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

[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.

[weederwoman]

Thank you all. I couldn't believe I was that far off in my care of the plant.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

Thank you all. I couldn't believe I was that far off in my care of the plant.

You're not very far off. Everyone's growing environment is different, so our growing methods may vary slightly. But there is always a basic guideline that steers us in the right direction.

[Bud]

I put Mokaras in direct sun....and in winter I hang them on the brightest window. They tend to grow big and tall and since I am a windowsill grower it is quite daunting. I will post my Mokara Chao Praya 'Gold'(on my profile pic) soon....its been two weeks in spike.

[weederwoman]

By direct sun, you mean outdoors or light through a window? We have no humidity here in the summer, so outdoor summer vacations for orchids here take a lot
of ingenuity.