Live plant support(totem)

[pikevi]

I was trying to find a slat with bark attached to it to be used as a support for my Vanilla planifolium. I could not find any. I am currently using a piece of wood (from building material) as a support. I see a couple of new clinging roots growing at the top.

While shopping around for the prop, yucca plants caught my eye as a possible support for the orchid.

My questions are:

Can live plants be used for that purpose?

If it can be used, will "planting" ( or placing) the orchid pot in another larger pot with Yucca be more helpful for future handling?

How big should the pot be for the Vanilla orchid?

A photo is attached.

Thank you.

[tom499]

well, the problem is them sharing a pot. they are gonna be competing for minerals and water, unless you somehow rig up a seperate pot for the orchid ontop of the yucca tree soil :S or something.

but orchids arent parasitic so it is a possibility

[pikevi]

tom499: that was my idea too. Plant the yucca(s) in a very large pot and place the smaller pot with the orchid in front and inside the soil.

I am still looking and hoping to get a pole.

Thanks

[jerrymeola]

A few things about Vanilla.

They will climb up the support and along the way they will kill off the roots and separate from the pot. They will cling to anything but keeping them watered indoors is a problem.

For indoor growing I suggest a hanging basket and let them go over the sides.

Outdoors they grow ten feet a year here in Florida.

[pikevi]

Thanks jerrymeola.

I will try and get a sufficiently large hanging 'pot' to plant my Vanilla orchid.

I assume the growth will be similar to Pothos planted in hanging pots.