can I grow a mokara just like a vanda

[weederwoman]

I'm getting confused about mokara orchids. If I just pretend it is a vanda (as I have been doing) will I be OK, or are there important cultural differences. Can't find much info on the web. Last night at orchid club meeting a member I respect said she thought they were terrestrial. I nearly dropped my teeth. Mine is hanging high in the greenhouse in a vanda basket, salaciously naked. Help please. Thank you. (got it at an orchid club sale without name or culture info about a year ago. Is healthy but no new flower).

[thurrmax]

well mine is just hanging along with other plants with a hydro ball and charcoal mix media. direct sun and watering 2 x weeky. never fed it yet maybe this week

[Terese]

Hey which type of pot are you using for that lovely Mokara?

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:33 PM ----------

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

Low humidity means that increased airflow isn't necessary, and if it is you don't have a lot of air movement then full midday sun will be too much for your mokara. Mature plants are more hardy under full midday sun exposure but even they can suffer burn if the air is too still.
Full morning sun, a lot of bright indirect or dappled sunlight from midday till late afternoon, and direct evening sun. I have a Aranda Noorah Alsagoff in these very same conditions in one of my beds and the leaves are pristine. No yellowing like the ones that get the full midday sun as well.

"Full morning sun, a lot of bright indirect or dappled sunlight from midday till late afternoon, and direct evening sun." Are you saying that either of these 3 conditions can work?

---------- Post added at 03:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 PM ----------

[QUOTE=thurrmax;607746]well mine is just hanging along with other plants with a hydro ball and charcoal mix media. direct sun and watering 2 x weeky. never fed it yet maybe this week QUOTE]

Are you using a plastic or Clay pot? any pictures?

[CR7cristiano]

[QUOTE=Terese;719573]Hey which type of pot are you using for that lovely Mokara?

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:33 PM ----------




"Full morning sun, a lot of bright indirect or dappled sunlight from midday till late afternoon, and direct evening sun." Are you saying that either of these 3 conditions can work?

---------- Post added at 03:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 PM ----------

Originally Posted by thurrmax

well mine is just hanging along with other plants with a hydro ball and charcoal mix media. direct sun and watering 2 x weeky. never fed it yet maybe this week QUOTE]

Are you using a plastic or Clay pot? any pictures?

All the above conditions are conducive to mokara growing. The mokaras are staked bare root in the beds. More recently have been transferred to large teak wood posts bc they are much larger now.

[Terese]

Thanks much for the reply!
I believe i put mine (bare root purchase) in full morning sun. When i got home the leaves were burnt ...See picture attached.



I'm a beginner here...so lets go slowly ... When you say you staked them bare root in the beds...You are referring to garden beds layered with a stones/coal mix?

[QUOTE=CR7cristiano;719578]

Originally Posted by Terese

Hey which type of pot are you using for that lovely Mokara?

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:33 PM ----------




"Full morning sun, a lot of bright indirect or dappled sunlight from midday till late afternoon, and direct evening sun." Are you saying that either of these 3 conditions can work?

---------- Post added at 03:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 PM ----------



All the above conditions are conducive to mokara growing. The mokaras are staked bare root in the beds. More recently have been transferred to large teak wood posts bc they are much larger now.

[CR7cristiano]

[QUOTE=Terese;720002]Thanks much for the reply!
I believe i put mine (bare root purchase) in full morning sun. When i got home the leaves were burnt ...See picture attached.



I'm a beginner here...so lets go slowly ... When you say you staked them bare root in the beds...You are referring to garden beds layered with a stones/coal mix?

Ok, first let me be clear that young plants should not just be introduced to full sun just like that, it will most certainly cause leaf burn. One must wait until the plant is well established which could mean fully pot bound and lots of nice new roots or lots of nice healthy new roots all together and active leaf growth.
Now when moving your mokara to a garden bed for example, it's important to gradually introduce them to more and more intense light until you have them in full sun.

As for staking them bareroot in a garden bed, I prefer to layer the beds with gravel and then top with a layer of coarse bark for mulch. (Redwood mulch and coloured pebbles for curb appeal)
I don't use charcoal because coal tends to stay too damp when it rains often and then algae and bacteria can easily develop in the garden beds; when that happen kiss your orchids goodbye especially if they don't have roots higher up on the stem.

Hope that helps!

[AussieVanda]

Yes. I grow one up the side of a plumeria tree and the other I have growing out of volcanic rock in a small vanda garden bed.

[CR7cristiano]

Mokaras aren't terrestrial. They can be acclimated to grow in full sun. I would not recommend growing your mokara in full sun until it is mature/larger size. Gradually introduce them to full sun if you want to landscape with them. Pick the cooler months to do so; assuming you are able to grow outdoors year round without winter cold. They have strap leaves like hanging vandas but because of its parent background it is inclined to tolerate more intense sun as it matures.
I tend to pot my mokaras in stone and charcoal and stake them. For landscaping purposes I occasionally stake the mature ones directly to a tall bambo or wooden stake bare root. Often I plant the mokara, pot and all, partially into the stone garden beds to prevent them toppling as they get taller.
For now, full direct morning sun and dappled light for the rest of the day is perfect.

[AussieVanda]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

Mokaras aren't terrestrial. They can be acclimated to grow in full sun. I would not recommend growing your mokara in full sun until it is mature/larger size. Gradually introduce them to full sun if you want to landscape with them. Pick the cooler months to do so; assuming you are able to grow outdoors year round without winter cold. They have strap leaves like hanging vandas but because of its parent background it is inclined to tolerate more intense sun as it matures.
I tend to pot my mokaras in stone and charcoal and stake them. For landscaping purposes I occasionally stake the mature ones directly to a tall bambo or wooden stake bare root. Often I plant the mokara, pot and all, partially into the stone garden beds to prevent them toppling as they get taller.
For now, full direct morning sun and dappled light for the rest of the day is perfect.

What he said...

---------- Post added at 05:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------

When I said yes, i didn't mean that I was agreeing it was a terrestrial, just that it was really no different to a vanda........

[FSUOrchids]

Yeah they're basically the same, it's just a different hybrid really.