Straight bark dries out QUICKLY. Perhaps you should try the orchid mix that contains both peat AND bark. It holds moisture a little better, especially since you tend to not water as often. Mix some perlite in too, but not half and half like most people do, because it could drain too quickly for your watering schedule. Orchids are particular about how often they are watered. In fall and winter mine can go twice as long between waterings as spring and summer. I just looked, and Miracle Gro Orchid potting mix is what I used last, mixed with perlite. I think your bark is just drying out too much. I've had orchids that have died after about a year too. And I've had others that lasted many years, still others for only months. Some types are more difficult to grow than others. Oncidiums, Brassias, Cattleya hybrids, Potinara, etc. are easier for me than phals, which tend to pout when things aren't exactly as they prefer. Miltonias and their hybrids are a bit more delicate as are a lot of the others. There are so many species of orchids, it's unreal! And the soaking is a good idea. And remember that orchids like to be fed every other watering, unlike a lot of other houseplants.

When it is getting cooler, I have to adjust watering times. I only dunk them up to the root zone only like you do during summer, and more often too, since our area is just so hot and dry. Then by Fall, I do not do the dunking method a lot. Greater interval in watering as temps go cooler. Especially after a long bloom season, it has that long rest time. And again, lots of air movement. I even open up the windows a bit to let cooler air in, it likes it, so it will try to get a bloom spike ready. A cool down triggers it. Sometimes too, since those orchids at the stores, have been there for too long, and we do not really know how long that media has been in there, it helps to repot with a new pre-soaked media.

Hope you can try again..just have to tweak some growing habits, I guess. That noid Phal has been in my care for the past 4 years, and it taught me a lot about what it likes. Sometimes I get a re-bloom on an old spike, sometimes not..but always, it will bloom for about 4 to 6 months, rest, make new leaves and roots, then it will ready itself to make a bloom spike between late Fall to early Spring, always in that period of cold season here.

That's a mystery, Cinta. I have never seen a decline in my Phal. like that so really don't know what's going on. Phalaenopsis, like any other orchid, needs light, water, humidity, (weak) regular fertilizing, open potting media (or mount), and air movement.

There is nothing wrong in re-hydrating the bark by allowing them to sit in water. I occasionally do that with selected plants, but having hundreds of them, that's not practical for me to do as a general rule. Cinta, you might want to mount one of these plants, though a compact or sub-compact would probably be better choices to mount. You would have to mist that plant regularly though. At least in that way you can observe what those roots are doing. You can also just place mount/plant in a sink of tepid water for a few minutes, (with a tbl. of fertilizer added once a month). You need to do this on a weekly basis. I have a number of Phal. mounted and they do very well mounted.

It surprised me too Ken. I was ready to mount some when I kept them alive because I thought I finally had found the orchid growing trick and before I could mount them they died. Five of the six died.

I found that in my sun room they do good until spring then the sun was too strong before I discovered they were cooking because the movement of the sun changed.

I think the problem might be the new location I have them is good for Spring until I can put them outside in the shade is to cool and they might be getting a chill. I do not like a warm house so that may just be to cold for them by that window.

I have not gave up I have one that is still alive and I picked one up last week.

Hard to figure out between my small collection that I have at work. Right now I have a Adenium that has a pink flower and a bloom, Staghorn fern, two Beefsteak Begonia and one Venosa Begonia along with a few Hoyas. Most likely would grab the first three or four that are mentioned. Have Hoyas growing under lights at home.

For a long time Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm) was a favorite of mine. I have a few in pots, the smaller ones I've only had about 3 or 4 years but the two larger ones I've had for a long while and for three years I've been saying I'm going to plant those two in the ground ... I still haven't gotten around to it and they are so root bound in their pots.
It's quite windy here today but I went out and took some pictures of my Ponytails.

Nice ones.

Thanks Ken!

I lke my money tree P. Aquatica. its as tough as nails and was pot bound when I got it, I repoted it. its sitting in a bag and the bag is in a tray of water for humidity. its grown 3 inches of shoots and its only been in my care for under a month.

I also like my Orange bird of paradise, which i'm sure you've heard alot about. I will get better lighting when things die down ater the holidays

I have a dracicea margnatea i like too. as well as a coffee plant.

Have to add Clivia in my list of favorite plants. Though I have only started to care for this one last Nov2014, it is growing so well indoors and blooming this time of winter. It is still forming the blooms, but so worth watching how it does it. The best part, it is not too water thirsty, really prefers to be on the drier side. So it will complement very well my drought tolerant plant collection
Just have to remember to give it a cool and dry Fall to early Winter rest time so it will be encouraged to bloom.

Clivia miniata 'Solomone Yellow' - indoors, by our north facing window

Tarev, you reminded me that is on plant I have wanted and have never purchased. I never see them locally and the only other place I saw online was White flower farm and they are always so expensive I never ordered. I may breakdown and spend the money this year. I am trying to find more plants that flower indoors this time of year.

I found other sites recently Cinta, but looking at their locations, some are still in the New England area, so not the time to ship safely I guess. One thing I learned with this plant, got to find the most mature one you can get, 9 leaves or more, otherwise you have to be as patient as can be waiting for it to reach blooming stage which takes sometimes 3 to 4 years. I got lucky I found this mature plant in a nursery next city to ours. Quite heavy too. Price was not cheap, felt like buying a specie orchid. But so worth it now, since it is already in blooming stage.

Am scouting for some more too, since they come in different colors. Love to get a hold of the variegated leaf varieties, but it is quite pricey.

I would say this little beauty

Mammillaria

Love Mammilarias!

They are cute and this one bloomed for me last spring I was sooooooo Happy!

My mammilaria bloomed on and off from Spring to Summer..seems to like as much full sun and good dose of watering during that period to help keep it blooming.

tarev said:I found other sites recently Cinta, but looking at their locations, some are still in the New England area, so not the time to ship safely I guess. One thing I learned with this plant, got to find the most mature one you can get, 9 leaves or more, otherwise you have to be as patient as can be waiting for it to reach blooming stage which takes sometimes 3 to 4 years. I got lucky I found this mature plant in a nursery next city to ours. Quite heavy too. Price was not cheap, felt like buying a specie orchid. But so worth it now, since it is already in blooming stage.

Am scouting for some more too, since they come in different colors. Love to get a hold of the variegated leaf varieties, but it is quite pricey.

Yes I saw a couple of little ones on one site that they said were babies and and under 30 bucks but I know I am not patient. I was thinking about the little variegated one because if the leaves are pretty I could probably deal with waiting. I combine plants anyway I could put another plant in the pot to entertain me until the Cliva bloomed.

I found these sites for Clivia:
http://site.mawebcenters.com/a...

This one from amazon seems the cheapest, but still a young plant.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MXIY1W/

This one is a California nursery I think, a bit pricey, maybe because plant is more mature.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MXIY1W/

This one I find interesting, a variegated one, however, with shipping, ouch..too expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MXIY1W/

I have ordered several Clivia plants from http://www.cliviausa.com They have a good selection at fair prices IMO. You can get some cheap seeds or seedlings if you want, but they have totally mature plants that are a bit more expensive.