Vanilla orchids are the source of vanilla beans
The vanilla orchid (planifolia variegata) is a flowering perennial vine that grows up to 60 feet in the wild. Mature vanilla orchid plants are used in the commercial production of vanilla flavoring. Orchids have a reputation for being hard to grow, but they require little care to grow successfully. The flowers bloom briefly in the spring, and the plant produces a seed packet that resembles a bean. Vanilla is extracted from the unopened seed packets.
Instructions
1. Select the correct time to plant the vanilla orchids. The weather should not be too rainy or too dry. The best months to plant orchids under these conditions are April and June or September and October. Vanilla grows only in the tropical areas of the United States in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11.
2. Choose a location in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight a day. Direct heat from the sun will kill the orchid. Place the vanilla orchid in the shelter of a building or under a tree canopy in well-drained soil, so the roots of the orchid do not stay wet. Wet roots lead to root rot.
3. Mix in 2 to 3 inches of organic compost or bark into the soil to improve drainage.
4. Dig a hole 4 inches deep and place the orchid into the hole. Refill the hole with native soil and gently pack it down around the base of the plant.
5. Add a support to the side of the orchid so it does not bend and break as it grows. Tie the plant to the support.
6. Add 3 inches of mulch or compost at the base of the plant. This holds in moisture, protects the plant and controls weeds.
7. Water the orchid with 2 to 3 inches of water weekly.
Tags: vanilla orchid, base plant, plant support
