Vanilla planifola question... - Page 7 - Orchid Board

allaKAZAAM · #61 07-01-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Alla -
What medium do you grow yours in?
A way to conserve space with vanilla plants is to provide them with trellises that are spiral and guide them up and down - here is the link I believe you mentioned -
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...uestion-2.html

Thats what I plan on doing with mine. Just need to get the right size wire (almost if not thicker than Coat Hanger wire).
The suggestion/post made by "adriponic" is VERY useful for this particular Orchid (even good for anyone who grows other plants that have a growth like vines).
At the moment I am unable to let it grow higher than about 4'-5'.
As soon as I am able to find a suitable House/Condo to buy, THEN I will be setting up a more appropriate growing space for my orchids.
As you can see in my grow area now, I am very limited...if you look carefully you can see the pole that my Vanilla is growing up.
The media I am growing in is an Orchid mix medium size) with black soil (not a lot) and sphagnum moss on top (to keep the moisture up) since it gets dry fast. I realize I run the risk of rot, but with the easy drainage in the pot (clay pot). This shouldn't be an issue. The Vanilla seems to really like this, my only other problem at the moment is when I have to repot it, going to be a very tricky thing indeed!

I have read that they have delicate stalks at smaller sizes...and not sure how much room the roots need. Unlike other species of orchids (epiphytes and terrestials), Vanilla is actually both. The Vanilla is in a 6.5" pot.
Just hope this works for awhile yet.

Mark

Dorothy · #62 07-01-2007, 07:51 PM

Black soil? Do you meaning regular potting soil? I believe Sue (correct me if I am wrong) uses African Violet mix .. What is in your orchid mix? Fir bark? Charcoal? etc

- I have mine in a very fine bark and have yet to repot it to a larger container. It's growing but not as much as it could if I gave it better conditions. I keep it misted quite a bit as I have found the aerial roots will dry up if I don't keep them moist. I was also wondering if vanilla roots run deep and if the container I repot it in should be tall? .. Sue, where are you? .. Can you help us here?

Please

allaKAZAAM · #63 07-01-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Black soil? Do you meaning regular potting soil? I believe Sue (correct me if I am wrong) uses African Violet mix .. What is in your orchid mix? Fir bark? Charcoal? etc - I have mine in a very fine bark and have yet to repot it to a larger container. It's growing but not as much as it could if I gave it better conditions. I keep it misted quite a bit as I have found the aerial roots will dry up if I don't keep them moist. I was also wondering if vanilla roots run deep and if the container I repot it in should be tall? .. Sue, where are you? .. Can you help us here? Please

Sorry, yes...I use regular potting soil...and the mix is made by "Schultz" and contains:
Fir Bark 40-50 %
Arcillite 25-30%
Charcoal 25-30%

I am unable to keep the aerial roots moist, but this doesn't seem to affect them much.
I spray ALL my orchids at night before I goto bed, with a VERY weak fertilizer solution (an organic based one...Bio-Grow I think it is called). and on Sundays I give ALL my orchids a good soaking in the bath tub (only place I can), but not all at the same time (to keep any pest or diseases contained).

Mark

cb977 · #64 07-01-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Black soil? Do you meaning regular potting soil? I believe Sue (correct me if I am wrong) uses African Violet mix .. What is in your orchid mix? Fir bark? Charcoal? etc

- I have mine in a very fine bark and have yet to repot it to a larger container. It's growing but not as much as it could if I gave it better conditions. I keep it misted quite a bit as I have found the aerial roots will dry up if I don't keep them moist. I was also wondering if vanilla roots run deep and if the container I repot it in should be tall? .. Sue, where are you? .. Can you help us here?

Please

D, mine is in a 3 gallon black nursery pot filled with African Violet mix, and it's growing up a tree fern totem.
Gets misted everyday along with all the others