Vanilla is just what you need to enrich your private orchid collection with a magical beauty. The fastidious, terrestrial and climbing orchid wears a rich green dress of large, glossy leaves on meter-long tendrils. With so much floral expressiveness, the creamy-yellow flowers act as a decorative icing on the cake after a few years. Read here how to cultivate vanilla planifolia as a houseplant in an exemplary manner.
Vanilla is a very demanding houseplant
Moisture and warmth are the be-all and end-all
In order for a vanilla orchid to thrive as a houseplant, the indoor climate should be as close as possible to the general conditions in the habitat. As the characteristics of real vanilla tell us, the orchid comes from the tropical regions of the world, such as Madagascar and Mexico. The ideal location should therefore be like this:
- Very bright, but without the blazing sun at noon
- Year-round temperatures between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius
- A high humidity of 60 to 70 percent, preferably higher
Generating this sweaty climate on the windowsill of living spaces is not for everyone. You solve the problem by placing a small humidifier in the immediate vicinity of the plant and filling the saucer with expanded clay balls and water. Alternatively, place the plant in the bathroom, indoor pool or other light-flooded spa room.
Ideal location simplifies maintenance
In a warm, bright, humid place, the professional care of vanilla as a houseplant is much easier. If the general conditions are right, only water the orchid when the substrate has dried on the surface. Please use lukewarm, lime-free water. Treat your exotic guest to a gentle mist every few days. From March to September, add a little orchid fertilizer to the irrigation water every 2 weeks.
So lovingly cared for, the chances are good that the vanilla orchid will produce its creamy yellow flowers after a few years. Until then, the magnificent tendrils on the decorative trellis will draw everyone's attention.
tips
Homemade vanilla sugar from home-grown pods trumps artificial vanillin from the supermarket by far. Place 5 fresh pods in the oven at 120-150 degrees for 15 minutes, allow to cool and grind to a fine powder. A teaspoon of this real vanilla is enough to transform 1,000 grams of sugar into authentic, aromatic vanilla sugar.