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VANILLA ORCHID

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VANILLA ORCHID

Vanilla planifolia Orchidaceae One of the most expensive and sought after spices in the world, vanilla is endemic to Mexico and produced in tropical areas such as Madagascar, India, and the South Pacific. This true vanilla orchid is a moisture loving, epiphytic plant that thrives in high humidity and consistently warm temperatures. The trailing waxy vine has aerial roots that take water and nutrients from the atmosphere and do not require soil, though once established they can grow downward and anchor themselves into leaf litter acting semi terrestrial at times. Once the vanilla orchid is established in the right conditions, it can grow indefinitely to great lengths producing long lasting, cream-colored orchid flower bud inflorescence, opening one each day for over a month at a time and giving way to clusters of green vanilla producing beans or seed pods. It is widely cultivated by farmers who understand the plant and will take the time to hand pollinate the flowers with brushes and meticulously ‘cure’ the beans to bring out the aromatic Vanillin constituent. Mature beans require a fermentation period to slowly convert the hard green fibrous pod into the soft brown oily bean that is so coveted in the spice trade. 

Ships free! Available for a limited time: order by May 26th or while supplies last. The plants will ship in order received by early June in 4” pots. Available only within the contiguous US.

PLANT

$35.95

$35.95

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Initial Instructions
After unpacking settle your plant in its new habitat and give it a light warm misting to freshen its foliage and aerial roots.

Cultivation
Give this plant high humidity by keeping it in a greenhouse-like environment with ample moisture or in a protected place in the house where it can enjoy bright, indirect light. Mist the aerial portions regularly and place the pot in a basin for soaking from the bottom up about once per month. Allow to dry out between waterings to prevent fungus. Orchids are sensitive to water quality, use collected rainwater, or distilled spring water only. The plant will need support such as a stake or trellis, in the wild they climb as an understory plant up tree trunks. Use a light orchid fertilizer monthly for feeding at the root zone.

Pests & Diseases
While orchids require high humidity and ample moisture, they can be prone to fungal disease. This will appear as blacking at the leaf and root tips. To avoid this, maintain temperatures and allow the substrate to dry out between waterings, avoid the plant sitting in water and have the foliage dry completely between misting.

Soil Type
Your vanilla orchid is an epiphyte which means it does not require soil to grow. Rather it prefers to anchor itself in loose orchid bark or cocoa fiber. Keep it in its current pot until it acclimates to its new environment and once it begins to show healthy growth, it can be transplanted to a larger container with orchid substrate to anchor the plant.

Light Requirements
Bright, indirect light, dappled sun light or low wattage warm spectrum bulbs.

Bloom Time
Orchids will typically bloom when there is a change in light frequency. When your vanilla orchids thrive, it may bloom perpetually.

Hardiness Zone
Not winter hardy. These tropical plants will need to be kept around 80˚F during the day and not to fall below 60˚F at night.

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