Vanilla planifolia

[Aleksa]

Today I bought one small cutting of Vanilla planifolia. Is there anyone who can tell me what should I do to make her create roots? And also, can you please tell me is she epiphytic or terrestrial. What potting material should I use?

[tom499]

Stick the base end on, or slightly in some spag moss. Keep it moist.


By then someone will give details on culture, but there fairly happy in house conditions i believe.

[pikevi]

The mix I used comprises of small coconut husk chips, small fir bark, perlite, charcoal and small amount of coarse peat and a little aquarium natural gravel and a little play sand.

I have two of them and both are growing reasonably well but I have nothing else available with which I could compare the performance

Many have said that it is not a good plant for the home environment.

Good luck.

[Aleksa]

Thanks. I got it in a mix of humus and sand. I don't think that is good soil because it holds water too much! Should I repot it?

[tom499]

sand wont retain any water which is good, but it is quite fine, so could be clammy on the roots with the humus as well, a bark/orchid compost mix erroring more bark would be better, unless you have the mix pikevi gave

I personally dont have a complicated medium just slap in some bark and moss or compost.

It will come down to watering habits and environment too, so you will likely modify the mix as you go to better suit the plant.

[Aleksa]

Well, one man who repotted it now have lost it-s plant so I don-t think I-ll touch it. I will put plastic bottle over it to increase humidity because this plant is very weak...

[Aleksa]

And one more question... Do Vanilla require drying between waterings?

[tom499]

Good question!

Just found this

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1214/

Should give you any other info you need.

[pikevi]

Aleksa: I keep the media consistently moist. I cannot give you a reference but I remember reading about it at the time of potting them. If I remember correctly they also require long hours of not too intense light.

I have posted some photos of them here but I don't know where .

Good luck.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

Today I bought one small cutting of Vanilla planifolia. Is there anyone who can tell me what should I do to make her create roots? And also, can you please tell me is she epiphytic or terrestrial. What potting material should I use?

Aleska, If I may make a recommendation, it's usually a good idea to research the culture and needs of an orchid before buying it. While we've all got excited and bought orchids without knowing exactly how to take care of them, probably many (most?) of us have also lost orchids because our conditions did not suit them. We couldn't give them what they needed.

Knowing an orchid's needs before buying it also saves us a great deal of money as we'll loose fewer plants.
Happy Growing!

[pikevi]

This is a photo of both Vanillas.

The new growth on the second one is longer than the original plant and is branching now. It took almost 4 months or so for them to get acclimatised and grow.

I don't know how they are going to perform in winter.

I hope it helps

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Aleska, If I may make a recommendation, it's usually a good idea to research the culture and needs of an orchid before buying it. While we've all got excited and bought orchids without knowing exactly how to take care of them, probably many (most?) of us have also lost orchids because our conditions did not suit them. We couldn't give them what they needed.

Knowing an orchid's needs before buying it also saves us a great deal of money as we'll loose fewer plants.
Happy Growing!

Thanks for the advice. Actually, I didn't bought this plant... I got it as a gift... Man who gave me bought it! I think that I can grow it. Should I keep it in hous during winter?

Thank you all for the advices!

[Aleksa]

There is the pic. It is in a fish bowl where I'm trying to root some Paphs catts and Dends. There is a lot of humidity inside and I think that will suit her!

[Aleksa]

Well, well... My Vanilla is still alive. I keep it in the bottle with the wet LECA on the bottom. It gets some sunlight when the weather is not cloudy. Temperature is not so high... Maybe too low but it grows. How do you keep your Vanillas in the winter?

[Aleksa]

I wonder can orchids grow under fluorescent tubes like this? http://www.global-b2b-network.com/di...scent_Tube.jpg

[digitalgate]

it depend. orchids that grow in low light will do will. But then you miss out the fun in
vanda, cattleya....

[Sea_Sun88]

I dont have a Vanilla Planifolia but I have a orchid book that has tons of information.
Here are the basics.

* Pot Vanilla in a well-drained mix, water frequently, and fertilize often with a dilute solution

* A clay pot provides stability for what may become a top heavy plant
Plastic also works well.

*As the vine grows, train it in place, around a stake, totem, or curtain rod

*"To set fruit Aka "Vanilla Bean" you must pollinate flowers by hand.
Thats the only way to get the fruit.

* You can propagate the plant by stem cuttings and insterting in moist sphagnum.
Once the roots form you can pot them in a mix.

That way you can share a piece with me lol Jk.

Oh and you must place it in a well lit room. But protected from the cold.

Hope this helps

[Aleksa]

Oh. Thank you for information! My plant is one rooted cutting. When it grows I will be glad to give you a cutting! All you have to do is to come in Montenegro (south europe)


I keep it on the windowsill and days are quite dark and cloudy, so I thought to put the plant under fluorescent tubes but I'm afraid of doing that... Dunno can it grow under that kind of light...

[Aleksa]

I have one big fluorescent bulb (daylight) in my bathroom. It has 36W. Is that enough for Vanilla? Also, humidity is very high in bathroom which Vanilla likes... What would be your choice. Low temperature, and dark windowsil or high humidity, intermediate temps and artrifical lighting in bathroom?

[digitalgate]

it will be enough if your plant remain the same size as it is right now... eh..
i think u don't want that.

[Aleksa]

Nooo... I want her bigger...

[dionysus]

it's a climber just to let you know.