Vanilla planifolia
This is the signature/central plant in the main Berlin orchid house. It is
growing on a trellis that is low and strongly resenbles a grape trellis. It
is perhaps 40 feet long and dominates the greenhouse. The growth apparently
never lifts more than slightly from the grape arbour.
Recently we readied our Vanilla for moving to another greenhouse in Royal
Botanical Gardens by pulling it away from the glass walls where it was
growing steadily toward the high vents. We bent it over and attached it to
some horizontal bark-covered boards which would make moving the larger
plants easier. The move has been delayed, but both large plants have
produced many flowers which we have tried to pollinate.
A few days ago a volunteer who has joined us from Sri Lanka complimented us
on the growth we had developed because V. planifolia does not flower until
it bends over. Go figure.
I remember seeing a huge plant at Longwood Gardens a few years ago. I think
the plant has been removed now but I remember seeing that the flowers were
only produced up at the top of the plant where it was beginning to bend
over.
The flowers live only one day but are very beautiful and I suggest that you
work on the horizontal nature of the plant and give it no other special
conditions. We water and fertilize as all our other orchids.
Good luck
Jim Brasch
Burlington, Canada
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