need pot size help, please

[VickiC]

Hi everyone,
I need some advice, please. I bought a new orchid today at Lowes...a Catt. It looked to be in good condition, as best I could tell (keeping in mind that I have an "untrained-orchid-eye") When I brought it home, I decided to repot it today cuz it wasn't blooming and I wanted to take a look at the roots, then get it situated in it's new home. I'm attaching a picture, because I'm confused as to what to do about the pot size, if anything, and I wanted you to take a look. When I bought it, it was in a 6" pot...bigtime rootbound....but I figured that was fine....np. I have gathered that most orchids like to feel crowded, so I didn't give that a 2nd thought. Anyway, when I took it out of it's pot and checked the roots, they were fine...not gr8, but ok. I cut off all of the rotted ones as best I could then repotted it in regular orchid mix...fir back, perlite and . My problem is: It would not fit back in the same size pot it came out of, for some reason...even after I removed the old medium and cut some dead roots off. The old pot was plastic, and I'm wondering if, as the plant grew, it sorta pushed at the plastic and the plastic sorta conformed to fit the plant (stretched a tad)...and then when I removed the plant, the pot size went back to normal. ?? That was just a thought...but whatever the case, I had no choice but to pot it in the next size larger pot. The root system doesn't even come 1/2 way down in the pot, so there's quite a bit of space below the roots that I'm afraid will stay too damp. What do you think I should do...repot the plant tomorrow using some styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom or do nothing at all? By the way, I don't recall ever seeing a pot this diameter but more shallow...I'm guessing that would be best, if I had one. ?? I'm sorry that I've typed a book...I know I'm too "wordy" but I would appreciate your help.
Vicki