First-time repotting - Substrate questions

[Island Girl]

I agree with what Carrie, and WhiteRabbit said, and what I like to use (& is simple, and works for allot of different genera) is large/coarse bark (I like Orichata brand) with large/coarse sponge rock, and large/coarse horticultural charcoal. (sometimes I substitute lava rock/LECA in there for sponge rock, or charcoal.. Depending what I have on hand at the time) just use 2 parts bark, to 1 part sponge rock, to 1 part charcoal. If you want to water less often, or have low humidity, add in some chopped sphagnum moss to the mix. **Dont over think this, you will make it more difficult than need-be, and your orchids will decline b/c of indecisiveness. I did that myself when I first started out! Don't worry... They'll be ok in what you put them in, as long as they have air, and moisture, and aren't sopping wet all the time.

I'd say just use a plastic pot, as that's what you have grown accustomed to. Holes/slots are good, the roots love to have a little air movement. (net pots dry out faster, which is perfectly fine, if you don't mind watering more often... Also, if you grow indoors, you would want some type of tray/dish underneath the net pots, because when you water, it will drip out a lot easier)

And, as WhiteRabbit said, new bark dries a lot faster, so you will need to adjust your watering accordingly.

Here is a good step-by-step tutorial for repotting a Phal, it's got pics
Orchid Repotting Clinic - Phalaenopsis