New Renanthera - what do i pot it in??

[kkdcalgary]

Hi All!

I bought an AWESOME Renanthera Kalsom "Red Dragon" from Kawamoto Orchid (highly recommend this nursery!) in hawaii over christmas. I've been lusting after this plant since I first saw it many years ago in the Kawamoto parking lot in pots blooming huge sprays of blood red flowers. Now I am back in Idaho with my little plant and I want to make sure I treat it right. It was potted in bark chips which I find unusual but they're the experts! I gently shook out the medium and the roots look pretty good to me but out of three fat happy new roots one of them grew down into the medium, hit another root and the green growing tip disappeared. I'm worried the mix is staying too wet in the middle while the surface roots are getting too dry. The surface roots are flaking like they have dandruff! I've had success growing several orchids in S/H including Den. aggregatum which I know is not a vanda but does like high humidity, air flow and light like a vanda. What i'm wondering are:

pot: should i switch to a terra cotta pot instead of a plastic one to improve air flow? I don't think this plant will be very happy in a basket in my conditions but I'm willing to consider a complex set up for this delicious orchid.

medium: Has anyone tried S/H with Renanthera or similar? I've seen vandas grown succesfully in S/H when i searched not specifically renanthera. I am sorely tempted to do it but I don't think I'm gonna get back to Hawai'i anytime soon if this one goes to orchid heaven... Any other suggestions other than putting some LECA in and maybe some sphag on top??
- does anyone have any thoughts about Ren culture in vase?

For now i'm throwing it in a vase with some sphag and let it air out for it a bit until I decide to do something different.

THANK YOU
Karen.