AOS student curious as to the forum's opinion on Mokara breeding

[couchalot]

Hi, so I am an aos student who recently did a pilgrimage to Singapore and Indonesia- nice when one can combine a visit to family with an educational purpose. Anyway, I would love to hear some opinions from the forum regarding the current status of Mokara breeding. I learned a lot on location, but some of what I was told was- shall we say- purposely confusing, at least that is what it felt like, and now I am interested in who is breeding what to whom, and for what purpose. Mkra's seem to be going in two directions, maintaining the starry shape and flower count, or going for flat and round with less flowers, either way they are spectacular. Any opinions would be very interesting.

thanks, couchalot

[WhiteRabbit]

Glad you found us!
I can't comments regarding Mokaras (just wanted to welcome you) - I hope some other members will have opinions to share.

[dounoharm]

gosh, whichever way they go they are beautiful!! i think it would be a matter of your personal choice which way to go, it will be well recieved in the markets i am sure, gl

[Ray]

Tall and floriforous is great for the cut-flower trade; more compact is better for the hobbyist.

[Bud]

I dont know of anyone breeding Mokara in the US....but I know of a couple of sellers who grow them from seedling and flasks that they ordered from Singapore.
I own several Mokara plants and posted some of their blooms here....but I am still learning how to crosspollinate correctly as lab scientists do (I did sit-in a botanical class at NYU for a week when they were doing crosspollination of flowers=not orchids= and that doesnt make me knowledgeable yet unless next time I will bring my orchid flowers and do the pollination in the lab)

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Bud

I dont know of anyone breeding Mokara in the US....but I know of a couple of sellers who grow them from seedling and flasks that they ordered from Singapore.
I own several Mokara plants and posted some of their blooms here....but I am still learning how to crosspollinate correctly as lab scientists do (I did sit-in a botanical class at NYU for a week when they were doing crosspollination of flowers=not orchids= and that doesnt make me knowledgeable yet unless next time I will bring my orchid flowers and do the pollination in the lab)

I have actually done my own cross pollination successfully of two Mokaras. I have also cross pollinated epidendrums with broughtonias. And have had success with getting the seeds to catch without sending to a lab. I have a Mokara actually that should be ready to open in the next couple of months. What you will certainly need is patience for mokaras and vandas; they take almost a year for the pods to be ready.
I am actually interested in finding out how to go about naming a new cross? Because I'm interested in creating my own new hybrid.