Question
I recently got a Beallara Hawaiian Glacier 'Queen Anne' (Mericlone) orchid.  It
had a few flowers blooming when I got it and the rest of the flowers quickly
opened up (about a week).  But now (about two weeks afterward, the flowers
are starting to die off.  This seems to quick to me.  I keep the orchid by a
south facing window, it gets plenty of indirect sunlight.  I open my window at
night, it gets down to about 60 degrees, so I dont know if that would make
the flowers die quickly.  Also, it seems like it is growing in an almost rocky
substrate, either that or the wood is really hard and does not soak up water.  I
water it every 5 days but I dont know if I should water it more often.  Any
suggestions on why the flowers are falling off so quickly?

Answer
It sounds as if your temperature, light, watering frequency, and the growing medium are fine.  Orchids vary greatly in the length of time they hold their flowers.  For the thin leaved types (such as Beallara), two weeks is not unusual.  Sometimes plants that are in bud are stressed by a simple change in environment either during transport, inadequate care by the place where you got it, or just a change in growing location.  At least the buds opened for you.  It is not uncommon for the stress due to a change causes the buds to abort altogether.  Large plants with multiple flower spikes can be in flower for a month or more because buds are constantly opening.

Concentrate your efforts now on growing the plant well once new growth begins.  It is best to have the plant repotted once new growth starts.  Be sure to use an orchid potting mix when you do this.