Orchids - Vanilla

Plant family

Orchid family (Orchidaceae)

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Plant distance

100 cm

Row spacing

150 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm

Instructions

Description

Vanilla (botanically Vanilla) is a plant genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The 106 to 126 species are distributed in the subtropics to tropics. The first species belonging to the genus Vanilla were already named before the binominal system of nomenclature was established by Carl von Linne in 1753. The distribution area of the genus Vanilla is the tropical and subtropical regions of various continents. There are areas in the southern part of North America, on the Caribbean islands, in Central America, South America, Central Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia and on the western Pacific islands. The original distribution of most species is South America, although a few species, such as Vanilla imperialis or Vanilla roscheri, are also native to the African continent. The vegetative characteristics of many Vanilla species vary greatly and are therefore poorly suited for identification. The species of the genus Vanilla are evergreen, perennial herbaceous plants. These climbing plants grow directly rooted in the ground (terrestrial) or semi-epiphytic. The thick, bare, green, monopodial shoot axis sometimes branches out and is succulent. The gray-green roots arise at each node of the shoot axis. Its leaves are leathery, thick and fleshy; they can be large and elongated or scaly. The racemose inflorescence is short and contains densely arranged resupinate flowers. The relatively short-lived flowers are conspicuous. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and tripinnate. The sepals are free. Botanically speaking, the fruits are elongated capsule fruits or cylindrical, leathery berries that do not open. The fruits are also called "vanilla pods" when fermented and used as a spice. As with all orchid species, the fruits contain many very small seeds. The seed coat (testa) is hard. Utilization The best known and economically most important representative is the spice vanilla or real vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). The spice vanilla is obtained from the fermented capsules ("vanilla pods") of this plant. Around 15 species bear aromatic fruits. Some other vanilla species such as the Tahitian vanilla (Vanilla tahitensis and Vanilla pompona) are used commercially. These vanilla species can also be used in the kitchen. However, as the ingredients are somewhat different to those of real vanilla, the aroma is not quite as fruity. However, Tahitian vanilla is mainly used in cosmetics.

Growing tips

Location Light: Bright, but no blazing midday sun. Temperature: Warm all year round, at least 18 °C; ideally 20-30 °C. Humidity: High (60-80 %), imitate a tropical climate. Climbing support: Climbing plant, requires supports or trees to grow upwards (semi-epiphyte). Substrate Loose and permeable: Mixture of bark, peat, coconut fibers or orchid soil. Drainage: Important, as waterlogging causes root damage. Planting Time: Possible all year round indoors as it is a tropical plant. Pot culture: Large, deep pots or tubs with climbing support. Outdoors: Only in tropical regions; in Central Europe only in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. Care Watering: Keep evenly moist, but not wet. Water a little less in winter. Fertilizing: Weak orchid fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growth phase. Flowering & pollination: Flowers only appear when the tendrils are approx. 2 m long. Each flower only lasts one day. Manual pollination is necessary for pods, as the natural pollinators (certain bee species) are absent here. Special features Flowering time: Usually spring to summer. Fruiting: After 8-9 months, only after successful pollination; pods approx. 15 cm long. Vanillin production: The typical aroma is only produced by drying and fermenting the pods. Life span: Perennial, evergreen climbing plant.