Mokara Salaya Gold

[LauraGR]

I got a Mokara Salaya Gold from the Como Orchid Show (from Natt's Orchids) the weekend before last. I had no idea what it was, just that it looked healthy, was smallish and had a good strong stem full of buds. I finally got around to looking it up on the web, and all I found was a lot of sites that have Mokara stems, which area apparently used for weddings a lot. Many places in Asia grow greenhouses full of them for cut flower use. They are in the Vanda family. I could not find one site that talked about their cultivation, or sold them. I looked thru my orchid books - I have about a dozen - and not one of them mentioned Mokaras. Wow! Anyone else have one? I am curious if they are any different in culture than Vandas. This one came in a little pot inside another pot for balance and has large roots for the smallish size of it. I'll post a pic of the blooms when they pop out - maybe next week. I am always happy to find something new, but this one is really different - at least here!

[digitalgate]

ok. The hard truth is, this is a warm growing plant. It can handle full direct sun with no problem. Which is around 11000fc for my area. I highly doubt you can achieve that in winter up north. Here the good news, spring is coming and so is summer. Now your job is to water lightly and dont allow mold to grow on it. Keep the temperature up above 55 and humidity above 60. This is going to be tough as i have ice form on my window in doing that. I have trouble removing them in spring.January and Feb is the coldest for your area. Hopefully, the plant can survive cold temperature and low humidity till march arrive. Dont bother about CFL or HD light it can't come close.
I am just as crazy as you when i bought tulip recently. I want cold temperature and
low humidity....

[LauraGR]

Well, a challenge! I can keep the humidity up in my sun porch, and the heat, but yes, the sun is a bit of a challenge. It can get full sun fulltime, so if it just sits and waits thru winter I can give it plenty of warmth, humidity and sun the rest of the year! Thanks DG!

[LauraGR]

This opened the first bud today. A very pretty little plant. It's in a 3" clay pot with a smaller pot inside and lots of outside roots. The flower is a little over 1-1/2" and quite pretty!

[digitalgate]

hmmm... it is too early for it to bloom. Anyway Enjoy.!

[LauraGR]

Too early in Singapore or Minnesota? It's too early for ANYTHING to bloom in Minnesota - but that's what houses are for!
I am curious about the culture. I saw pics of greenhouses in Asia where they are grown in long rows in slightly raised beds on the ground in what looks like loose coconut chips held up by rows of wires. I am keeping mine in my sun porch where it stays pretty humid and warm, cool at night, and I'll take it out on my back deck this summer where it will get plenty of direct and reflected sun, and pretty good humidity. I am thinking I'll leave it in its pots -it's in a little plastic pot inside a clay pot. The roots are so healthy and thick I can't even tell if there is any bark or medium in the pot.
Any extra or alternate suggestions?

[digitalgate]

too early for Minnesota. Anyway my tulip just wilt. So far the bulb is not rotten that good news. I am anxious for U, when march to arrive and wait for huge snow fall then cocus pop up and announce the arrival of spring. Yah...
Look at the misting system on the other thread , look like a great method.
Reflected sun is still too dim for Mokara,try to get direct sun. But Mokara can tolerate 5000fc of light and bloom under this condition. It also depend on the other guy who grew it. if it was grown in 5000fc then it is not a problem to bloom again.
Usually, sign of low light is the green tip of root will begin to cover with white V????, then the root will start to shrivel and main stem will start to turn brown from the bottom up .. then the whole plant will just wilt.

[LauraGR]

Well, that's encouraging!!
By reflected light I meant that the back deck has strong direct light plus the reflected light from the house - so it's really bright there! The grower is from Chicago so his light levels are about the same as mine, so I guess I have a fighting chance!

[patticake]

If it's getting direct light, I'll bet it will be fine! I've never grown one, but I get a feeling for these things. The bloom is gorgeous! I LOVE the color! Keep us posted!

[digitalgate]

i hope, i did not discourage you. Just stating my growing experience . My Mokara did that before i recognize the sign of low light- screaming it gives out. I move it to a stronger light
and the green tip just come back alive.

[LauraGR]

Not discouraged - just challenged! It's not like I'm going to give it away or anything!! And if it dwindles or dies, I have an excuse - but I do appreciate your input and will be moving it to the back deck as soon as it warms up.

[hulaorchid]

Great plant! I don't know much about vandas, so Good Luck! I think I might give one a try someday! Have a lot of others on my list first! LOL

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by hulaorchid

Great plant! I don't know much about vandas, so Good Luck! I think I might give one a try someday! Have a lot of others on my list first! LOL

definitely a good plant to try out.just water , fertilize , no brainer.