I'm thinking about putting my orchids in one of those smart pots with moisture sensors that water themselves, because I'm pretty forgetful and I already killed like 3 of them last year. Does anyone use this with orchids? Is it worth it or does it ruin the plant?
An automatic system with a sensor does work, but you need to choose the right pot and set it up properly. Most problems with orchids in smart pots happen because people use the standard model, which keeps moisture constant - and orchids hate that. Their roots need to dry out partially between waterings, otherwise they rot. The secret is to use a pot with good drainage (the ones with specific substrate like pine bark and sphagnum) and adjust the sensor so it doesn't water every time it detects moisture.
What actually works is using pots that have a reservoir system separate from the roots, like those with two compartments - one for water and another suspended where the plant sits. Then the sensor only activates when the reservoir gets too empty, preventing excess water on the roots. Some manufacturers make pots like this specifically for plants that prefer to dry out between waterings. You could test with one or two orchids first to see how it goes before putting all of them in there.
To be honest, plenty of people do kill orchids with these pots because they configure them wrong or because the model isn't suitable. It's worth it if you get one that lets the roots breathe - but honestly, it might be easier (and cheaper) for you to just learn how to water properly. Orchids take a long time to die from lack of water if they get good light; the real problem is too much water. If you want to avoid forgetting, you could just set a phone alarm once a week to check if the root is kind of dry before watering.
Orchids are tricky with automatic watering because they hate waterlogged roots, and those generic sensors don't always pick up what the plant actually needs. The trick nobody tells you is: use the smart pot just as a "warning system" and don't let it actually water - set it up to notify you on your phone when humidity drops, then you water by hand with the right amount, at the frequency the plant likes. That way you don't lose the orchid because you forgot to water it, but you also don't kill it because the pot got waterlogged on its own.
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