How to Grow the Vanilla Orchid
The vanilla extract used in baked goods, ice cream and perfume comes from the vanilla orchid plant. Vanilla orchids can grow in a greenhouse at home, but the likelihood you'll harvest vanilla beans from these tropical beauties any time soon is remote. The plants require a hot humid environment with temperatures in the 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit range during the day and 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The vines reach a height of up to 30 feet. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Grow vanilla orchids outside only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. In these zones, plant them at the base of tree. The potting soil serves as a support only until the aerial roots develop and the vine climbs the tree. Elsewhere in the U.S., grow them in a greenhouse and provide a structure on which the plant can climb.
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Pot the orchid in potting soil to provide support until the aerial roots develop.
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Locate the vanilla orchid in partial shade. In nature, orchids grow under tree canopies. Sunlight in the morning and light shade in the afternoon is ideal for the vanilla orchid.
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Water the vanilla twice a week until it is established. Do not keep the roots in saturated soil. Let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Feed the plant 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer once a month.
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Wait at least three years for the orchid to mature and bloom. The bloom season is short, unlike some of the orchid's showier cousins. When the plant blooms, pollinate the blossom by hand if you want the vanilla orchid to produce a pod, or vanilla bean. The plant will not bloom again for two or three years.
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The vanilla bean is the source of vanilla flavoring. Leave it on the plant until the beans inside the pod are fully formed and hard. Do not remove until the pod begins to split. This can take months. Remove the pod and dry it.
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Tips & Warnings
The Vanilla orchid is the source of natural vanilla flavoring for perfume and where the vanilla extract comes from for culinary use.
