Actually, strict schedules work better for most people. It removes the guesswork and prevents overwatering, which is the real killer. Sticking to a calendar is just more reliable.
Yeah, I've killed a few plants by being too strict with the calendar. It feels like the right thing to do, but you end up watering when the plant doesn't need it. My peace lily started thriving when I finally just learned to check if it looked droopy. That moss trick is a game changer for orchids, for sure.