what to do with a sudden vanilla vine?

[DirtyCoconuts]

My neighbor graciously gifted me this 7+ piece of vanilla that recently snapped off her's in some wind.


I am at a loss as to the best action

i can
1- just place it as it is in my bottle brush tree and it will probably take hold

2- plant the bottom in some sort of loose mix and then place adjacent to a tree of some kind

3- mount it on a board with some sphag and burlap?

4- your suggestion here


it is massive and the break is already calloused so i think it is pretty self sufficient- thanks


Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr



Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr



this log is 4ft tall so you can see the scale better

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr

[WaterWitchin]

I'm definitely going with putting it in the bottlebrush tree. Ahem... with a caveat that I know absolutely nothing about vanilla vine culture. But I do have an excellent homemade vanilla ice cream recipe when the time is right.

[Mr.Fakename]

Sorry DC, I'm getting involved in this thread but can't provide any insight.
Nice gift though!

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

But I do have an excellent homemade vanilla ice cream recipe when the time is right.

You can't just say that and leave us hanging there. Gimme recipe!

[estación seca]

I agree. Tie it to a tree.

[tmoney]

my uninformed opinion is also, go for the tree!! but my uninformed impression is, dang, that is a fat vine!! i was so happy with our vanilla, but it’s vines are wispy little hairs compared to this....

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

...You can't just say that and leave us hanging there. Gimme recipe!

After I get my vanilla bean from DC, I'll share it with everyone!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

After I get my vanilla bean from DC, I'll share it with everyone!

Just let me know when the ice cream will be ready!

DC - Get that thing growing! There's homemade vanilla in my future!!

[SG in CR]

I've had thriving vanilla vines and when the support structure collapsed I thought, 'I'll just toss the pieces in trees and they'll keep growing." Didn't really happen that way. They kind of just hung in there slowly withering away. When I originally planted them I tied them to posts with the bottom of the vine touching the ground. Then I mounded dirt heavy in organics around it till the bottom node was well covered. This worked really well and I had flowers from pieces far smaller than yours in a couple years. They seem to want their feet in the ground. They will continue to grow upwards till they no longer can, only starting to bloom once they have vines hanging down.

[Fairorchids]

Agree, they need their feet in organic mix to start.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I put the bottom into a #7 nursery pot and added a bunch of peat. I’ll fill it with compost after I go pick some up. Then I’ll put it on a trellis of sorts.

Thanks all