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This is the orchid from which the spice Vanilla comes. Native to Tropical America and Asia. The flowers are thick, fleshy, and fragrant and are white to ivory in color. The fruit of the species from which the majority of commercial vanilla is extracted occurs as fleshy pods, about 15 to 23 cm (about 6 to 9 in) long and generally ripen 7-9 months after flowers are pollinated. Vanilla likes a warm (above 65 degrees) environment and very humid conditions (above 80%). This strain of Vanilla was originally collected in 1925 in the Florida Everglades where it grew and still grows in the wild. Vanilla is very easy to grow and if you have a little time to pollinate the flowers, you too may enjoy the Vanilla bean. We have found in our research that if humidity can remain above 80% and temperatures above 75 degrees, Vanilla can grow to 8 feet in the 1st year. Vanilla's ultimate trailing length is 50 feet, however, because it is a climbing or trailing vine, it may be wrapped around wood or our favorite, a trellis of sphagnum moss encased in chicken wire, to keep it within bounds. This Orchid is one of the few that may be planted in a pot with very rich soil and sphagnum moss. Vanilla is a tropical plant and cannot withstand temperatures below 42 degrees. Liquid Orchid Fertilizer is best. |
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