it's working for you, why not? You may find the moss stays too wet for the den. Keep checking it's roots.

The dendrobium needs more light than the phal. Either put it closer to the window than the phal, or put it in a brighter window. Feel the leaves. If they're warm to the touch then the light is too much. Move it back a few inches (not feet). Light drops dramatically for every inch away from the window.