It wont grow a new top, it make start a basal growth. Why not leave it alone?

Helga, congratulations! 10 years. You're a patient grower. I'd have traded it or given it away long ago. Yes, more thanks to Howard.

Can't help w/ the cultural part, unfortunately.

The 1st Gallery page doesn't seem to have a picture. It'd be great to see your triumph.

Yes you can cut it off as you described and then hope for a basal growth on the base.

Brooke

Hello Everyone,

In answering your remarks:
Sakeofsilence, Mokara went through several stressful years, so bottom leaves do not look good.
whitecat8, I have tried to post a photo, but can't get past the "Submit your photo" page. What am I doing wrong?
highjack, thank you. Since basal growth is all I would achieve, I think I'll leave the plant as is for awhile.
Once I figured out (with your help) how to post a photo, I shall do that.

Thank you all.

Helga.

Helga, yes the Mokara's need full sun. I grow them in my rose bed with blasting S fl sun. If you 'want to promote' new growth, keiki's, try the keiki pro- one of my Ascda love's to put out multiple growth/keiki's and mama plant does not skip a beat- they look lovely esp when in bloom. Occ I remove a keiki to trade or so. Good luck!

sambac, do you mean the top of the Mokara (once cut) will continue to bloom every year plus put out new keikis? How long for the keikies to bloom?

The bottom half of my Mokara is still about 2 1/2 ft. tall with lots of airial roots. What happens to it? Will it only put out keikies, but never a top?

Is the pro 1 a product? Where can I get it? Is it something like rootone (sp?)which promotes root growth, which I have on hand?

10 yeeeeears????! aaaaaa! I'd go crazy waiting that long! and here I am just posting about patience and orchids! gaaaa, what did I get myself into, LOL!

Anyway, congratulations! this must be such so rewarding for you to finally! have it bloom!

Helga, the old base of the plant will put out usually several new growths up and down the remaining stem from old leaf axils. These new growths will take 2-3 years to get to blooming size. Once they put out their own air roots, you can cut them off and trade them or whatever. How many plants of the same Mokara do you really need.

The top cutting can be potted up as a new plant and will continue to grow and bloom.

serenasyh, tenacity is my last name. Same thing happened to me when I was first given a handful Kingianum stalks. Just goes to show, when you have no clue what the plant needs, or what it's name is, you won't be successful - at least not for a looong time. I was just stubborn enough to do the homework. My basket full of Kingianums is now a joy when in bloom.

At the moment I am bound and determined to get my first and only pot-grown cypripedium to bloom. It has survived 3 winters sofar.

You are right cjwatson, I don't need another Mokara. Just wanted to shorten the plant since it is so tall and the bottome leaves do not look good. But I am afraid it'll be another loong time before the top comes into bloom again.

Helga.

If you cut off the top with at least three or four nice roots, it should bloom on schedule. Of course, sterilize your clippers and keep the cut ends dry for several days, dust with cinnamon. And don't wait until winter; it's either now or in the spring to give the plant a chance to recover quickly.

Carol

Carol, by "keep the cut ends dry" is that to mean I should not repot for several days?

The Mokara is now in the GH as our weather pattern is getting to be inconsistent here in the NW.

By the way, can it be left outside during occasional summer rains (day or night?)

I shall do the operation right away, as long as we still have sunshine.

Helga.

Don't wet the cut ends for several days. You can repot it if that can be done without the cut getting wet -- meaning only the roots are watered. As long as it is warm out, the plant can be outside during summer rains -- after the cut area is dried out a bit. Otherwise, all types of pathogens could get into the stem and kill the plant.

Carol, since I have never done this procedure before, I have trouble visualizing it.
I shall do the following: Cut the orchid, put it on a table and let it rest there for 3 or 4 days. I shall mist the roots several times a day so as not to let them dry out, keeping the cut-side dry. I suppose it's best to keep the orchid in the shade for that long.
Mokara had been grown in a wire basketlined with coconut fiber. A thin layer of spag.moss covered the old roots. Many roots have grown into the spag, others have found a way through the coconut liner to the outside, others are just hanging in the air.
What kind of medium would you suggest for the Mokara top to go in? I have always felt uncertain as to what to use.

Would you be able to suggest a good website for Mokara growing?

I appreciate your tutoring immensely. Thank you very much.

Helga.

I waited almost that long for mine to finally spike also. Didn't know what kind of orchid it was but got it identified thru this forum. Good luck with it. Sounds like it's finally happy.

If you don't mind me chiming in since we're on the same subject, I have a question you might benefit from also. Once the branch (not sure what it's called) spikes, will it continue to shoot new spikes until it stops growing? How long will that branch set new spikes? Mine set one spike and I think I had two that failed. It is growing a keiki on the lower part of the original branch and has two new branches growing from the base of the plant. Thanks.

Little Bee, previous posts on this thread were from 2009. Your orchid has been renamed and now Mokara has been replaced by something else.

if you look up culture for Vanda any hints found there should be applicable to your orchid.

If you have the last bit of the name I can tell you what the the new name is.

i.e Mokara Little Bee I could look up the RHS site and find the new Genera name.