Vanilla – Fragrant Orchids

Vanilla Orchid

Natural vanilla comes from the seed pod of an orchid plant. Vanilla planifolia is a vigorous, vining orchid that can reach up to 300 feet. Keep the plant in a warm, brightly lit area with plenty of water.

The vanilla plant starts producing fruit only when it is mature, generally larger than 10 feet. The vine produces greenish-yellow flowers at the leaf axils, in clusters from which one or two open at a time over a two week period. They are short lived and must be pollinated during the first day when they are fully open and most receptive. Fruit pods grow to about 6-9 inches long and are harvested in about 8-9 months after flowering.

Light

Vanilla plants prefer good bright light but not hot, noonday sun. However, they won’t grow well or flower in deep shade so partial sun is what they need. If you are looking for plants that do well in the shade or with limited light, you may be interested in these low light houseplants.

Temperature

Basic requirements Vanilla is a tropical plant and will grow best in warm, humid climates at temperatures between 21 and 32°C (33.8–89.6°F). Vanilla requires a soil rich in calcium and potassium and will grow best in a soil which is light and well-draining, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Water

The whole plant shouldn’t dry out on a regular basis, however, you can let the top 2 or 3 inches of the plant dry out between waterings. On the contrary, in order to initiate flowers to bloom, you should allow the entire plant to dry out between waterings for a few weeks.

Humidity

A Vanilla orchid needs a high level of humidity — 85 percent. Usually, this would be difficult to achieve unless you utilize a greenhouse where humidity levels can be controlled. Always keep in mind that high humidity levels require proper air movement in order to prevent disease.

Fertilizer

Fertilize the orchid every two weeks with a diluted orchid fertilizer. Water the plant consistently to keep it evenly moist but allow the top 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) to dry out between watering. Vanilla orchid care does require vigilance for spider mites and mealybugs.

Potting

It’s preferable to use sphagnum moss or coco-chip orchid medium or an orchid potting mix. All of these mixes help aerate the roots and give proper drainage. When watering, the support and the soil media are watered so the air roots as well as the potting mix have access to moisture.

Pollinate

The vanilla use two toothpicks. Remove the entire pollen cap from under the hooded anther on top of the column with one and place it on a clean piece of paper. Now rub the end of the toothpick on the hairlike portion of the frilled petal lip. Its sticky secretion acts as an adhesive in picking up the pollinia. The drawing shows where to find the pollinia in the pollen cap. Pick it up with the sticky toothpick.

Pry and hold open the top flap of the rostellum with the other toothpick. Place the sticky end of the first toothpick (with pollinia) up and into the stigmatic opening under the rostellum flap. Remove the toothpicks and the rostellum flap snaps closed, trapping the pollinia.

The seed pods, or “beans”, will take six to nine months to mature and should grow up to nine inches in length. Beans are ready to harvest when the green tips begin to turn yellow. They will have no vanilla fragrance until the curing process activates the enzymes and produces vanillin.

Kill the seeds by placing them in boiling water for about two minutes. Find a piece of clean wool and lay the pods on the cloth in the morning sun. About noon wrap the pods in the cloth, allowing them to sweat. Put them in an airtight box overnight. Repeat the process until the pods shrink, turn dark brown, and give off a slight vanilla odor. They will be very rubbery at this stage. Store the pods in a container that is air tight and light proof.

Discard the beans if they split or develop mold since the mold may develop a toxic substance. Prevent mold by daily rubbing the beans dry with a cotton cloth.

To use the beans, boil them in water for about 15 minutes. Split the beans lengthwise with a knife several times, then place 5 to 6 beans in a 750 ml bottle of vodka or bourbon for thirty days. If you wish, you can add more vodka or bourbon as the vanilla extract is used.