How do I not kill my orchid?

The simplest way to water your orchid is to take it to the sink and give the leaves and roots a thorough watering (especially those outside the pot), wait a few minutes and water again, like a heavy rain, and let the plant sit in the sink to drain & drip dry. If the plant is in a transparent pot, you should see the bottom become wet. Then place the plant back into the decorative pot.
It’s should take about one week before the pot dries out, less if it’s a small pot or if the air is warm and dry, more if the pot is very large and the air is cool and humid. If in doubt, let it dry a smidge more before watering again. Overwatering happens when the roots don’t dry out
.The best place for your orchid is near a window with bright, indirect light, sheltered from direct sun at midday. If in doubt, pick a shadier spot and look for light levels similar to the shade under a tree, near room temperature.
Flowers can last one to three months, depending on the variety, lasting their longest when well hydrated, in cool, humid air.

How do I water my orchid?

More orchids are killed by incorrect watering than by any other reason. There are two separate components to proper watering; when and how. The vast majority of orchids grown by hobby growers are naturally found on trees above the ground where the light is more plentiful.

Constant wetness will cause the roots to rot, which leaves the plant without a means for taking up nourishment which then causes the leaves to droop and will eventually kill the plant. The classic advice is to water the day before the plant dries out. If you have to let the plant go dry to figure out what a dry plant weighs, it will not kill the plant and will make you a better grower. Another measure is to use the pencil trick – insert the point of a sharpened pencil/toothpick into the medium, if it darkens from moisture, the plant has enough water. And, there's always the old standby - put your finger in the mix. If it feels wet, it is wet. If you aren't sure whether it is time to water, wait one more day.

"Evenly moist," while the most commonly given advice on watering, is the least easily explained. Because most plants are grown in plastic containers a good diagnosis is the weight of the plant: heavy - does not need watering; light - does require water. With a little practice, one can easily tell the amount of moisture remaining in the container.

Water your orchid early in the morning. This ensures the foliage is dry by nightfall, preventing leaf spotting. If your home is very warm or has low humidity you will most likely need to water more often. The best place to water your plant is in the kitchen sink. Use lukewarm water (do not use salt softened water) and water your plant for about 15 seconds and be sure to thoroughly wet the media. Then allow the plant to drain for about 15 minutes. It may appear dry but it has had enough water. After the plants are watered, they should be placed so that the pots do not stand in water. Some people like to place the pots on "humidity trays" or in trays or saucers of gravel or pebbles and water. The pot is placed on the pebbles above the water line. This helps to insure that the base of the pot is not immersed in water, increases humidity for the plant, and provides some air circulation under the pot.