Vanilla Bean Orchid (Vanilla planifolia)

True vanilla has a fragrance and flavor unmatched by cheaper extracts and is the product of an orchid pod or fruit. There are 100 species of vanilla orchid, a vine which can get up to 300 feet (91 m.) in length. Vanilla planifola is the scientific name for this flavoring that originated in Mexico. Vanilla orchid care is very specific, and each requirement must be met exactly in order for the vine to produce fruit. Learn how to grow vanilla orchid in the home interior.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil. It is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona). Often, it is simply referred to as “the vanilla”. It was first scientifically named in 1808. With the species’ population in decline and its habitats being converted to other purposes, the IUCN has assessed Vanilla planifolia as Endangered.

Vanilla planifolia grows as an evergreen vine, either on the ground or on trees. It will sometimes grow as an epiphyte without rooting in the soil. When rooted in the soil its terrestrial roots are branched and develop fine root hairs associated with mycorrhizal fungus. In the wild it easily grows to 15 meters in length, and may grow to as much as 30 meters.

When growing in full shade the vine will very seldom branch, but when in sunlight it will develop multiple branches. Younger parts of the vine, well attached to their support, will have a zig-zag structure with an angle of about 120° at each node. To cling to trees or other surfaces it has thick, fleshy aerial roots that develop from the nodes. These aerial support roots almost never branch and are only present on younger parts of the vine while the older parts of the vine will hang down through the canopy to the forest floor.

On the nodes opposite the root nodes it has a single flat bladed succulent leaf. When full grown the glossy, bright green leaves are 8–25 cm in length and 2–8 cm wide, lanceolate to oval in shape with a pointed tip. Leaves last for three to four years if not damaged.

• Flowers

The flowers come from an axillary cluster that will have 12–20 buds. The flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in) and only have a slight scent. The flowers require pollination to set fruit, but open in the morning and usually fade in rising temperatures of the same afternoon. Though each flower lasts only one day, the flowering of Vanilla planifolia takes place over a period of two months once a year.

In the native lowland forest habitat flowering takes place in April and May towards the end of the dry season. The plants are self-fertile, and pollination simply requires a transfer of the pollen from the anther to the stigma, but have a structure to prevent this from happening without intervention. In the wild, there is only around a 1% chance that the flowers will be pollinated.

• Fruit

Fruit is produced only on mature plants. This takes 2-3 years for meter long cuttings and 3-4 years for 12 in cuttings or tissue cultures. The fruits are 15–23 cm (6–9 in) long pods (often incorrectly called beans). Outwardly they resemble small bananas. They mature after about eight to nine months.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Vanilla bean orchids won’t flower if they don’t receive enough light, but these plants will burn with too much direct sun. For best results, place indoor vanilla bean orchids in a window that receives bright, indirect light. If you’re using a grow light, keep the light on for 12–14 hours daily.

Temperature and Humidity

Maintaining the right temperature and humidity levels around vanilla bean orchids is one of the trickiest parts of keeping these plants. Vanilla bean orchids tolerate temperatures above 60°F, but plants grow better when daytime temperatures are between 80°F and 85°F and nighttime temperatures drop to 60°F to 65°F. These plants don’t handle chills well, so they should be sheltered from drafts.

Like most other orchids, vanilla bean orchids crave moist air and 70–80 percent humidity. Misting plants doesn’t maintain consistently high humidity levels, but placing the orchid on a pebble tray or near a humidifier should do the trick.

Watering

Watering a vanilla bean orchid means keeping both the growing medium and the wooden trellis structure damp, because the plant is developing “air roots” that draw moisture from the air. Allow the potting mix to dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root diseases, but maintain high humidity in the environment.

Soil

Start your vanilla orchid in a mixture of equal parts orchid bark and potting mix. This is slightly more dense and heavy than most orchid growing media. Your cutting or small starter plant will need this combination of excellent drainage and nutrients to nourish the plant while the vine develops. After the vine grows its epiphytic roots, it will no longer depend on the roots in the potting mix.

Fertilizing

The right fertilizer can support the health of plants and encourage flowering. Vanilla bean orchids grow best when fertilized regularly during the growing season with a diluted, liquid organic fertilizer. As dosage rates vary among products, follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging.

Planting Instructions

If you live in an area where vanilla bean orchids can grow outdoors, plant them outside in spring in a sheltered spot that receives dappled light. Placing the orchid under a tree or trellis gives the plant a sturdy structure to grow on as it matures.

Indoor vanilla bean orchids can be grown in pots or greenhouses at any time of the year. Choose a well-draining pot 10–12 inches in diameter and fill it halfway with an orchid mix. Remove the orchid from its nursery container, take out the old potting media, and snip away any damaged or rotted roots with clean, sterilized scissors. Locate the orchid in its new pot, fill the pot with more orchid mix, and add a small trellis or other support structure for the new orchid to climb.

