I’m installing some mission style wainscot in a bedroom. The wainscot consists only of the rails and stiles (i.e. there is no panel or beadboard that fills each area, only the surface of the drywall will fill the area). There will be one horizontal rail about 4′ from the floor, and another one right above the baseboard on the floor. Vertical stiles will be installed between the two rails every couple feet. All material is made of 1x MDF. Rails will be 1×6, stiles are 1×4.

My question is about securing the stiles. Since some of them won’t directly line up with wall studs to nail to (and there is no blocking), would it be acceptable to use a paneling adhesive to attach them to the drywall. I was thinking of using finish nails to hold the stile in place while the adhesive cured. If this is acceptable, what is the best kind?

I hope the answer isn’t that I need to rip drywall out to install blocking, but be honest with me. Thanks in advance for any advice.