You'll probably get as many variants in care advice as you get replies, but here goes with what works for me. I dunk mine in water for about 10 minutes once a week and then let them drain. I've rarely used the orchid feed bottles and never seen any difference in performance between those with feed and those without. Once flowering has finished I cut the flower stem back to a couple of inches. During the summer months, if not flowering, I put mine outside against a north facing wall on a gravel tray and keep the gravel wet.
Mine have always been grown in bark, and we bought a big bag of bark at a specialist orchid show. Never had a problem with the bark decaying, rapidly or otherwise. I would only expect it to decay if it was kept too wet. Clear orchid pots are actually pretty easy to find in the UK. I've seen them at virtually every GC which sells orchids.
My bark lasts for years too. I keep mine in my kitchen which has good humidity but isn't heated. If you have a warmer space you would probably need more watering. I lost three over four years due to over watering (root rot) so now I have cut back a lot and they seem happier. Also, I don't move mine around any more. Find a spot they like and thrive in and stick to it.
I water from above always. I hold it over the sink and let the tepid water pass right through letting the excess drain away. Only takes a few seconds. Most of their water comes from the misting though.
The recomended orchid compost IS a type of bark. I have 18 phals, and few different types of orchid. They dislike direct sunlight in the summer, too hot, too dry. I stick mine in the bath in 2 sittings there are so many of them. They get rainwater poured through them, and drained straight away, then a spray, leaves and roots any orchid feed, for any in flower. They are misted daily with rainwater, (if you cannot get it, leave a can of water to de-chorinate) When they are not dripping everywhere they are put back in their various places. In the winter months, any in flower are put in the south facing lounge window, still dappled by the thick net curtain. We visited McBeans Orchid Specialists in Barcombe East Sussex, they said you should NOT leave them in the transparent pots because sunlight on them encourages algae, same as a pond in the sun. In the summer months, they are placed outside in a spot where they dont get too much sun.
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