I'm not as well versed in orchids as i am in cacti, but i still do.
Most (of course there are exceptions.. as usual) orchids are epiphytes which means they grown on some trees and their roots dont even contact any kind of soil; they just grip on to branches.
So their soil requirements are rather special as well; you can keep a lot of orchids in very rough bark mulch or even just cut up pieces of cork. Compact soil that keeps moisture for too long will make their roots rot.


The next issue with their usual habitat is the water - what they get is mostly rainwater with a few diluted minerals; they get some nutrients from whatever rotting piece of plant debris or bark they are sitting on.
Compare that to what we usually get from our taps; very mineral rich, hard water. Most orchids dont like that very much. Phalaenopsis can pretty much deal with it, but still prefer softer water.


If you really wanna get into the details get one of these things: https://www.amazon.com/Water-Quality-Meter-Pancellent-Temperature/dp/B06XCMNFVQ


I usually water my orchids with distilled water that has been buffed up to a conductivity of 300µS/cm with orchid fertilizer, since the water from my tap is too hard for any kind of orchid.

I've coded these posts to upload automatically every week. hope you enjoy the timelapse!

Days from germination: 45

Seeds

• 2 Tangerine Dream - Growers Choice
  
• 2 Critical Purple - Growers Choice
  
• 1 Blue Dragon - From a friend.
  
  

  Medium
  

• coco coir
  
• 5 gallon fabric pots
  
  

  Schedule
  

  
  

• 24 Hours on
  
  

  Nutrients
  

  
  

• Cann A+B
  
  

  Grow Setup:
  

  
  |Item|Link|Price|
  |:--|:--|:--|
  |grow tent| https://amzn.to/2oeJ92h |$110|
  |inline fan| https://amzn.to/2p47iJb |$102|
  |grow lights x 2 | https://amzn.to/2nBbdNn |$540|
  |blurple light | https://amzn.to/2p3ZaII | $100|
  |humidifier| https://amzn.to/2nBQzwC | $71|
  |tower fan| https://amzn.to/2nBQzwC | $47|
  |clip fans| https://amzn.to/2paof53 | $21|
  |grow bags| https://amzn.to/2ontyNK | $13|
  |coco coir x 2| https://amzn.to/2omfi80 | $50
  
  
  

  some other items:
  

  
  |Item|Link|Price|
  |:--|:--|:--|
  | humidity monitor| https://amzn.to/2p47fNy | $10|
  | eye wear| https://amzn.to/2oloARE | $15|
  | raspberry pi| https://amzn.to/2nrAvO5 | $50|
  | webcam x 2| https://amzn.to/2og81H4 | $70|
  | ph tester| https://amzn.to/2mJiA4R | $15|
  
  

• something i've probably forgotten
  
  
  All in all it's cost just under $1000 USD

I actually didn't tally up the cost as that wasn't really of a concern to me, but I'll try my best to provide links to the things I bought for this. Feel free to add it up for me!

• Lighting
  
  • T-5 Grow light (came with 6500K bulbs)
    
  • 2700K bulbs
    
  • Grow light hangers
    
• Grow medium
  
  • Net Cups
    
  • Black Buckets
    
  • Black lids
    
• Nutrients
  
  • General Hydroponics Flora Series
    
  • General Hydroponics pH control kit
    
  • pH/EC/Temp Meters
    
• Grow tent
  
• Air ventilation
  
  • The only thing I ended up using from this kit was the cheapest part, the ventilation duct...
    
  • The fan from this kit is way too powerful for my setup because my humidifier couldn't keep up
    
  • I didn't use the carbon filter because I'm not growing weed.
    
• Water Distiller
  
• Humidifier
  
  • The cheaper the humidifier, the better. I first bought (and destroyed) one that had some sort of digital switch, so it would always be in the off state when you first supply power to it, meaning you can't turn it on/off with just a relay.
    
• Plumbing
  
  • Aquatec 8852 booster pump
    
  • 2 Gallon accumulator tank
    
  • Pressure relief valve
    
  • Tubing
    
  • Inline Pre-filter (Sorry they must have taken the product down...)
    
  • Misting nozzle T's
    
  • Tube ball valves
    
  • Analog pressure gauge
    
  • Misting Nozzles
    
    • Note that these nozzles are meant for WAY higher pressure systems (~1000psi) and I actually had to take out the spring for them to operate correctly, but they never clogged up, are easy to clean, and worked perfectly for me!
      
• Electronics
  
  • Raspberry Pi 3 kit
    
  • Humidity sensor
    
  • Pressure sensor
    
  • Water solenoid valve
    
  • 5V 4-channel relay module
    
  • Analog-to-digital converter
    
  • 24V to 12V converter
    
  • 24V Power supply
    
  • Resistor kit
    
  • Semiconductor kit
    
  • Circuit boards
    
  • Standoffs
    
• Wiring
  
  • 22 gauge stranded wire
    
  • 22 gauge solid wire
    
  • Power supply cord
    
• Connectors
  
  • Electronic Connectors
    
    • JST-XHP Connectors
      
    • JST-SM Connectors
      
    • Dupont Connectors
      
  • Plumbing Connectors
    
    • Bulkhead connectors
      
    • Quick-connect kit
      
    • NPT to quick-connect connector
      
      I also bought various tools, like crimpers, Dremel kit, drill, etc, but I don't consider those to be project-specific as I'll have them for the foreseeable future. Let me know if there's anything you see that you think I missed!
      

Will these work? [PH/EC Meters](http://Water Quality Test Meter Pancellent TDS PH EC Temperature 4 in 1 Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCMNFVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BAg4DbYC6QVCA)

I seriously recommend getting some measuring devices. pH and PPM/EC Meter are a MUST.

This will tell you EXACTLY If your Nutrients are the issue. 20$ for both https://www.amazon.com/Water-Quality-Meter-Pancellent-Temperature/dp/B06XCMNFVQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535971841&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=ppm+ph&dpPl=1&dpID=41tXy9qVRbL&ref=plSrch

A Luxmeter is optional, it will tell you how to Place your Lights

Will this do fine?
Water Quality Test Meter Pancellent TDS PH EC Temperature 4 in 1 Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCMNFVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qdc9Bb0HB8EZX