Remember it's grows UP, not down
It's an hemiepiphyte, and will grow way better treated as terrestrial. It can stand full sun under your latitude (it's half light in the tropics, but grows up until it reach the canopea and flower
So a 45° north sun won't do much harm save if it has not enough water and air humidity.
Best it to cultivate it in a standard pot with a water reserved included, the vanilla will thrive. And you can keep it wet, as long as it's hot. It'll be in danger under 16°C, won't grow under 20°C. And the roots don't like wetness and cold (under 16°C, it'l kill them).
If you search upon vanilla here, I'm sure you'll find a thread or two with posts of mine, more developed, enjoy
In short, keep it hot, wet and with lots of light, and it'll grow. If it grows about 30cm/month, it'll be fine, less something is wrong (without help, it'll slow to a stop in winter). Mine has grown about a meter a month in the last year…