My friend gifted me a Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens). I plan to keep it in a pot. Can you give me some suggestions on best potting medium? I was thinking a mix of seedling bark and milled peat? How big of a pot do they need? I want it to be able to spread so maybe 8 - 10 inches? I have an Azalea pot I was thinking of using so its wider and more shallow.

Thanks for any help.

Lucy, welcome to the Orchid forum.
If you don't mind me asking, was your friend able to grow this Goodyera? What is the origin of the plant?

Some years ago, a member of a local garden club grew and sold some Goodyera pubescens. I bought a plant that time with the purpose of re-naturalizing it in OUR forest North of Scranton. The plant actually bloomed the next year, but then in subsequent years slowly but surely declined. I still tried to save it, dug it up ca. 5 years later and brought it home. That was unfortunately the last thing I should have done. The plant simply died.

(The natural conditions are mixed forest, usually acidic soil. It grows in Oak-Pine forest. )

Now that is my experience with this Orchid.
If this were me, I would like to know if the plant came from a specific location, and would try to add my plant to that stand.
I myself don't think I could keep this plant alive.

Terrestrial orchids do not make good houseplants!!

They are protected in the wild so, I too am curious where this plant really came from. In most states, they can not be purchased legally. You should not be able to purchase them unless they came from a reputable grower of native species and grown from seed.

I am sorry that you have it. I wish you nothing but the best in trying to grow it. I will remain silent on tips of trying to grow it. This unfortunately is something I never want to be a part of.
Wild protected Orchids belong in the wild.
I'll just let it go at that.

Interesting leap to assuming I'm an orchid thief. The bulbs were purchased from a local nursery in one of those "bulbs in a box" deals. I can only assume a reputable nursery would only be dealing with legally grown plants. I live about 3000 miles from their native range so adding it back to its family is not an option. I was surprised my friend actually got the bulbs to grow. Now I would like to keep it alive. I said potted plant, not indoor plant. I only have a patio, otherwise I would plant it out someplace.

Hopefully my answers have satisfied you. I will overlook your rudeness if you can actually give me some advice. Otherwise, have a nice life. I won't recommend your site to any of my friends.

I think we are done here!

But, it would have been truly helpful to have learned the particulars about the origin of the plant, right there in your first post. Why didn't you mention those nice to know details?
We get questions like yours every so often and one learns to be cautious.
You were not accused of anything, we simply asked. A simply answer would have sufficed for us to be helpful.
Sincerely,
Ursula

PS btw this Orchid does not grow from bulbs. Bulbs in a box ?