Beginner with Rodriguezia venusta fresh from Costa Rica

[cbanana]

Hello all!

This is my first time posting here. I'm relatively new to orchid growing, but we currently have one Oncidium from trader joes, one Phalaenopis and two massive Cymbidiums rescued from relatives after flowering, and a Masdevallia and Paphiopedilum from Briggs Hill Orchirds. Apparently, when you get one orchid, the others just follow along!!

While on a recent trip to Costa Rica, we visited the Lankester Gardens and their orchid collection. The Gardens sold tiny Rodriguezia venusta orchids in plastic containers, ready for export and pre-approved by customs. Of course I had to get one!

My little jar has 6 1-1 1/2" plants in it, some gel medium, and dirt or nutrient mix on the bottom. The instructions suggest rinsing the roots and repotting in the provided moss within 2 months of purchase (it's been less than two weeks). The man at customs told me plants like this usually die because they "don't have the right fungus," apparently referring to mycorrhizae.

From the brief research I've done on this plant, it looks like it would prefer bark to moss for a planting medium. Do you think that's correct, bark over moss, or some mixture of the two? The majority of the plants at the Gardens, from what I could tell, were planted in coconut shell bark with some moss.

I also read up on this board on mycorrhizal associations and found that it was most important when the seed is germinating. Because this plant is packed in a gel, should I try to innoculate it with fungus when I remove the gel, or just regularly use a good orchid fertilizer as I use on my others?

I've never dealt with transplanting an orchid this small. Any ideas for how to protect the roots and shoots from damage when rinsing and repotting?

Any other tips for this little guy? I really appreciate it!!

--Channa