Hello jacque! Yes orchid bark mix is okay to use. For the beginner, just make sure you use the chunky bark mix. I would have soaked the media overnight in warm water, to open up the bark a bit, remove it from the water and repot in a container with side and bottom drainage holes. Some growers do not soak the media, so it is a matter of preference at times, especially if they are really used to growing them. Then on the first few weeks, I would dunk water root zone, it takes awhile for bark media to be moisture retentive. Very important to adjust watering frequency as the season changes..if it gets cooler, give it more interval.
When I repot, I remove the old media totally, so I can visually see the status of the roots, then I use my newly soaked media.
Orchid bark media, eventually decomposes, so it is ideal to repot every 2 to 3 years. In my case since I have experimented some and learned just how much air these roots like, I have learned to use other methods, like a mix of chunky lava rock or I used hygrolon baggies or with clay rocks. I still use bark mix on one, eventually I will move it to my other media, simply because I hate to repot often:smily:
In my ongoing experience with them, I find these Phals do not really need to be tightly packed, I guess some need to do it to make them stand better. The plants often like making aerial roots and will find all the holes in your container to find air. I position them a bit tilted to the side, since that is how they go in nature, hanging on an branch, in part sun with lots of air movement and gets the rainshowers it needs. In our home environments, we have to augment the air movement so it helps to run ceiling fans or open windows to allow air around it weather permitting.
Oftentimes, the common killer of Phals is overwatering. This plant prefers cool dry conditions. Of course as a plant it needs the moisture so water has to drain very well on the root zone area and when temperature cools down during Fall to Spring, it helps the plant initiate flower spikes with blooms that can last for months. Fertilizing-wise, use less, weakly weekly, and flush the plant so it does not accumulate the salts.
Some people love to douse the leaves when watering, and they can do it since they have access to rainwater and/or reverse osmosis water.
I have learned not to wet the leaves, just watering the root zone and drying off the leaf. It seems our hardwater here is not so good for its leaves, seems to invite some undue rotting. Be careful when watering the crown, you have to dry that very well especially if you are growing them indoors, so you can avoid crown rot.
