Vanilla planifolia in bud...want to pollinate!
 

My local botanical garden, where I volunteer, has a Vanilla planifolia that is covered with buds. We want to pollinate them, and I've found a couple of videos on Youtube explaining how to do it, as well as a couple threads here on OB. I will post updates here, and if anyone has any advice or corrections, please don't hesitate!

Here's what I have learned so far: The flowers begin to open in the early morning and only last 5-7 hours! They are most receptive to pollen within the first couple of hours and can even be pollinated before the flowers completely open.

Pollination is done by using a toothpick to lift a membrane out of the way which separates the male parts from the female parts, then simply folding the male parts down to where they touch the now-exposed female parts, and that's it.

Here's a snapshot of one of the many groups of buds all over the vine.

Thanks for any help!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/...616505a9d4.jpg

Wow! I can't wait to see the pictures! I grow a variegated and a plain one in the house but have little expectation that they will ever bloom under my conditions so this is as close as I will likely get! Good luck!

I've been to a Vanilla plantation/farm and saw a video on it but it was in French! Can't advise since I only know a handful of French words.

Good Luck!

Oh yes get a picture of it when it blooms. How cool.

Holy cow!! Congratulations!!

You have to really keep track of its progress, it has to be pollenated in a window of only a few hours.

Sounds like you have the theory right; now it’s time to try hands on.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Update
 

Here are some images to give you an idea of the size of the whole plant.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/...5db8405e4b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/...4d95bd61ff.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/1...27b3df9299.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/1...eecd641958.jpg

No buds have opened yet, but we're getting there!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/1...fcfc9b761d.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/1...f96f0b13b3.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7440/1...5c6fed81b8.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/1...ccbe44ed8c.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3750/1...5c87eb8f39.jpg

Great...

Oh wow that's gorgeous! I hope you have good luck pollinating!