Most orchids like to become nearly dry before being watered again. When we water, we thoroughly soak the mix. The pots are flooded with water! This may seem wasteful, but the benefits of proper watering cannot be overemphasized. Currently, we use reverse osmosis water. When we leach the mix (once a month at a minimum), we use city water as we have found that the plants appreciate the micro-nutrients that the city water provides. In addition, it is important to use tepid water, not the freezing cold, hand-numbing water that comes out of the tap in winter. If it is comfortable to the touch, the water temperature is acceptable. In addition, we use rain water. We now offer rain barrels at competitive prices, and we are impressed with the good results.