So how about growing some vanilla orchids
 

I'm just a beginner, but I have a general idea on how to grow orchids and especially vanilla orchids (I've done my research on how to grow these lil guys).

Just curious on how people actually go about getting their hands on these chaps. I've seen many sites that claim to be selling cuttings, however these always tend to look quite sus. That being said I'd also prefer to germinate them from seed, but vanilla seeds seem to be even harder to find than the cuttings. (I don't know if it's just Australia or is it hard to find everywhere? I'm assuming that it ain't that hard to find in places like South America n' areas like that)

Also, it doesn't seem like this forum is really Australia oriented, if there is an Australian forum please let me know. But for the moment ill stick to this place... it seems pretty cool.

Any words of advice would be much appreciated but just be warned I am certain this is what I wanna do, no words of this'll be too difficult or try something else first. My mind is set. That being said, I look forward to hearing from this forum and you guys.

Oh and hello Orchid Board :)

A cutting should be easy to get from somebody around you who grows a lot of orchids, depending on what species you want. The commercially grown Mexican planifolia grows like a weed in greenhouses. Way back when, I grew mine like a Christmas cactus in a hanging pot of semi terrestrial mix (coconut husk chips and potting soil if I remember right), and I just kept looping the vine back over the wide pot when it hit the ground. It would root where it touched the potting mix. I grew cuttings in semihydro, and probably some semi terrestrial mix too. My greenhouse temps ranged from 50F in winter to 115F in summer (you'll have to convert to a civilized scale, but basically too cold to too hot).

I doubt if anyone has grown a vanilla orchid from seed in a hundred years. Why bother with a three year laboratory project to get a tiny seedling when you can stick a 30 cm cutting in dirt and have a meter long vine in a year?

But they need to be fairly long before they start blooming.

i think, as a rule, that they will also not bloom while growing up. they have to think they have reached a natural apex and then begin to grow in a pendulous fashion before the flowering will start


this is what i have observed in four plants and been told by a few growers, take it for what it is lol

As far as I know, you need constant hot and high humidity conditions, which is something you don't want in your home (unless you have a gh or a climate like that). And I think the blooms are really small.

Here I can find cheap cuttings very easily but never got one because of their growing requirements.

It is true that vanilla orchid can grow well in tropical conditions. With relatively warm temperatures and good humidity, and regular amounts of light for regular plants ----- the vanilla orchid can grow very well.

In Australia - one nice source is from ebay. In ebay australia, just search for 'vanilla orchid'. A seller from Kuranda sells heaps of these on ebay.

there’s a few aussies around here! as evidenced above :)

welcome to the ob!

one of our favorite plants is a vanilla, and it seems to do just fine inside, but it is often high humidity and it’s sprayed every morning. if your conditions allow it would do better and flower sooner outside. there’s all kinda info about that and the best trees and placement and such. good luck in your vanilla endeavor!

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Another Aussie here. 🇦🇨
Welcome.

I was just searching the board for ways to keep growing my vanilla orchid in a contained way and what an interesting and lovely-sounding idea! You don't happen to have any photos of that would you?

The other option I came across is a tomato cage but I'm not sure I like that as much. I would love to just plant her outside but I'm still renting so I have to keep her mobile.