Mokara Orchid - The most detailed and simple way to grow Mokara orchids

Mokara orchid is the result of crossbreeding 3 orchid lines: Arachnis, Ascocentrum and Vanda, possessing impressive beauty, many colorful colors, easy to care for and cheap.

Mokara orchids are one of the most popular and favorite hybrid orchids today thanks to their brilliant beauty, can bloom all year round and are very easy to care for. With many colorful colors such as red, purple, yellow, orange, ... Mokara orchids are not only grown for display in pots but also widely used in the art of flower arrangement.

In today's article, let's learn in detail about the origin, characteristics, and techniques for planting and caring for orchid to help them bloom beautifully and stay fresh for the longest time .

Origin and distribution of Mokara orchids

Mokara orchid is a hybrid orchid.

Mokara orchid is not a naturally occurring orchid species but is the product of a hybridization process between three different orchid species: Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda (intergeneric hybrid).

Mokara orchids were bred in Singapore in 1969 with the aim of creating an orchid variety that converges the following outstanding elements:

• Flowers grow in clusters, elegant like Arachnis
• Diverse and colorful colors like Ascocentrum
• Big, beautiful flowers, long blooming like Vanda
• Easy to grow, adapts to tropical climates and can bloom year round.

Currently, Mokara orchids are widely grown in tropical countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and are exported to European countries, Australia and Japan as a high-class flower.

Morphology & characteristics of Mokara orchids

Close-up of a Mokara orchid flower.

To be able to identify Mokara orchids among hundreds of different orchid species, you need to clearly understand their characteristics of shape, color, flower style and growth characteristics. Let's find out the details below.

Flower roots :

• Bare roots, growing from the leaf axils and extending along the tree trunk
• Well developed, good ability to absorb nutrients and water.

Flower stem & leaves :

• Tall, upright stem, usually 50cm - more than 1m high.
• The leaves are light green, grow symmetrically, and are long and trough-shaped.

Flower shape:

• Average size from 5 - 8 cm
• Thick, flexible, slightly shiny petals, teardrop shaped
• Bisexual flowers, bilaterally symmetrical and usually have 5 petals.
• Flowers grow in long, dense clusters with a density of 10 - 20 flowers/branch.

Flower color :

• Popular are solid colors such as bright red, orange red, yellow, purple, cream, white, pink,...
• There are also some lines with striped or spotted patterns, which look very unique.

Fragrance & blooming time :

• Mokara orchids have only a faint, indistinct fragrance.
• Flowers can keep their bright colors, are less likely to wilt and bloom for about 2 - 3 weeks.

Mokara orchid characteristics :

• Mokara orchids are very suitable for cut flower production because they can flower all year round and one orchid can produce 6 - 8 inflorescences/year if cared for in optimal conditions as follows:

Detailed Mokara orchid planting & care techniques for beginners

Instructions for planting & caring for Mokara orchids.

Although Mokara orchids are very easy to grow and care for, to help them grow best and bloom year-round, please note some of the techniques shared below.

Prepare the substrate

Unlike some other orchids, Mokara orchids are simple, straight and tall plants, so they need to be grown in pots with wooden bars or plastic pipes about 1m high to fix the flowers.

Besides, you need to prepare some common substrates such as rice husks, charcoal or peanut shells to grow orchids.

How to grow Mokara orchids

To properly plant Mokara orchids in pots, you should follow these instructions:

• Step 1 : Arrange charcoal at the bottom of the pot, sprinkle rice husks or peanut shells on top.
• Step 2 : Use a bamboo stick, wooden stick or plastic tube to insert in the middle and fix it firmly.
• Step 3 : Arrange the buds and Mokara orchid plants in the pot, then use a stick to tie them to the pole.
• Step 4 : Water regularly, hang in a cool place with moderate light so the orchid can take root soon.

How to propagate Mokara orchids

The popular way to propagate Mokara orchids is by cuttings or dividing the bush. Please note the following:

• Mokara orchid branches cut for cuttings must have at least 3 layers of branches.
• After cutting, use lime to disinfect.
• Use clean scissors or knife to trim.
• After cutting, the cuttings need to be placed in a cool, humid place to grow.

