Please Help

[JMurphy77]

I went outside today and saw that my vanilla orchid - a gift, and one I certainly can't afford to replace - had broken from the main cutting that I was growing it from. It's still partly connected, and due to all the rain we've had recently down here in SoFla, has several healthy air roots. However, I'm really worried that the shock might kill my poor plant. I very carefully straightened the vine out to encourage the broken ends to maybe heal together, but I'm worried about a pest or something getting into the break. Is there anything else I can do? For that matter, what is the likelihood that the vanilla will survive? Thanks

[solay]

Geee...sorry to hear that. I know I've tried scotch tape. Works pretty good. Also other geeks have used a glue and cinnamon paste to attach broken spikes. Other than that I don't know what to recommend. Someone else may have a better suggestion though. Have a picture?

[articuno75]

Hi Jmurphy.

So sorry to hear that. Here is the thread that talks about the cinnamon glue. It's rather lengthy, but I hope that it helps.

[JMurphy77]

Thank you so much - I'll see if I can't find some glue tonight and try this tomorrow. We just moved (my plants now have a YARD!!! I'm so excited!) and most everything is still packed up. I'm wondering if the wind contributed to the break. My plants have been on a balcony for the last year and therefore mostly sheltered from the strong breezes we've been getting.

Aside from that - the vine I have now is growing from what was originally a 2-inch cutting, so is it possible that the vine will continue to grow as long as I continue to mist the air roots daily?

[digitalgate]

funny, a simple scotch tape does the trick.

[jerrymeola]

Expect more to break off the parent plant because it is a common growing pattern of Vanilla orchids. It is one of their methods of reproduction.

Treat the 'broken' portion as a keiki.

Vanilla are a free climbing vine and trying to grow them in pots is a challenge. Ours sit at the base of a large oak tree and after a year none of the roots have grown into the ground. Best is when the roots start to glue themselves to the tree.

You can grow Vanilla to about 20 feet in trees in South Florida. The tree was enough protection for the plant when temperatures went to 25 one night last January here in Fort Myers.

[11Orchid126]

Florists sell an inexpensive green sticky tape that works well for split leaves and broken spikes and such. It lasts on the leaves for several years and is resistant to water.

[PhalPal]

I broke a phal spike six months ago and was just sick. Sounds too, too simple, but scotch tape worked perfectly!! Not only did it save my 13 buds, but I now have a subspike with four newly opened flowers. I think the success was because I did it immediately but is did the trick.