"Vanilla planifolia ... Tropical Americas, not native to Florida but occasionally found in the southernmost part of the state. ... leaves... oblong to lanceolate to 8 inches long, on short petioles or leaf stems. The vine branch or stem is stout, green and clings to host. The roots are thick and covered with velamen... clings to the host without damaging it... absorbing water. Flowers... yellowish to greenish... sepals and petals to 2 1/2 inches long, the lip three-lobed. ... flowers appear in groups or individually when the vine is mature... Pollination in the wild is by bees and hummingbirds [! ?], but by hand for commercial production. The fruit... an orchid seed pod... harvested for culinary use while still green... undergoes an extensive process of curing to develop the... vanilla.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11, damaged by temperatures below 50 degrees. Height/width: Vine is sparse in leaf and flower and can grow to 100 feet long in the wild. Size is controlled for commercial and hobbyist purposes. Light: Part, shifting shade, such as found under a tree canopy. ... Vanilla orchids are epiphytes... Notes and culture: ... The Mexican Totonaca [Totonac / Totonacos] Indians reportedly were the first to grow the... pod. The Totonaca[o]s... conquered by the Aztecs... combined... spice with cacao and honey for a beverage... Cortez is reported to have taken vanilla with him on his return to Spain. It is said that Thomas Jefferson brought vanilla to the United States. Today, most of the commercial production of vanilla is in Mexico and Madagascar... there are new vanilla plantations under development in Hawaii. Vanilla orchids are easy to grow. They require warm temperatures, high humidity and some shade, such as found under a tree or in a shadehouse. ... orchid mix, fertilize lightly and frequently, and water if rain is in short supply. vanilla will produce flowers in the home garden, but the plants must be mature, from 1 to 3 years old. Flowers must be hand pollinated during the one day they are open. Once pollinated, the pods will remain on the plants for up to nine months before mature. After harvesting the green pod, at least three months of curing is necessary to produce the... flavor and aroma associated with vanilla." URL : http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/dec/16/plant-profile/ illustration : http://media.tcpalm.com/tcp/content/img/photos/2007/12/10/16SPLANTPROFILEFC-6161_t220.JPG ************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
