Vanilla Orchid
Plant Size Guide

Vanilla Orchids
Vanilla Planifolia
days to maturity: minimum 3 years
plant spacing: 1 plant every 7 feet, supported
sunlight requirements: 6-8 hours
look out for: root rot and mites
harvest notes: harvest green pods and cure
perennial
We are so excited to be offering vanilla orchids to our community of home growers this season. Make sure your orchid has something to climb and is mostly in the shade, like most other orchids it prefers living under or on a tree. Native to Central America, Vanilla is a fleshy, perennial vine, grown for its distinct pods and small seeds commonly used in flavoring. It is easy to take care of and fast growing, but to get a vanilla bean takes a few years and some work. We have also heard the vines will only flower if given the opportunity to turn back towards the ground, once some height has been established, or on secondary branch growth that stem from the main plant. Vanilla commands a high price due to the fact that every flower must be hand pollinated to produce a pod! So once your vine flowers, get out a feather duster or cotton swab and pollinate yourself. Pods can then be cured and used in a multitude of preparations. According to the mythology of the Totonac peoples of Mexico, the orchid was born when a princess, forbidden by her father from marrying a mortal, fled to the forest with her lover. They were captured, beheaded, and where their blood touched the ground, the strong vine and delicate orchid grew.
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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Now Little River Nursery & Little River Gardens
Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.

