It took me awhile to understand Phals, my oldest one is going 5 years old. Some growers have success with sphagnum moss..I don't like them, just so hard to gauge if it is still wet at the center part. Then it finally dawned on me, the roots being thicker can really take longer periods of dry time, so more air at their root zone is needed or they just do it themselves, they go aerial. Giving them good air circulation after watering is something I finally understood later on too. So even in winter time, I run the ceiling fan for a few minutes right after watering.
Another thing I realized, sometimes when first time repotting, my initial mistake was having them planted rather too deep. I finally realized my mistake watching another orchid, the Dendrobium, which grows with such little media, and seeing that the base of the plant is just planted gently on top of the media, and just the roots are below. Realizing my Phals has roots already, so no need to really have them too deep, in fact have to raise them a bit and let them lean since that is their natural position. And after that, I saw better improvement in their growth.
Another think I realized, after Phals has bloomed, it follows a certain phase of resting. Have to wait for that rest to go through. Oftentimes, that is the point too that can drive a newbie to overwater. Got to see some indication of a new root or new leaf going, then resume normal watering.
As to misting the leaves, I just don't do it with my Phals. I think it really hates our tap water, but rain water is okay, sadly that is precious juice we do not have often. So I just use tap water only at the root zone. I have seen this problem too with some of my Oncidiums, just cannot shake those spots, and the only common thing I see is tap water, maybe the salt content who knows!
I have left them for about a month in Feb 2014 no water since we were out of the country. When we came back, the Phals and other orchids are okay. Temps are overall cool, so it is not too stressful for them I guess. But I did water them thoroughly before we left.
I use this Miracle Gro orchid mist fertilizer, I find the Phals really like them, compared to another one I used before, so that is the one I have on hand.
But I have killed some, either the ones I tried to rescue are just to sick to be revived, and the other one as I have mentioned was in that sphagnum moss, really felt bad about that, was able to let it bloom nicely for a several months, I was so afraid to repot, should have done it right away. So that did teach me a lesson to repot the plant as soon as I get it, so it can acclimate faster. Phals in bloom are more tolerant to repotting, compared to the other orchids, where better to wait after its bloom time to repot.
Then with the light requirement, Phals are low light orchids, but those blooms, they really seek better light, but still not direct sun.
