The vanillas, growing the spice orchid

[bil]

So, a question please. I have a greenhouse with Cattleya levels of light. It routinely gets above 40 in the summer and can dip to11 or 12C in the winter.

What type of vanilla would be best, ie most likely to thrive and bloom?

This thread has niggled my bump of curiosity...

[ThevanillaGrower]

The most robust of the vanillas in my opinion is the V. planifolia aka the common vanilla. I had mine outside into the fall and it survived lows of 7 degrees C for a few hours. Growth will be set back at the low of 7 for a few weeks but the plant will not die. It can take the low of 11 C but try to keep it no cooler than 15 C. V. planifolia is tricky to bloom if you can keep the low of 15 C you can try the easier to bloom V. pompona.

You can choose any of the two, but with lows of 11 C
there won't be a thrive factor in their growth, especially if the low persist for many days.

If the low of 11 C is going to persist for a few days or more I would advise raising the average min temp to 15 C. Where I keep my vanillas it rarely drops below 17 C for very long and experiences highs of 24 - 32 C.

Being exposed to temperatures this low for long periods of time expect to see stunted growth or no growth and an increase in fungal diseases attacking the roots and the plant above ground.

[estación seca]

I have no idea whether they're available to buy, but there are Vanilla species growing on the central plateau of Madagascar. I saw one near Ihosy.

It regularly gets below 5C there at night in the very dry winter, and the wet summer days can be very hot - probably over 40C.

The species I saw in June 2004 was climbing into a tree on the west side of a clearing. It was in full flower, though this was winter. It had a beautiful waxy gray-green color rather than the bright green of the American Vanillas.

A cloud of moths was swarming around the flowers in bright daylight, and a chamaeleon had stuffed himself so full of moths they were coming out of his mouth as he tried to swallow more. Fortunately I was wearing goatskin gloves. I had no idea how hard a little lizard can bite.

[bil]

Originally Posted by ThevanillaGrower

The most robust of the vanillas in my opinion is the V. planifolia aka the common vanilla. I had mine outside into the fall and it survived lows of 7 degrees C for a few hours. Growth will be set back at the low of 7 for a few weeks but the plant will not die. It can take the low of 11 C but try to keep it no cooler than 15 C. V. planifolia is tricky to bloom if you can keep the low of 15 C you can try the easier to bloom V. pompona.

You can choose any of the two, but with lows of 11 C
there won't be a thrive factor in their growth, especially if the low persist for many days.

If the low of 11 C is going to persist for a few days or more I would advise raising the average min temp to 15 C. Where I keep my vanillas it rarely drops below 17 C for very long and experiences highs of 24 - 32 C.

Being exposed to temperatures this low for long periods of time expect to see stunted growth or no growth and an increase in fungal diseases attacking the roots and the plant above ground.

Yeah, it would really boost my power bill to keep it that high. So you reckon then that routinely below 15 for a month or two in winter means it won't do well?

[ThevanillaGrower]

You could give it a try. Vanilla seems to be adaptable if nutrient requirements are met. I keep mine in the house in winter near south facing window so it gets and stays quite warm. I close the blinds at night to keep heat in.

Probably get away with low humidity and you could be ok with lower temperatures.

Give it a try. The most reliable way I learned about the growing requirements of vanilla is to try growing it my self. You will see how it reacts to the conditions you give it and can determine what you need to change interns of your approach to its care.
For example, online I read that vanilla can take morning sun. No matter how much I conditioned the vine it only did its best in full winter sun and bright shade in summer.

My family comes from various parts of the Caribbean, and I heard vanilla is grown up on the mountains with coffee. Some of these mountains repetitively get dew in the winter and even temperatures close to 2 C and both the coffee and vanilla thrive. I know that in the Caribbean we grow V. planifolia and pompona because they are native but the gene pool is pretty consistent with those around the world due to plants being asexually propagated and for the world vanilla stock originating from central America.

Maybe, the plants on the mountains are distinct and of a little known hardy strain.

I tend to baby my plants and never really pushed them to the limit. The diseases I mentioned upon further inspection could be due to the potting media used at the time.

Give it a try though, the common planifolia is easy to get online. Probably get two cuttings and baby one and experiment with the other. Again see how it preforms for you and adjust your care accordingly.

[bil]

Thanks for a detailed and encouraging post. I think I might just give it a try, like you say, what's to lose? Plus I have a location where it can grow up to the roof of the greenhouse and then along.
I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get some cotton rope to support it, or something that would hold moisture and give the ariel roots something to hold onto?

[ThevanillaGrower]

Try it out it make sense. Keeping moisture on the aerial roots increases the growth rate of the vine and encourages the epiphyte stage. I am experimenting with supports at the moment.

[KonaLinda]

Originally Posted by bil

Thanks for a detailed and encouraging post. I think I might just give it a try, like you say, what's to lose? Plus I have a location where it can grow up to the roof of the greenhouse and then along.
I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get some cotton rope to support it, or something that would hold moisture and give the ariel roots something to hold onto?

Keep in mind--if you intend to pollinate the flowers, you will need to be able to get to them safely!

[bil]

Originally Posted by KonaLinda

Keep in mind--if you intend to pollinate the flowers, you will need to be able to get to them safely!

Thanks, yeah. but the greenhouse roof is just 2.5 -3 metres at its highest, so a small step ladder will suffice.

[bil]

Another thought.

Are vanillas heavy feeders or light? Normally I use a 25ppm nitrogen solution on every watering, but on the stans I use five times that.