Thanks, Naoki for the info on where to get the oyster shells and limestone! Super-helpful!!
As for the glazed-pot issue, this chemist told me that ALL modern glazed pots are coated in glass, so they are all
supposedly safe (provided they've been recently manufactured and not "antique" pots...not sure about the glaze on those). However, I have had problems with 2 of my glazed pots...I had NOID phals that reacted very badly to them (the roots started shriveling), so I got them out of there as soon as possible. But both of those pots had designs etched into the glaze and felt a bit rougher to the touch, so the "glass" finishing might not have applied in those cases.
The small, reliable glazed pots I love I actually found at a discount store called "Ollie's Bargain Outlet." Unfortunately, this is the kind of place where you get whatever they've recently bought in overstock from other stores, and when the products are gone, they're usually gone permanently.
But I can tell you that the pots I got there had an extremely smooth, thick, shiny glaze on them (inside and out), and I have had no problems. I've probably got 20 species orchids potted in these little pots, and they're perfectly happy.
I could upload a pic of the pots I use if it would help. But I now stick to the rule that, if I'm going to be buying a glazed pot, it must have thick glaze that is extremely shiny, smooth, and reflective, which I interpret as a sign it's been coated with glass. Anything with etched designs or odd, bumpy textures is automatically out, and if it doesn't feel heavy in my hand I don't buy it either. (The ones I've been successful with seem to be "heftier" than the others...possibly another sign of the glass coating).
Like I said, I can upload a pic of one of them if you'd like...and if I ever happen to stumble upon them in a regular retail store, I'll definitely let you know.
As for the size of my sandie, I haven't actually measured it...but it's got a sizable leaf span, although it only has one growth on it so far. But hey, as long as it keeps rapidly growing leaves, I'm happy, because I know it's on its way to blooming.....eventually. I bought a smallish one so I could afford it...but I think I got a great bargain. I found it on eBay, and it just happened to be $35 less than all the other plants of similar size. I have no idea why it was so cheap, but I snatched it up for $32!!
It's probably 1-2 years from blooming, I'm guessing. But since this is my first sandie, I can't be exactly sure.
I vote that we form a little "Sandie Society" for those of us nursing these along from babies!! Then we can rejoice when we finally see flower pics!
Let me know if you'd like me to post a pic of of my glazed pots.
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