Basic growing stuff

[s1ren]

Serious beginner here, apologies in advance for my ignorance.

I see a TON of info here on the boards about mounting and S/H growing...but what are the other options? Are there any 'chids that grow in plain old soil? What's the scoop on the bags of bark chips they sell for orchids at nurseries - is that stuff any good (seems to me like it would rot and harbor bacteria, but what do I know)?

People mention ferts a lot, too...but I haven't seen it explained what kind of ferts these things require, or why they need what they need.

Can anyone give a very basic, general primer for someone who's never done this before? Or point me in the right direction?

'Preciate it.