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Thread: Broke down and purchased a Vanilla poitaei orchid-what kind of potting mix

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  1. #1
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    Harvey
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    Question Broke down and purchased a Vanilla poitaei orchid-what kind of potting mix

    I ordered a vanilla orchid even though I don't think it is a great fit for me. I do have lots of room to let the vine grow around so that was a motivating factor in the purchase. It was also inexpensive.

    The Vanilla poitaei has a quite lovely flower. I do believe the vanilla plant will be delivered (at home waiting for me as we speak) bare root. IOSPE says it is "hot growing terrestro- epiphyte" which then causes me to wonder what medium to pot in.

    What would be best?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Turns out this was a trick question. No pot, no media.

    I just threw it into the large orchidarium and I'll see how it does.

  3. #3
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    Mary Kay
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    Ok, as I recall the Vanilla orchids we saw in Costa Rica were huge. They would grow up palm trees, then down again and then they would wrap them back up again. They said they grew very fast. So, better start scouting for a tall palm!

  4. #4
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    My second bedroom, I mean grow area, has 25 ft tall ceilings.

    ---------- Post Merged at 06:05 PM ----------

    Here is sort of a shot (a bad shot at that but no wide angle on my camera) of the height I get to work with. That door way up is my attic access.
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  5. #5
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    I used a large pot. The first layer was lots of shredded syrofoam (done outside so the other half didn't go mental trying to clean up the little things lol). I usually throw in some sticks, broken shards of pots, some banana peels, egg shells, then do a layer of dirt, then some more gunk, then dirt and lay the vine across the dirt. Keep the vine just above the dirt if you can so that the roots grow down into the dirt. You can skip the organic bits if you wish and instead add chunks of bark...you just don't need to be too picky. It all ends up as food for the roots. I add a three foot trellis...or whatever you prefer, that can be stuck into the pot for your vine to loop around on. As the vine gets longer wind it around the trellis. When it is as thick as your fingers you will soon see flowers. Mine bloomed this year and I loved the pretty yellow flowers. It usually takes about three years for a small cutting to bloom, depending on how much sun it gets. Enjoy...they are absolutely beautiful plants to grow. I have heard a dozen people say they would grow them just to see those thick pretty leaves.

  6. #6
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    WOOOWWW... your door looks like a 3d decoupage...it looks so real!!! Though its a real door...lol

  7. #7
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    Yes, that door has always been good for stories to kids etc. LOL

    I should have taken a picture of the vine before I placed it in the orchidarium. But here is the vine in the orchidarium. It is about 18 inches of vine with 7 leaf axils and roots.
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    I'll be making other plans for it soon. I think I'd like to see to grow a bit before I move it though.

  8. #8
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    Fun! I have seen ads on the internet to grow your own vanilla beans. They make it sound like growing cucumbers or something. I was amazed at the long process to get a vanilla bean. If you are ever in Quepos, Costa Rica definately tour the Vanilla Farm.

  9. #9
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    I read recently that vanilla plants flower when they are about 12' long. I decided I don't need to try to grow my own! lol I do have 10' ceilings in my living room though... hmm... NO!!!

  10. #10
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    Concur with Carol. I had grown a vanilla planifolia some years back and it had to grow more than 20-25 feet (took 3 years) for it to produce flowers. I lost this vine a few years back and started growing again recently.

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