Spice vanilla, known botanically as *Vanilla planifolia*, is a bit of a diva when it comes to its environment and care. But if you can manage to get this orchid to bloom, you might actually get to harvest your very own aromatic vanilla beans! In this post, I’ll walk you through the practical tips and must-know facts about growing vanilla at home.
Setting the Scene: The Perfect Location
To get a vanilla orchid to produce those coveted flowers, you need to mimic a tropical paradise: warm and incredibly humid. Growing it as a standard houseplant is pretty tough. You’ll have much better luck if you have a greenhouse that gets plenty of light and stays between 77°F and 82°F (25–28°C). Aim for a humidity level of 70 to 80 percent to keep it happy.
How to Get Your Vanilla Orchid to Bloom
Follow these care tips to encourage your vanilla orchid to show off its flowers:
- Water your plant regularly.
- Always use lime-free water (distilled or rainwater is best).
- Let the substrate dry out slightly between waterings.
- Mist the orchid every two to three days with filtered rainwater.
- Feed it every two weeks from March through September.
- Use a low-salt orchid fertilizer for the best results.
Since vanilla is a climbing vine, you’ll need to tie up the runners regularly as they grow. Try to avoid pruning your orchid, as cutting it back can actually delay the flowering process.
Hand-Pollinating the Flowers
Unless you happen to have tropical bees or hummingbirds hanging out in your greenhouse, you’re going to have to step in and play matchmaker if you want to harvest vanilla beans.
A flower cluster consists of several buds, with one opening each day—usually in the early morning hours. This is your window of opportunity! If the flower isn’t pollinated right away, it will wilt and fall off by evening, and you’ll lose your chance at a bean.
To pollinate by hand, grab a toothpick and carefully slit the flower open. The hermaphroditic flower contains both male and female parts, but they are separated by a thin membrane. Use your toothpick to pick up the yellow pollen and transfer it to the stigma underneath. If you’re successful, it will take about six to nine months for a green vanilla bean to fully develop.
