Description
How to take care Vanilla Planifolia Plant  :
- This growing guide is for Vanilla planifolia, but it can work for many other orchids in the vanilla genus as well. It is however always best to obtain instructions regarding the specific vanilla species you wish to keep since their preferences do vary somewhat.
- Watering Vanilla plants : vanilla plant with mature beansThe initial media is only for support until vine gets established and attention should, therefore, be focused chiefly on aerial roots when it comes to feeding and watering. Water your vanilla orchid frequently and try to resemble the natural environment in tropical Mexico.
- Nutrients for Vanilla orchids : Feed your vanilla orchids ½ teaspoon of fertilizer every two weeks, preferably of the urea-free 20-10-20 variety. It is safer to dilute the fertilizer and serve over the course of several days instead of giving your orchid one large feeding every second week.
- Vanilla orchid temperature : The vanilla orchid appreciates a change between day and night temperatures. 27-32º C (80-90º F) is ideal during the day, while the preferred night temperature is 15.5-21º C (60-70º F).
- Vanilla orchid light : Place your vanilla plant in a spot where it will receive direct sun from morning to noon and bright shade from noon to evening. In the wild, the vanilla orchids are normally exposed to light that is filtered down through the forest canopy. This type of partial shade will shelter the orchids from direct afternoon sun.
- Potting medium for a Vanilla orchid : The medium is only used for support until the vanilla orchid, which is a vine, gets established on its support. The vanilla orchid will produce aerial roots and absorbed water and nutrient through them. Many different types of potting media can be used, from bark or moss to pebbles or tire treads.
- Repotting a Vanilla plant : As mentioned above, the potting medium will only be used for support until the vanilla orchid gets established.
- Pruning of Vanilla plants : Vanilla orchids will not bear fruit until they are at least three years of age. When the vanilla plant is 2 ½ – 3 years old it is advisable to prune the tip if you want the vanilla plant to produce flowers.
- Flowering and pollination : The buds on a vanilla orchid will develop into lateral branches and the flowers bloom on these branches. Each branch can have up to 20 buds opening over a month or so.The vanilla flower relays on the Melipona bee for pollination so unless you happen to live in a part of Mexico where Melipona bees occur, you will need to hand-pollinate your orchids if you want them to produce fruits. A vanilla flower that is not pollinated will simply wilt and fall off.Each flower must be pollinated shortly after opening so be prepared to check your orchids frequently for new open flowers. A vanilla flower will open up in the morning and close itself late in the afternoon, never to re-open again.During hand-pollination, the most common method involves using a small splinter of wood or a grass stem to carefully lift the rostellum (i.e. flap) out of the way and press the overhanging anther against the stigma. This will result in self-pollination and eventually vanilla beans. Commercial growers will normally only pollinate a few flowers on each stem since this leads to beans of a higher quality.
What you get:
- Each package contains: 1 pics Vanilla Planifolia Plant (6-12 inch)
- Planters Size: 3-4 inch plastic planter (Round Shape)
Note:Â Â Plants will be sent with coco peat or prepared soil. If the plant meets its Temporary Wilting Point(TWP) due to delivery delay or similar issues in transit, customers are requested not to worry. Watering it generously will recover its turgidity. For further information, feel free to contact us.
