Phalaenopsis orchid help!!

[Kate_vannorman]

Hello all! My name is Kate and I'm new to both orchid owning and forum joining! I received an orchid as a gift in September after my mother passed away and so far have been able to keep it alive, or so I think :-/ the leaf is a dark green which I have read means it needs more light. I currently have it in the ceramic pot it came in, I added some mulch, nothing fancy just basic potting soil. I've been reading that it needs looser soil, more like bark, since they naturally grow in the holes in trees in humid climates.
I was wondering what is the best pot to use/type of soil/watering regiment??

I also know I need to cut the dead stems off but what is the best way to do that?

I'll post some pictures of my flower. Hopefully it's not too far gone! Thanks for any help you can give me.
Kate