The Orchid Garden

Vanilla

Question:

        Deep in the middle of the South Florida rainforest, "Dr. Richard frequencies so high that only computers could read them: What must I do to try and pollinate for a vanilla pod – I understand there is no natural pollinator here.    

        There was an extensive discussion on this several weeks ago. Try a Dejanews "power search":         Click on power search, enter this Usenet newsgroup name, and the keywords "Vanilla pollination" and go to town ‘coz I’m not typing it again.         -AJHicks         Orchid Seedbank Project         Socorro, NM

Response:

Any cultivation secrets?  I understand that these plants enjoy warm moist conditions….and I don’t have a greenhouse.  I have a metal halide lamp, but also a small growing space, so can this plant coexist in conditions for dens, oncidiums, etc? thanks! Nita

Response:

Any cultivation secrets?  I understand that these plants enjoy warm moist conditions….and I don’t have a greenhouse.  I have a metal halide lamp, but also a small growing space, so can this plant coexist in conditions for dens, oncidiums, etc? thanks! Nita

g’day nita, they do in my garden in sub-tropical australia, they can be propogated from cuttings, and i grow mine in a combination of hard-wood charcoal, broken earthenware pots, volcanic rock and bits and pieces of coral with some course sand thrown in for good measure, no feeding just water regular and i have one that flowers regular. len – - happy gardening ‘it works for me it could work for you,’ <http://www.globec.com.au/~ntbandit/ "old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill"

Response:

I am an amateur grower in South Florida.  I have a Vanilla vine in my slat house and after three years it appears as if it is going to Flower. What must I do to try and pollinate for a vanilla pod – I understand there is no natural pollinator here. Thanks Richard

Congrats on the flower!   First, you need to get up early in the morning when the flower opens (they only last till about noon, and must be pollinated before 11 AM). In order to see the column better, go ahead and tear away the lip so you can see the column better.  "Experts" (i.e. poor underpaid workers slaving away in Vanilla farms in Mexico/South America/etc.) apparently use a small sharp stick to lift up the rostellum and then with the thumb, mash the anther cap into the stigmatic surface.  What I would recommend doing is removing the anther cap and then mush it onto the stigma, pollen-side toward the stigma.  If I recall correctly, Vanillas don’t have compact pollinia, but rather have smeary pollen losely tied together with thread-like things. The key is: get up early to do this…if you’re too late, the flower won’t take the pollen. — Prem Programmer, graphic designer/animator, orchid and fossil nut extraordinaire… Official DNRC Title: Minister of Lightwave 3d Plugin Design Foolishness Lightwave Plugins – http://www.PremDesign.com/ppp.html Home – (fossils&graphics included) http://www.PremDesign.com "I get so distracted by the bigger things Show me the importance of the simple things, Like a word, a seed, a thorn, a nail, and a cup of cold water" – "The Power of a Moment" Chris Rice

Response:

I am an amateur grower in South Florida.  I have a Vanilla vine in my slat house and after three years it appears as if it is going to Flower. What must I do to try and pollinate for a vanilla pod – I understand there is no natural pollinator here. Thanks Richard

Response:

Filed under: Orchid Flower

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