To convert the plants i like to keep the roots submerged, and very high humidity (90-100%) air. But it is also necessary to have aeration, other wise you will get fungus and mould growing.
You can use glad wrap but just leave a little hole at one of the corners. I have a heater in mine other wise it gets to cold and also an air pump with two air stones to keep it nice and humid.
Daltons will work fine, you can cap it with sand to make it look nice and to make it easier to plant plants with small root systems. I prefer pots because i can take them out and move them around. Also if you have crypts and you id one you can keep any pups in that pot and it wont go and mix with another plants.