I recently made a visit to the garden centre as I often do to browse their considerable selection of plants and find bargains. As a result, it is not unusual for me to pick up more than I anticipate. On this occasion, I had planned to buy fennel seeds for the garden but no sooner had I reached the checkout, I saw something delightful and I must say very cute in the corner of my eye. Moth Orchids or Phalaenopsis.
Having never encountered these before, I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. My curiosity led me to take a closer look. About 20cm tall, they are perfectly formed and don’t take up much space in their miniature pots. Like the orchids I am most familiar with, they come in various different colours and patterns, each one beautiful.
On returning home, I was not just clutching a packet of fennel seeds but a couple of these Moth Orchids. They certainly do brighten up the shelf in the corner and will bring cheer in the cold winter months.
Originating in amongst the trees and shrubs of Asia’s tropical forests, these Orchids have been discovered in many different locations from Bangladesh to northern Australia. To do this, they have had to adapt to the varied climates presented to them.
As a result of their origins, Moth Orchids like relatively warm, humid conditions 16°C or above. They don’t like being placed in direct sunlight but do need bright light to survive. The roots too like to take in light, so a clear pot is ideal. The flowers produced should last around 3 months on average making them a popular choice of houseplant. Watering should be done more in the summer months when the plant is growing and it is often suggested that watering is done by placing the orchid plant in a container of water for a few minutes before returning it to a dry tray to prevent the roots from rotting. The compost needs to be only very slightly damp. Misting is also a good way of creating a humid atmosphere for the plants to thrive.
After a cold and rainy jaunt in the garden this morning, I decided to paint the little white cultivar (possibly Phalaenopsis Aphrodite) using watercolours.
I limited my colour palette to yellow ochre, cadmium yellow pale, raw umber, ultramarine and winsor orange. Mixing and layering these colours alone allowed for them to work harmoniously together.
With the orchid in front of me, I faintly drew out the outline in pencil before opening my paint pan set. Using a fine round water brush, I was able to portray the veins within the petals. Similarly, the leaves were painted using contrasting tones to add depth and enhance shapes. To paint the background I splashed the colour onto already damp paper and allowed different colours to permeate into one another, I didn’t want the background to overpower the main subject by being too dark, so whilst still damp, I dabbed at areas using a piece of kitchen roll to lighten them and create a mottled appearance that adds interest without drawing attention away from the orchid.