GINA PARKINSON develops a taste for the exotic as she gets to grips with a moth orchid more used to the jungles of Malaysia.

LAST month, I ventured into a new area of plant life and bought my first orchid.

Beguiled by the sprays of waxy white flowers and leathery leaves, I couldn't resist and it now stands on the shower room windowsill, where the damp humid air (several showers a day are had in our busy household) should suit it very well.

The orchid I chose is a warm-growing species, Phalaenopsis, that originates from Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines where they grow in the tree canopy protected from the direct sun.

Early explorers saw the flowers high above their heads, dancing in the breeze like swarms of moths, giving rise to the common name, moth orchid.

Phalaenopsis can be grown as houseplants in rooms where the temperature doesn't drop drastically at night and where they can be in semi-shade away from direct sunshine.

A warm windowsill in a kitchen or bathroom with a blind to diffuse the sun if needed is ideal.

The air around the plant can be kept moist by standing the pot on a tray of damp gravel and by spraying the leaves in summer. The centre of the plant should be avoided, because it can rot if water stays there too long, and misting should be discontinued in winter when the water stays on the leaves too long in the cooler temperatures.

An established phalaenopsis generally carries four or five leaves at a time and loses about one a year, with a new flower spike growing from the most recent, mature leaf.

This means there isn't a particular flowering period, blooms will emerge in response to leaf growth and once open will last for several weeks.

Although growth tends to slow down winter and speed up in spring and summer, it is possible for a mature plant to be in bloom all year with new flower spikes coming into bloom just as the old ones finish.

The thin stems may need support because they can easily get accidentally broken or bend too far under the weight of the flowers. Once all the flowers on a stem have faded, it can be cut back and with luck, a new spike will be waiting to take its place.

The plant I bought is growing in a clear pot with the flat, grey roots visible through the sides of the container.

Phalaenpsis can be repotted in spring or autumn when they are not in flower. Aerial roots that have developed outside the pot should be left outside and trimmed if they are damaged.

Once the dead roots from inside the container are removed it may be possible to reuse the original pot since this type of orchid doesn't have an extensive root system, even a mature specimen is unlikely to need a pot any larger than 12cm.

An orchid compost should be used when repotting. It needs to be open and free draining, able to retain moisture and nutrients, and slow to decompose. Pine bark chippings are ideal and can be bought from specialist orchid growers and possibly larger garden centres and DIY stores.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, April 17, 2004