Vanilla?

[JennS]

I know this is a long shot as there are no visible flowers. I just received this cutting from a family friend and he says it is a type of vanilla. Can anyone confirm?

Also, do you know if this will root (at the base) or does it just use the aerial roots to drink? Thanks!

[flhiker]

Yep! It looks like Vanilla planifolia.
Sorry, but I meant Phaeantha. because of the leaf pattern. Actually there is 4 speices that grow here. This is the most common. the others are: Vanilla barbellata(leafless vanilla), Vanilla dilloniana (dillions vanilla), Vanilla mexicana (scentless vanilla) and of course the Phaeantha. Out of these four your leaf pattern best fits the Phaeantha. A flower will tell all.

[cb977]

Hi Jenn

I have my vanilla plant potted in a large nursery pot filled about halfway with African Violet Mix. We put in a 6 ft pole and attached 2 ft tree fern totems for the plant to grow into...and we recently added a taller piece of wood for support of all that! It is a very happy plant.
Gets bright indirect light coming from the West in the afternoons. There are not many roots in the pot but I water/feed it once a week. It gets heavily misted every day.

I'm not sure which vanilla yours is. Mine is Vanilla pompona but there is also Van planifolia and at least one other, I think Once we see a bloom on yours, we'll be able to tell which species it is.

I got an 18" piece from a friend in June '06 and here it is today:

[taipan]

It is a vanilla but what species ??. You could put a piece of wood to support it & for the roots to anchor on. Also it looks as though the top has been cut so a new growth should appear from the stem.

[taipan]

There are quite a few species of Vanilla as this genus ranges from Sthn Nth America, Africa, Madagascar through to Sth East Asia - Some of the Asian species are leafless but still grow well in a tropical climate. Also one African/Madagascan species has a nice red flower.

[cb977]

Thanks for the info, taipan

I realized I have access to the answer right in front of me! Duh!!! I checked in Orchidwiz and they have 121 types of vanilla listed...only 5 of them are not species!

I'm shocked...I had NO idea there were so many!

[taipan]

cb
I didn't know there are 121 species of Vanilla but I know they are basically a "pan-tropical" genus. We grow about 4 -6 of the Thai species including a leafless species. In fact one was growing like a weed behind the house in BKK ( on a concrete wall ) but we had to pull it down & take it to the nursery as the land has been sold

[JennS]

Susanne, I think yours looks alot like the guys plant that he gave it to me from. He is more rough with his plants then I tend to be and just whacked a piece off and gave it to me. He said stick it in some soil, it will root. I was skeptical and have not seen any new roots yet down there.

I was also concerned about the top as taipan mentioned. I don't think he cut it, but maybe he did? I didn't know if it would still sprout growth or not. I am gald to hear that it can.

Also, do the plants get roots at the base? Should I worry that it isn't getting them? I water or mist the aerial roots daily. Thank you for all of your answers so far!

[cb977]

Just hacking off a piece is the way it's done!
I was always scared to do it but I've since given away a few pieces of this one. When I got it, I potted it in the AV mix and within two weeks, a new growth was popping out of where it has been cut. Don't worry, yours will do fine.
There isn't really much going on in the pot, just be sure you mist the aerial roots and leaves every day.

[JennS]

I will definitely move it to some African Violet mix then. I don't have any, but have to get some other things this weekend, so I might as well get the baby what it needs! I will make sure to mist it every day too! Thank you for the advice.