Identifying over- or under-watered orchids is all about looking for signs. Your orchid will give you clues if it's happy with your watering routine, the biggest being healthy-looking green roots. It will also signal if your watering routine is over-zealous (brown roots). However, you can easily tell if it needs water if the roots are gray or white root, or simply by poking your finger into the soil. If it's as dry as a bone, the orchid needs watering. In the meantime, look to mist it daily, especially in hot, dry conditions.