Vanilla planifolia 'variegata'
 

It's not a setup, but I still feel the need to show it off.

When I first got my Vanilla, I was so excited when it reached the top of its stick after only a week or two. Now it has completely outgrown its support. I love it.

:cheer:

Great looking plant.

Kim

Thank you, I've heard mixed things on how big they nees to be to bloom, but most people seem to think it's about 30'. If that's true, I still have quite a way to go.

Cool! Lovely foliage!

It's 3 to 5 meters or 3 years old, but the light quantity is the key. Variegata have more difficulties too as they are less efficient.

Okay, cool. What's the best light? And potting medium? Also, do you have any tips on propagation?

Light: depends where you are, "7b" is local idiom, I don't know where that leads…

At about 45° of north latitude, it's facing south or west, with full sun (and with humidity accordingly, not more than 35°C). In a GH, near the top.

For Florida or equivalent, it'd be half shade.

Potting medium: I'm having a great time with a mix of coco husks, bark, perlite, leca, sphagnum. I'm checking some variations with hemp. It should be terrestrial, wet, but able to dry up (if cold), plenty to decay. Never threat them as epiphyte, you'd have horror stories for kids to tell afterwards. ;) Vanilla are almost all hemi-epiphytes, but grow the best treated a terrestrials.

Propagation:

Cut bits, the longer the better, at least 3 knots. You can let the extremities dry up to a few day (I don't), and plant in sphagnum or mix. I use water bottles with leca 3-4 cm then sphag or mix, I plant 2 knots, and keep moist and hot. I close with the bottle top. :evil:

I'm currently writing a vanilla how-to, expect it by this autumn.:evil:

Lepetitmartien- did you write this vanilla how-to? If so, where can it be located?

Need re-writing, I read a lot of vanilla lore since. And I've plenty on the plate already to do… (my big scent list, documents on pest and diseases to follow my conferences…)

It's located on my computer, so save by the NSA, it can't be reached. LOL

I'll get back to it this summer hopefully :) I've already given hints and bits in threads here, but if you have a specific question, just ask :)