I soak my orchid media overnight before I use it for repot. I would like to see how you grow Cattleyas..am not really good with it so far.
As for Phals, I never bring them out, just because our conditions here outdoors are too dry and way too hot at times. Our dry conditions here span 6 months, no rain..so just bone dry. Somehow I think of my Phals more as a cool growing orchid, comfortable in temps that I like as well. That is why as I grow them indoors by our west facing window, I really allow them dry time after watering, since indoors it takes much longer for the roots to dry out. Then to mimic good air flow, I run our ceiling fan or open windows weather permitting.
Now Phals outdoors have more elements to dry them out faster, more air, more temp variations, and if temps heat up, you may have to step up watering, but still allow the media to dry. Just make sure they are in a shady side, their leaves can easily burn with too much sunlight.
Try to lean your Phal plant to the side when you repot, that way water will flow out away from the crown.