Pruning

Your vanilla bean orchid plant can reach about 10 feet long when grown in ideal conditions inside a greenhouse. Pollination is an important part of harvesting vanilla, but this species does not need to be pruned in order to produce these healthy pods. However, it’s easy to trim these plants to any length that suits the needs of your space if they become too long. Select a section of the vine below a growth node, then use a clean, sharp pair of gardening shears or pruners to snip the vine to your preferred length. Some cuttings can later be propagated to grow new plants if desired.

Propagation

While it is possible to grow vanilla bean orchid from seed, the process is very complicated and unreliable. Consequently, this plant is normally propagated via stem cuttings:

• Snip a segment of vine that has at least six growth nodes on it. Remove the two lowest leaves on the cutting.
• Fill a small flower pot with either moist sphagnum moss or a mixture of equal parts orchid bark, peat moss, and perlite.
• Bury the plant cutting into the growing medium (covering the lower nodes), then press the medium tightly around the base of the cutting.
• Insert a plant stake into the pot and secure the cutting to it with ties.
• Keep the growing medium consistently damp for four to six weeks until new growth appears. Once the cutting begins to vine, you can train the plant to grow on a larger trellis.

Repotting

Vanilla bean orchids should be repotted approximately once every three years, or when you notice their aerial roots sprouting out of the pot. Choose a pot that’s only one size larger than your existing planter, and always use fresh orchid mix when repotting. After removing the orchid from its pot, check the roots and cut away any damaged or rotted roots with sterilized scissors before repotting.

How to Get to Bloom

Vanilla bean orchids flower before developing the seed pods that are used for vanilla flavoring. Your orchid should bloom in the spring for about three months, typically beginning in March and blooming through late May. Don’t be concerned if your young plant is not flowering yet; this species finally blooms when it reaches about three years of age. However, if a mature vanilla bean orchid fails to develop flowers, this is usually due to improper growing conditions.

Like other orchids, your vanilla bean orchid needs a very specific environment to thrive. Bright, dappled sunlight is required along with consistent waterings of both the roots and growing medium. Maintain high humidity in your orchid’s environment, but avoid overwatering (which can lead to root rot). Your orchid may not bloom this season if its ideal growing conditions are not met, but by tending to the plant carefully, it can flower the following spring.
Once your plant is blooming, each flower will open for one day. Prune flowers after they close – also known as deadheading – to stimulate new growth. Your orchid will continue to bloom seasonally, and seed pods can be harvested within about nine months after flowering.

Pests and Diseases

Sun-damaged leaves are common on vanilla bean orchids when these plants are grown in bright light. Beyond that, you should be aware of a few other common pests and problems if you want to grow these orchids indoors or in your garden.

Mealybugs are small, sap-sucking insects that look like fluffy bits of cotton on plant leaves and stems. Over time, mealies can spread and cause a lot of damage, but small populations can be easily managed by spot-treating pests with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Like mealybugs, spider mites feed on plant sap, which can weaken orchids and cause unsightly mottling on their leaves. The good news is these pests can be easily managed by spraying plants with a few drops of gentle dish soap mixed in water. Repeat this treatment in 7- to 10-day intervals until all signs of infestation have disappeared.

Well-draining pots and potting mixes are essential for orchids, and plants will develop root rot if they’re kept in soggy conditions. Water vanilla bean orchids only as needed and make sure excess water flows freely out of the pot to prevent this common problem.

III. Uses and Benefits

• Culinary uses

The whole fruit (pod) or tiny seeds of vanilla are used as flavouring agents in food, including cream and custard-based sauces and confectionery.

• Cosmetic uses

Vanilla is one of the most important ingredients in perfumery because of its soft and sweet aroma.

IV. Harvesting and Storage

Patience is a requirement for those who wish to harvest vanilla from orchids, as the plants take anywhere from three to five years to mature from cuttings to flower production. Once the vine is established and flowering, hand-pollinate the flowers within 12 hours of blooming by using a chopstick. Remove pollen from the stamen of one flower and place it on the stigma of another flower.

Within a day, flowers that have pollinated will wither on the vine rather than fall off. Small green pods will form within a week, eventually elongating into pods that will be ready to harvest in nine to 10 months.

If pollination is successful, your three-year-old vanilla orchid will produce green bean-like pods from October through March. Good quality pods should be at least six inches long. The curing process is labor-intensive and involves sweating and drying, which contributes to the premium price of vanilla beans sold in markets. Every day for six weeks, you must wrap the beans in a blanket at night to facilitate moisture condensation on the pods.

During the day, place the beans on trays in the sun or under a heat lamp indoors. Following this sweating process, you should dry the now-brown and shriveled pods in a dark, dry place for an additional three months. You can store the cured beans in an airtight container indefinitely.