In full bloom

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A great read followed by a chance sighting inspired in Mandy Gray a love of orchids that has filled her heart with peace and her home with beauty.

Mandy Gray’s Sydney home seems to be a reflection of her personality – its decor is warm, friendly and laid-back, yet at the same time it has an air of style and sophistication. Mandy, who is marketing and training director at True Solutions International, a skincare distribution company, moved into the gorgeous three-storey Edwardian villa a little over five years ago, along with her husband Peter and their two children, Isabella, 12, and Henry, nine.

Mandy’s family immediately fell in love with the house, and the mixture of antique pieces, comfy sofas and children’s drawings scattered throughout are testament to the fact that this is a cosy and family-friendly home.

While Mandy, as you might expect, is passionate about good skincare, her favourite room in the house isn’t the bathroom, where an enviable range of high-tech beauty brands are put to the personal test, or even her bedroom, where a dresser is crowded with enticing lotions, potions and cosmetics. Instead, Mandy loves to spend her free time in a small room right at the top of the house, where she indulges her other great passion – orchids.

‘The orchid room’, as Mandy refers to it, feels serene and welcoming as soon as you walk in the door. Pots and baskets of predominantly cream and white orchids fill the space, and gentle natural light bathes the room. “I love it up here,” the glamorous 53-year-old smiles. “It’s a real haven. There is the right amount of soft light and it is a perfect temperature to grow the delicate flowers… when I walk in, it’s like walking into my own sanctuary, and no matter how my day has gone up until then, I immediately feel calm.”

Mandy’s passion for these tropical blooms was ignited many years ago, in a small beach-side town. “I was on holiday in Port Douglas,” she recalls, “and had just finished reading a wonderful book about orchids when, as an amazing coincidence, I happened across this stunning, deep-blue orchid at the local markets. The man who had grown it was so passionate about the blooms that his enthusiasm really rubbed off on me.”

Not one to waste any time, upon her return to Sydney, Mandy enlisted a girlfriend and headed out on the hunt for an orchid of her own. Mandy’s friend also purchased an orchid, but hers soon died from over-watering, while Mandy’s, on a windowsill in her home office, seemed to thrive from neglect.

“Of course, it eventually lost its flowers but then quickly bloomed again as I accidentally did all the right things – I sprayed it instead of watering the roots directly and kept it in the correct light and temperature,” says Mandy.

Mandy’s collection of orchids has grown rapidly over the ensuing years, as has her reputation for her ability to look after the beautiful flowers, with friends jokingly referring to her as ‘the orchid whisperer’. “I look after friends’ old orchids and collect others from markets and growers,” she explains. “People used to drop orchids in to me the moment they began to look ailing. Now, I mainly have phalaenopsis, cymbidium and cattleya orchids.” The cattleya variety are Mandy’s favourite, as she says they’re very easy to grow at home, and will flower all year round. The beautiful blue orchid that inspired Mandy all those years ago was also a cattleya. “They remind me of holidays,” she smiles. “And they have a wonderfully sweet, honey-like scent at night.”

Today, most of the rooms in Mandy’s home are graced with at least one orchid pot, while outside in the garden, she grows tree orchids, which are hardier and more tolerant of temperature changes. At any one time, there might be up to 200 plants spread throughout the house and garden.

With her mother tending to the orchids regularly (three times a week Mandy devotes half an hour to looking after her blooms), it is little surprise that Mandy’s daughter Isabella seems to have inherited her mother’s love of the flowers. “My daughter is already interested in the process,” says Mandy. “She has her own plants to care for and, like me, she loves their beauty and mystery.” Mandy says Peter also likes the flowers, though she laughs, “He tolerates my love of orchids as I tolerate his love of motor racing!”

While Mandy’s green thumb extends to more than just this exquisite botanical (her beautiful garden also proudly displays a plethora of blooms, including another of Mandy’s favourites, gardenias) orchids are a special and constantly evolving hobby. “They are one of the most diverse species of flower and there is always a new ‘surprise’ orchid emerging. You can never be bored by them. I also love the way orchids link – and enhance – moments in our lives such as weddings, birthdays and graduations,” she smiles.

• Orchids like steady humidity. If you live in an area with dry air, simply pop a tray filled with water and pebbles under the pot.
• As orchids are native to swamps and rainforest areas, they don’t like direct sunlight; filtered, soft light is best. 
• Use different fertilisers when your plant is growing and flowering – speak to your local nursery about which products will be best. 
• While orchids are native to tropical environments, some varieties are grown in high altitudes, so may prefer lower temperatures. Find out what part of the world your orchid is from before placing it in a specific room. As a guide, examine your orchid’s leaves – large, thin leaves are usually found on plants from cooler regions, while thicker leaves are typical to those from warmer climes. 
• Only water an orchid once the soil has all but dried out, then water by using a spray bottle to lightly mist the soil. 
• After flowering, remove any old or dead flowers then cut the stem back to an inch from where the flower appeared, to encourage re-flowering.

Orchids in literature

• Orchid Fever by Eric Hansen
  This fascinating book looks at the extremes orchid collectors go to, taking the reader on a journey through jungles, orchid shows, perfume factories and gardens.
• Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
  This novel tells the compelling story of a beautiful young concubine who became China’s last empress through seduction, murder and intrigue.
• The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
  The orchid thief in this true story of beauty and obsession is John Laroche, who was arrested in 1994 for having in his possession orchids stolen from a swamp in Florida.

Words: Shonagh Walker. Photography: Sam McAdam.