I'm don't have much of a green thumb as far as houseplants go, but I remember my mom had a Christmas cactus and it actually bloomed a few times a year. And yes, it was huge. For some reason she used to switch it from the upstairs to the downstairs at different times of the year but I have no clue why...could have been because of the summer sun being too hot.

As for orchids I know my friend has one and she doesn't water it like her other plants, she has a vat that she fills with water and lets the orchid soak and drain. Must say it looks great, all her plants do. She did explain that the orchid was too delicate to water like other plants and letting them soak up water was the way to go.