Well I am CERTAINLY not a expert, but I put mine in sphag and mounded it, leaving a "airway" up the middle from the huge opening on bottom. It sits on a planter type thingy on my porch so the air is not restricted on the bottom. Mine is doing great and putting up another spike, but then again our conditions here are dry and hot! And I very much overpotted it, but its doubled in size since I've gotten it and seems to be quite happy! (I just loved the pot and it was the smallest I could find of that kind ... honestly)