Vanilla Planifolia spikes

[vmijct]

I was out in the greenhouse reorganizing and misting this morning and look what I found! I couldn't belive it. I've been trying to do this for 4-5 years. No blooms yet. My ultimate goal is to make vanilla at home. But at least I've crossed the 1st hurdle. Now I'll have to get up 30 min early to pollinate the flowers before going to work if they bloom. I know they are supposed to be dead before I get home from work. I've studied the literature on the net. I'll document the process here. Succeses and failures. Any good recommendations for vanilla flower pollination instruction sites? I need pictures.

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[trdyl]

Congratulations on your first spikes!

[cb977]

Congratulations!
You've done a great job!

Here's one site I found:
How to Hand Pollinate Vanilla Bean Flowers | Garden Guides

I'm searching for the one I had a few years ago...I'll update the thread when I find it



I've tried pollinating my Vanilla a few times and haven't had any luck
I'm rooting for ya!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by cb977

I've tried pollinating my Vanilla a few times and haven't had any luck

Maybe this is a species that doesn't self pollinate very well.

Try getting another genetically different plant and pollinating them.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Vanilla flowers are pretty standard by orchid design.

If you understand how to pollinate orchids such as Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Vandas, and Dendrobiums, you know how to pollinate Vanilla.

Here's a video:

YouTube - Orchid Hand Pollination 2

Another video:

YouTube - Orchid Hand Pollination 3

[Blueszz]

Cool! I hope you can make some pictures before you pollinate the flowers!

Nicole

[2ljd]

Congratulations! Take a look at youtube for some videos...I know I saw a few (albeit not high quality) that showed how to pollinate the flowers using a very quick method; must have taken only a few seconds per flower. Imagine trying to pollinate hudreds if not thousands of flowers in a day...

[vmijct]

Expecting the bloom any day now.

[trdyl]

I would not be suprized if you have open blooms in the morning.

[vmijct]

Disaster struck. Bloom rot. I think i sprayed too much. Others are almost blooming and i'll keep you posted.