Astrid:

Heat a nail over a candle perhaps? I take it you are in a dorm situation.....bare essentials, huh?
Yeah, it sucks to get strange things or bad surprises in with new orchids - I once got one that, when I went to repot it, the bottom of the pot was filled with regular driveway gravel, but the seller was a small time guy that was selling from his "hobby collection" just to make a little money on the side.
Yes, foam "peanuts" or chunks are often used in the commercial greenhouses to cut costs, but then again, that is how you can afford to purchase the NOIDs so cheaply, so it is what it is.
If I buy an orchid in bloom and in pure moss, I don't really "attack" the root ball, but I will take it out of the pot, set it down in another pot and just fill in around the sides with pine bark. This allows the moss to dry out enough that I don't rot it and if there is a black mess down there I know I have to sacrifice the blooms for the sake of the plant and will get aggressive with the roots.
I would notify the sellers of the issues you have, but you will probably hear "that the only way I can sell them at any reasonable price", so it is hard to argue with that.
And I have had the same "not enough potting mix, or enough pots" scenario many times and yes, it is frustrating as it gets..... especially when you are all "primed" to re-pot. I just try to keep some on hand like milk in the fridge, but I totally understand the "exciting new orchid vs. boring old potting mix" struggle many of us go through.
Ahhhh orchids - why do we do this to ourselves?:roll:

I have just finished repotting 100 Cattleyas & Dendrobiums.

I hate having to get everything ready for a major repotting project (tools, bleach solution, Bayer dip, fungicide dip, stakes, ties, pot clips, big bark mixture, medium bark mixture, sterilized sphag, label maker) only to discover that the label maker is out of juice and label tape.

Thankfully I didn't run out this time until the very end.

All I can say is......:bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing :bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing:bowing!

Yeah we are not even allowed to have candles because this isn't really housing as much as it is a glorified adult daycare center... DANG DORM LIVING!!!!

I always attack the root ball. I just dig in with my acrylic fingernails and start picking picking picking! My ex nicknamed me "picky" for a reason.. I love to dig and poke and prod everything! Repotting in that regard is kind of fun for me.

We do it because orchids have evolved to develop mystical hypnotic powers over people. Ever heard of that parasite cats have that make humans more drawn to them (~supposedly~)? Well obviously orchids have it, too!! :rofl:

Sigh, all this is not helping me get my myself in gear for all the repotting I need to do. I keep putting it off and now I feel even more like doing :coverlaugh:

I have some I should have repotted when I bought them that need doing, plus as I grow more in moss these days I have all the ones in that to redo this year. Some of the ones in bark also need redoing this year. I like to do it in the spring and it feels like a daunting task coming up...

So I'm sure I've have some to rant about soon :coverlaugh: