For Swamper - My young Vanilla Planifolia

[Swamper]

That's awesome Epiphyte, I hope it continues to grow for you.
Jen I had noticed it on your wrist previously and then you avatar. I just looked on youtube, it is very cool.

[vmijct]

Pics look great. It must like your mix. Once it gets long enough it will start growing quickly.

[jenmonkey]

Epiphyte, any pics? I'm considering cutting mine above some of the rotted bits and starting to regrow a root from that... One good thing about the majority of their root system being on the vine, they're actually really hardy. I've heard of people putting them outside on a trellis and then eventually removing the root medium altogether. The darn things just thrive even without rooting to anything at all at the base!

I have a feeling the only thing that might kill your Vanilla is the humidity, or lack thereof, and the direct sunlight. They like filtered light and tolerate shade better than direct sun. But generally, they tolerate heat really well and will continue to grow under many conditions. The only thing you won't ever get is a flower. Try misting yours every morning if you want it to get big. Also, you will not have to instruct it further on how to climb up a wall. Mine has nearly surgically attached itself to my bathroom wall, which is not very textured at all. I think your little guy is gonna do just fine.

I just looked at the bag of potting medium and it does indeed have some african violet soil in it. I think the Vanilla likes it especially because of its natural habitat at the base of trees, with lots of decaying organic matter. Actually, my Phal's and the infamous Zygo also seem to like it, so I guess it gives good enough air flow.

-Jen

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[Mikeg]

I will have too look them up later lol.

[Rosiefuture]

Hi Jen, I had always wanted a vanilla orchid but I wasn't aware of the culture that it needed. Also here in Western Oz the quarantine laws are very strict and any seller in another state has to be licensed to send plants into WA. This also involves spraying them and doing a lot of paperwork. Because of this it's difficult for me to get a good variety of orchids locally.

I finally found a seller on the net who is licensed and who had a vanilla 'cutting' for sale but it was expensive at $25.00. I decided I wasn't going to get one any other way so I ordered it. When it arrived it was VERY long, about 4ft but it wasn't in great condition. When I examined it closely I found that it was broken almost all the way through only inches above the root ball which was wrapped in pretty smelly shpagnum moss. I contacted the seller and he was pretty unhelpful, wouldn't consider a refund or a replacement. He said it must have happened in transit but I'm pretty sure it didn't.

I didn't know what to do with this mangled vine and I decided to try to pot it up. In the process it completely broke from the root ball and broke again further up the vine. I ended up with one smallish piece about 8inches long and one piece around 2ft long. I have potted up both pieces but the smaller one is dying. The larger piece is in my kitchen window on a bamboo stake and so far looks to be ok, no dying leaves and it's been in the pot around a month now. Hopefully it will thrive.

Marion

[jenmonkey]

Hi Rosie, I'm so glad to hear you've managed to salvage a part of it! Sounds like your cutting will be just fine. If you're not doing it already, perhaps mist it a couple of times in the morning and early afternoon with a weak fertilizer solution and some water (1/4-1/2 strength works well for me) and that way the air roots will get the nutrients that the developing base roots will need. But otherwise, it sounds like you're made your little Vanilla happy. They're neat little vines, huh?

I think mine is going to need a little more surgery to be really healthy, but perhaps the strange weather around here has confused it, so it appears to be growing very slowly right now. Even though it's technically summer here, it's been very cold and foggy, so I think the poor thing is going dormant!

-Jen

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by jenmonkey

I just looked at the bag of potting medium and it does indeed have some african violet soil in it. I think the Vanilla likes it especially because of its natural habitat at the base of trees, with lots of decaying organic matter. Actually, my Phal's and the infamous Zygo also seem to like it, so I guess it gives good enough air flow.

-Jen

Thanks for looking into that- your pictures really threw me for a loop! AV soil often has a lot more barky stuff, and more peat than any other organic matter- they're much closer to epiphytes than most other terrestrial plants, so it stands to reason! Something to think about...I think I'll stick to CHC for my moisture lovers though...

[csearle]

Originally Posted by jenmonkey

Winner!! I love love LOVE wombats. Look them up on YouTube, you'll be in love like me.

Ahem. Yeah... Vanilla orchids... kinda boring until they flower. Love them anyway though.

-Jen

Hi jen, I have only just discovered this plant and am hoping to take delivery of some here in Malaysia. Thanks for your tips. I'll keep it in mind when I recv mine. Good Luck.

[vmijct]

I had great succes with a local potting mix that incorporated peanut shells(from the Planters factory). It drained well and dried out in 2-3 days. Mostly mulch. My vanillas thrived in them. The greenhouse was also under a tree. I moved and had a new green house in direct sun with 10% shade cloth and smaller vents and a slower drying mix. The vanillas have not done as well and some have gotten the rot. Am getting a 30% shade cloth. HAve repotted in clay pots with more mulch mixed in with the potting mixture. I'm trying to recreate the forrest floor. The vanillas seem to like it better. Also got a bigger fan for better circulation.

[Otterinaround]

I know the feeling of panic involved in black looking rotty bits. Vanilla if given half a chance will go wild. Mine sits out on a pool patio in Florida with a fine screen awning. I'm not even sure what the shade percentage is. The vanilla keeps pulling for the sun and getting fatter by the month. The root system went nuts once it latched onto the trellis. Happy times ahead!