Proper care of Mokara orchids

To help Mokara orchids grow strongly and produce many flowers, you need to pay attention to factors such as temperature, humidity, water and fertilizer. Specifically as follows:

Watering properly :

• Water for orchids has a pH of 5.5 - 6.8
• Water is not salty, not alum, not hard.
• Should water in the early morning or cool afternoon, limit watering at noon.
• It is advisable to have an ambient humidifier to maintain high humidity in the air instead of just watering the flower pots.
• In the dry season, water 2-3 times/day. In the rainy season, watering frequency should be changed depending on humidity.
• Ideal humidity for orchids is 60 - 80%

Optimal temperature :

• Mokara orchid is a species of orchid that can tolerate 60 - 70% sunlight.
• Avoid strong midday sunlight.
• Average temperature: 25 - 32 degrees Celsius.

Fertilization by stage :

• When Mokara orchids are young: Use fertilizer with high nitrogen content to stimulate the plant to develop roots, shoots and leaves. You can use NPK 30-10-10 sprayed once a week.
• When Mokara orchids are mature: Use NPK 20-20-20, spray periodically once a week.
• When Mokara orchids bloom: Use NPK 10-30-20 fertilizer to stimulate flower buds and keep flowers durable.
• Note that you should: Not fertilize too much as it can shock the orchid.

Pest control for Mokara orchids

Mokara orchids can also suffer from some common orchid diseases such as mealybugs, red spiders, fungi, root rot, etc. Below are some common diseases in this flower and how to treat them, let's learn more.

Tips to help Mokara orchids bloom in time for Tet

The time for Mokara orchids from flowering stimulation to full bloom is about 60 - 70 days. If you want your Mokara orchid pot to bloom in time for Tet, follow the instructions below.

• Flowering from early October to November of the lunar calendar.
• First, reduce watering for 1 week to "cool down" the plant (make sure the plant does not wilt or lose leaves).
• Use specialized flower-stimulating fertilizers such as NPK 10-30-20, MKP 0-52-34, Dau Trau 701 fertilizer,...dilute according to instructions, spray every 5 days for 2-3 weeks.
• Increase light, maintain ideal temperature from 25 - 32 degrees Celsius, do not cover the net too tightly.
• Prune yellow and diseased leaves to concentrate nutrients on flower buds.
• When you see flower buds emerging, switch to spraying NPK 15-20-25 fertilizer.

If you follow the above process correctly, then 1 week before Tet, Mokara orchids will start blooming from the bottom up and by Tet will bloom beautifully.

Mokara orchid price list

Currently, Mokara orchids are sold quite popularly in Vietnam at quite low prices, from only a few tens to a few hundred thousand for 1 tree. Specifically, please refer to the information in the following price list.

Questions and answers about Mokara orchids

Are Mokara orchids easy to grow?

Yes, Mokara orchid is one of the easiest orchid lines to grow because it is highly adaptable to the hot and humid tropical climate of Vietnam, especially in the Central and Southern regions.

How long does it take for Mokara orchids to bloom?

If you grow Mokara from a seedling, it will take 10 - 14 months for the plant to flower, but if you separate it from a mature plant, it may flower sooner.

Are Mokara orchids fragrant?

Most Mokara orchids do not have much fragrance, only a faint scent, but in return they have beautiful colors and are long lasting.

Beautiful Mokara orchid pictures

We invite you to explore the collection of beautiful Mokara orchid images with many different colors such as purple, yellow, red, fiery orange, blue,... to be able to fully visualize the beauty of this flower.

A bouquet of Mokara orchids with many colorful colors.

Mokara orchids have a purple-pink color with beautiful spotted patterns.

A bouquet of bright yellow Mokara orchids.

Mokara orchid pots with many different colors.

Mokara orchid bright red.

Mokara orchid has a super dreamy light purple color.

Thus. through the article on orchid-vn.com has shared with you interesting information about Mokara orchids - a very popular hybrid orchid in Vietnam. They not only possess graceful beauty but are also easy to grow, easy to care for and suitable for both beginners and those who want to get rich from orchids.

Don't forget to follow other articles in our Blog section to learn more about beautiful, popular and valuable orchid varieties.