Vanilla Orchid

[alexander_TG]

I am interested in growing a vanilla orchid but am intimidated when I try to think of where I would grow it. i know that they get extremely long. Does anyone have tips on what they grow theirs on?

[Leafmite]

Just use a frame of some type and just keep wrapping it around the frame to keep it manageable. I was told by someone who grew them to keep them off of your windows as the roots can etch through glass...no idea if that is true but I keep mine away from the glass.

[alexander_TG]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

the roots can etch through glass...no idea if that is true but I keep mine away from the glass.

That is pretty crazy, thanks for the warning though!

[iHeartOrchids.com]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Just use a frame of some type and just keep wrapping it around the frame to keep it manageable. I was told by someone who grew them to keep them off of your windows as the roots can etch through glass...no idea if that is true but I keep mine away from the glass.

I would love to see a photo of yours!

[estación seca]

The issue is they need to be fairly large to bloom. They grow straight up until they reach the top of the canopy, however high that is, and then bloom up there, in the bright sun. In this they are similar to passion vines, which preferentially bloom on horizontal stem segments. If the tree they're climbing on is 6 feet / 2 meters tall, they bloom at 6 feet. If it's 20 feet / 6 meters tall, they bloom at 20 feet.

[alexander_TG]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The issue is they need to be fairly large to bloom. They grow straight up until they reach the top of the canopy, however high that is, and then bloom up there, in the bright sun. In this they are similar to passion vines, which preferentially bloom on horizontal stem segments. If the tree they're climbing on is 6 feet / 2 meters tall, they bloom at 6 feet. If it's 20 feet / 7 meters tall, they bloom at 20 feet.

That is interesting. That might be an orchid that I wait to grow until i have a bigger space available.

[alexander_TG]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

These things seem to like a ton of space. I've never grown one but have seen many. Apparently they don't like to bloom until they get fairly large and long. The Univ. of Georgia greenhouse has a lovely one. When I last saw it, the plant seemed to go on forever.

That is what I have heard too. However they seem to grow pretty fast, compared to other orchids from what I have heard. Probably why they get so large.