Vanilla planifolia in bud...want to pollinate!

[My Green Pets]

My local botanical garden, where I volunteer, has a Vanilla planifolia that is covered with buds. We want to pollinate them, and I've found a couple of videos on Youtube explaining how to do it, as well as a couple threads here on OB. I will post updates here, and if anyone has any advice or corrections, please don't hesitate!

Here's what I have learned so far: The flowers begin to open in the early morning and only last 5-7 hours! They are most receptive to pollen within the first couple of hours and can even be pollinated before the flowers completely open.

Pollination is done by using a toothpick to lift a membrane out of the way which separates the male parts from the female parts, then simply folding the male parts down to where they touch the now-exposed female parts, and that's it.

Here's a snapshot of one of the many groups of buds all over the vine.

Thanks for any help!

[Leafmite]

Wow! I can't wait to see the pictures! I grow a variegated and a plain one in the house but have little expectation that they will ever bloom under my conditions so this is as close as I will likely get! Good luck!

[AnonYMouse]

I've been to a Vanilla plantation/farm and saw a video on it but it was in French! Can't advise since I only know a handful of French words.

Good Luck!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Oh yes get a picture of it when it blooms. How cool.

[shushu45]

Holy cow!! Congratulations!!

[Laserbeak]

You have to really keep track of its progress, it has to be pollenated in a window of only a few hours.

[OCRC_Dir_China]

Sounds like you have the theory right; now it’s time to try hands on.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[My Green Pets]

Here are some images to give you an idea of the size of the whole plant.









No buds have opened yet, but we're getting there!

[OCRC_Dir_China]

Great...

[Phal-lover]

Oh wow that's gorgeous! I hope you have good luck pollinating!