Watering frequency depends a lot on where you are in the world, time of year, where the orchid is placed, potting medium and even the type of pot. If you are in the colder parts of the USA and run Central heating... what sort of temps are your orchid(s) going to get?

Type of pot. Ceramic. Plastic, Basket (sides like mesh) Morning Sun?

You have to give more information to get some good replies.

Oh, of course. I'm in a coastal southern California, USA, it's mid-November right now. Plant is in the bathroom, gets a lot of indirect northern light all day I have central heat and A/C, but no extreme temperatures. It's in a plastic pot, good drainage, inside a ceramic pot , resting on a bed of little pebbles. I take it out of the ceramic pot to water and drain. Thanks for any info U want to give, this is my first orchid.

Here are some American Orchid Society Culture notes that may assist.

Phalaenopsis Culture

Yes, please post a photo.

Regarding the fertilizer spike, I would remove it. Orchids like weak fertilization when watered. Occasionally, you need to flush the pot with water to remove any built-up salts. You can't do that with a fertilizer spike.

Don't cut any leaves or roots off unless they are diseased. Sunburn is not disease and when you cut live tissue you are exposing the plant to possible disease. That is to be avoided at all costs.

When you take it out of the ceramic pot to water, don't put a measured amount of water. Run the faucet through it for a minute, then shake it out. OR, if humidity is really low where you are (it is here in NY), fill up the ceramic pot, let it sit in there for 10 minutes, and then drain the whole shebang. It's important that you don't leave water sitting in the bottom.

As for how often, typically every 5-7 days. Check to see if the bark at the bottom is still damp or not, this will tell you how often to water. If it still looks damp, wait a few more days. For me it varies throughout the year.

I fertilize pretty rarely, mostly because I'm never quite sure, and my guys flower regularly and are growing fine, and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," yadda yadda. :)

Good luck!

Many thanks to everybody's good advice. I just joined the local Orchid Society and bought another phal, this one is potted in moss. I'm hooked!