Can I save my vanilla?

9 years ago

I got this guy a few months ago and he was almost completely dried out when I went to repot him. I think I overcompensated on the watering and he's just in really rough shape. His base roots are trashed but he's got two good aerial(?) roots. I saved an over watered phal a few years ago but the vanilla seems to be a little fussier.

i know it will be years if and before any flowers yield but I'd really rather save him than throw him out and start over. Is this still possible and if so, can anyone please provide some guidance on the best way to go about it? Guidance on general care would be appreciated as well. I've got seven phals that are thriving and I've been following their routine with the vanilla.

Pictures attached.

Featured Answer

Ben(8b/9a north FL)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Here are directon to create and intensive care setup for vanilla orchid. If the plant has degraded more since you posted , there may not be anything left to rescue. If you have one of the clear plastic containers used for take out food, see link to a generic picture

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Clear-Plastic-Food-Take-Out-Containers-Hinged-1-Compartment-9x9x3-Clamshell-/250924699411?_ul=BY

and some clean sphagnum moss, you can moisten the sphagnum and wring out excess water, make a bed of moss inside container, remove dead portion of vanilla planifolia and just lay green piece leftover across top, close lid and make sure there are at least 2 holes on cover at opposed ends to allow some air flow. Keep it in a bright (inside) spot and warm, in 70's temp.

This will create the best chance your vine has to generate some new roots and leaves. I interjected into this post as vanilla planifolia can be hard to kill under normal circumstances. I remember throwing a piece into the corner of my greenhouse in south florida and never thought more of it until it started climbing up the post and making its way outside of greenhouse. The plant grew roots and attached to the post, no roots into the gravel on floor

Planifolia is the actual plant used to make vanilla flavoring. It is a climber and will only bloom after it climbs a bit (in my case it climbed 7-10 ft) and then it goes horizontal, white cup shaped blooms only last a day and will need to be hand pollinated, so get your toothpicks ready. Once the flower is pollinated the seed pod will mature in a few months after which you may choose to dry cure the vanilla seed pod and make your own vanilla flavoring....

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Comments (7)

oldmangroot
9 years ago
I hate to say it, but it's probably toast. I had one in that shape, and the more I tried to baby it the faster it died. I ended up starting over, and mounting them on a tree. Seem much happier!
jane__ny
9 years ago
It would help to know where in the world you live? What are your growing conditions? What light are you giving the plant? Does it go outside, lives inside, etc.

Please provide more info.

Jane
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tropicbreezent
9 years ago
It certainly doesn't look encouraging. Putting a stem into soil doesn't usually work out well, it tends to rot off. I find it best to lay the stem on the surface, the roots that develop go down into the soil. If you want flowers Vanilla indoors isn't a good choice. Flowering normally occurs after the vine has reached quite high up trees. Conditions that aren't normally achievable indoors.
catash701
Original Author
9 years ago
I'm in northern Virginia. My other orchids have done really well here. It stays around 73, overhead circulating fan Andrew I have humidity trays under them. It's in orchid bark and its more of a pet project to see if I could ever get it to bloom. It's pretty on its own anyway so I'd like it to live
jane__ny
9 years ago
Your conditions are not good for this type of orchid. It needs to be outdoors. If you can carry it over winter, I would move it outside in early spring. Give it lots of light and see if you get new growth and roots.

Its your only chance. It will not do well indoors unless you have a greenhouse or strong light.

JMO

Jane
arthurm2015
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think it is just one of those dreams to grow Vanilla Indoors. The only one I have

ever seen was growing up near the roof of a heated Phalaenopsis house. The "vine"

rambled all over the place and it was hard to see where it started and finished.

Everything you ever wanted to know about growing Vanilla