for watering you phal that is in the bark medium ( wood mulch ) I would recommend useing a wooden skewer ( see Link )
Skewer use for watering of orchids
it is hard for me to say what medium phals grow better in as we have lots of members here that grow phals in a bark mix.
Myself I have 3 phals two are grown in a bark mix and one in sphagnum moss.
the two i have in the bark mix one is in flower and the other has a flower spike growing.
the one in sphagnum moss is growing very well but no flower spike as yet.
also see choosing-a-potting-media
Choosing a potting media ?