Vanilla Planifolia

Vanilla Planifolia Plant

Vanilla planifolia is a terrestrial or epiphytic orchid vine that is widely known as vanilla. These can attain a height of 50 feet in their natural habitat, but as an indoor plant, it stays considerably smaller. It makes a wonderful indoor plant with little care.

Blooms of Vanilla planifolia have a creamy green hue with a strong aroma that occurs on flowering spikes. Flowers emerge at the leaf axis along the stems. You can witness many blooms from this spike over a period of weeks. 

These flowers are known to last one-two days, usually one at a time. Bean-like clusters of pods form. The vanilla plant requires a post or trellis to climb because it is a slow-growing vine. True vanilla is the product of an orchid pod or fruit and has a fragrance and flavor unmatched by cheaper extracts.

Vanilla Planifolia Plant Caring Tips

• These plants won’t flower or grow well in heavy shadow, so they’ll need to be in the light for a while.
• Cooler temperatures will hinder the growth rate.
• To avoid root infections, allow the potting mix to dry out a little between waterings.
• Overwatering causes root rot, which can cause the plant to die or create a pest threat. 
• Slugs and snails can eat roots and young leaves as well. Make sure you get rid of these.
• Vanillas don’t start producing fruit until they’re at least three years old. If you want the vanilla plant to develop blossoms, prune the tip when it is 2 – 3 years old.
• Using a solution of balanced plant fertilizer, you should feed throughout the summer every other watering.

Growing Instructions for Vanilla Planifolia

• Fill the pot halfway with fir bark and terrestrial orchid mixture and place it in a pot with good drainage holes.
• Climbing vines, vanilla plants prefer high humidity, warm temperatures, and bright, indirect sunlight.
• Warm temperatures, preferably between 21 and 35 degrees celsius, are ideal for growing vanilla.
• When watering, make sure the support and soil media are wet so the air roots and potting mix may get some moisture.
• It can be grown on light-medium sandy loam soil with plenty of organic matter and good drainage.
• Every two weeks, give your vanilla orchids a 1/2 teaspoon fertilizer.