Baby Vanilla planifolia orchid plant in 3-inch pot
These tropical orchid plants are a vining and climbing
terrestrial variety that roots in soil or moss, unlike most orchids. They are native to Central America and the West Indies.
These do well as house plants – they need bright
indirect light, some humidity and a trellis or something to grow up on, but basically they grow like weeds. And they can
be grown outdoors in warmer, moist climates.
This one is the solid green type. It's a baby, nicely started
in a 3 inch pot. These are 5 to 6 inches high, measured from the bottom of the pot. We always ship the largest.
Keep this plant warm – above 55 degrees – and fertilize weakly about once a month. Keep them damp but
not sopping wet. These like to be misted, as they have roots all along the vine.
They flower only when mature,
which takes a few years. The vines need to be at least 12 feet long.
And it is possible to get a vanilla bean,
but it’s not easy – the yellowish-greenish flowers need to be pollinated by hand at the right moment. Vanilla
extract is made from the seeds in a seed pod from mature plants.
You can propagate these by taking cuttings,
however. Mature plants can get very big and have literally hundreds of flowers.
We have a bunch of these and we'll pick out a nice one for you.
Plants
from The Orchid Gallery are guaranteed. Period.
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