Catasetinae newbie needs help w/ baby Monn. Millenium Magic

[pipsxlch]

my daughter and I went to the Tamiami show yesterday (great show!). She selected for herself a baby of Monn. Millennium Magic 'Witchcraft'. I have never grown any members of the catasetinae tribe, so I'm not sure exactly what's best for it as far as potting etc. goes. I'd hate to kill her plant on her though.
This is a bareroot baby- the bigger /newer old pbulb is not much bigger than a marble, there's an older one that's pea size. The new growth is well started, about 4"-5" tall and leaf spread about 5". There are old faded roots, maybe a fringe of new started.
I'm in Florida, and grow all my plants outside. I'm successful with catts, and the seller said 'catt conditions'. _ have trees that can give a fair bit of shade, to lots of sun with my dendrobiums (the catts are in more dappled light). He also said water once a week, which what I've been reading says probably wouldn't be enough? It does rain almost daily to daily here in the summer. Winter it dries up; when a rainy front comes through I can bring the plant in.
My biggest question is what to pot it in? I don't have good spag as I don't use it really. I do have coco chips, otherwise coarse fast draining stuff. Would you really recommend adding a time release fert? (I do weekly to biweekly weakly) And clay, plastic or basket? Can I pot it up now?
Thanks for your help!

[Bud]

that plant is ready to be potted since you described a new five inches growth and few roots coming out....the seller must have given it the proper rest period before selling it

for culture of these kind of plant you need to go to SVO(Sunset Valley orchids) site and read about the care of these plants.

[isurus79]

Bud is referring to this link: Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA

I used to pot all my Catasetinae plastic pots with holes cut into the sides. I would place wine corks on end in the pot and then put an inch or so of spagnum on top. You can replicate this with really large size bark placed on end and the spag on top.

To be honest, Catasetinae are one group of orchids that can be potted in just about any media. They are so easy when it comes to this aspect of their domestication. They like just about anything, so starting off with whatever you are potting your Catts in should be fine. They are HUGE water and fertilizer hogs when actively growing, so keep that in mind. I would just use a light fertilizer each time you water and I used to water my plants every single day growing outside in Hawaii. I think Florida has higher humidity and less wind than Hawaii, so maybe every other day would work for you.