Lol the person from southern California was me.
From what I observed in my neighbors yard they don't care much about anything
One neighbor has them in full heavy shade with very little water.
The other had them on full sun right next to s sprinkler that goes off twice a day.
The only common theme I found was that they were planted straight into the garden soil.
You likely have Epi Radicans. It is the standard 'firey reed orchid'. While it can be a ground dweller, I would grow in standard open airy orchid media, espcially since you are in MA. These like lots of light and food to bloom. But before that they need to establish lots of roots. Once they start to bloom though, they will do so almost continuously
my reed stem epis were all in large bark mix, just like cats, and were in a very hot sunny corner of the greenhouse....they liked to dry some, and grew offshoots and keikis like mad!...they were all over 3' tall....the blooming spike will make flowers for months, and after it is finished, you can cut it down to the first 'clean' node, or bump on the stem...that will help it form keikis....good luck and enjoy!