With the right care for flowering - this is how it works
The vanilla orchid wants a bright to sunny location with warm temperatures of 18 to 25 degrees Celsius all year round. In addition, a high humidity of 60 to 70 percent is ideal, so that a bathroom or spa room is perfect. Pamper the demanding plant with this care and flowering will not be long in coming:
- Do not water the special orchid soil until it has dried well
- Only use lime-free water at room temperature for watering
- Apply liquid orchid fertilizer in half the concentration every 14 days from April to September
- Spray the vanilla with lime-free water every 2 to 3 days
also read
- Is Vanilla Poisonous? - Information about the toxicity of real vanilla
- Growing vanilla yourself - tips for private vanilla cultivation
- This care gives your vanilla orchid floral power
Provide your vanilla orchid with a climbing aid or place it in a large hanging basket, always with a view of sufficient access to sunlight.
The time window for pollination is only open for a short time
Once your vanilla orchid has decided to flower, a bud opens within the inflorescence for a few hours every day. Use this opportunity for manual pollination between 6 a.m. and 12 noon. As a hybrid plant, each flower has female and male organs, which are only separated by a membrane. Use a toothpick to pick up the male pollen and transfer it to the female scar underneath.
Over the next 6 to 9 months, the flowers transform into long, green pods that, from a distance, resemble runner beans. This is where the longed-for vanilla pulp matures. During this time, continue the maintenance program unabated with moderate watering and regular fertilizing.
Tips
Vanilla pods are slightly poisonous with frequent contact. The sap contained in flowers and leaves also causes skin irritation, which manifests itself in intense itching. If you grow vanilla in large quantities, we recommend wearing protective gloves for all maintenance and harvesting work.
