Despite the capricious nature, orchids are in demand among gardeners. After all, with proper care, these plants retain their decorative effect for a long time. And their beauty cannot be overlooked. There are many varieties of culture, but only one of them brings edible fruits. It's about the vanilla orchid. It is this plant that gives us that fragrant spice that we add to baking.
Description
Orchid Vanilla is an epiphytic vine growing on trees in rainforests. In the natural environment, this attractive plant is found in Central America. But cultivate a tropical beauty around the world. And all thanks to one feature: orchids of the type Vanilla flat leaved produce fruits with a strong and pleasant aroma. Therefore, they are used in the food industry and perfumes. But the plant is also valued for its decorativeness and special appearance.
In the natural environment, the liana reaches up to 30 meters in length, although at home its size is much more modest. Its large oval leaves are painted dark green. But the main attractiveness of the plant is given by tender buds. Depending on the variety, they are painted in green, yellow or snow-white tones.
Each flower lasts no more than a day. But then, in place of the fallen bud, a new one immediately appears. Therefore, flowering lasts several weeks. The buds emit a pleasant characteristic aroma that extends to the entire apartment. And although at home such an orchid does not bear fruit, its decorativeness more than pays for this shortcoming.
Orchid cultivation vanilla
Like other representatives of the species, this orchid is a rather capricious plant. And in order to grow this vine, you will need to make a lot of efforts and create a culture close to the natural environment. And for this, you need to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity in the room and perform such agrotechnical measures:
- regular watering;
- periodic top dressing;
- scheduled transplantation;
- trimming and shaping the crown.
In addition, it is necessary to provide the vine with a good and strong support. An ideal choice would be a hollow tube wrapped in coconut fiber. But you can also use standard designs for climbing plants or even grow a vine in a cache-pot as an ampel culture.
Temperature
Orchid Vanilla, the photo of the flowers of which is given in the material, refers to tropical plants. And she prefers warm, and even hot temperature. The optimum range for the culture is + 25 ... + 30 ° C. Moreover, it is desirable to maintain such conditions regardless of the season. The minimum permissible temperature in winter is + 18 ... + 20 ° C.
Lighting
Orchid Vanilla is a photophilous plant, but direct sunlight is destructive for it. It is advisable to place a pot with a tropical vine near the east or west window. If you plan to grow a crop on the south side of the room, be sure to arrange shading at noon. Otherwise, tender foliage will get burned.
If the only window sill, where you can grow a crop, is located in the north, then you can not do without additional illumination with a phytolamp. After all, here the plant does not have enough light for normal growth and development. And the liana will quickly wither and fade.
Watering
Vanilla orchid is very hygrophilous. Water the flower as soon as the topsoil 1 cm deep dries. In winter, reduce moisture, especially if you grow the vine in a cool room. To water the vanilla orchid, use filtered, settled water. Its temperature should reach + 30 ... + 35 ° C. If you pour cold water on the vine, it will rot and even die.
Air humidity
Orchid Vanilla prefers air humidity in the range of 80–90%. To maintain this indicator at a level, install a special moisturizer near the flower. If this is not possible, then spray the foliage of the vines 2-3 times a day with warm, settled water. In winter, be sure to cover the batteries with damp towels.
Once a week, take a tropical shower with a warm shower. But make sure that moisture does not get on the substrate during the procedure. To do this, wrap the pot with plastic wrap.
It is also useful to place the pot on trays with wet moss or pebbles. But note that water should not touch the drain hole. After all, through it the roots of orchids breathe.
Top dressing
Orchid Vanilla needs regular feeding. Fertilize the flower once every two weeks all year round. For top dressing, use special fertilizers designed for orchids. But before you apply the composition, be sure to moisten the soil. In addition, use only half the dose of the one indicated on the package. You can feed a tropical beauty both in the root and in the foliar way.
Transfer
With proper care, the Vanilla orchid grows quickly and it becomes crowded in an old pot. In addition, the liana draws all nutrients from the soil. And in a depleted soil, even regular top dressing does not save the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a periodic transplant, when the roots of the liana braid the entire substrate. You can understand that it’s time for the plant to change the pot by the processes sticking out of the drainage hole. As a rule, this happens every 2-3 years.
The usual substrate intended for orchids, Vanilla will not work. To make the soil, mix in equal parts coniferous bark, fern roots, peat and charcoal.
To plant a vanilla orchid, choose glass or plastic pots. Ceramic ones are also suitable, but only if they have holes around the entire perimeter. Otherwise, the plant will suffocate. The size of the pot should exceed the volume of the roots of the vine by no more than 2-3 cm.
Start the transplant in the spring, then the liana will more easily bear the stress of the event. During the procedure, carefully remove the vine from the old pot with an earthen lump and transplant it into a new container using the transshipment method. Try not to damage the roots of the plant, and if the shoot is accidentally broken, then be sure to sprinkle the place with chopped charcoal. Otherwise, the roots will rot.
After transplanting, put the pot in a shaded place and do not water the plant for 2-3 days. When the liana falls ill, return it to a permanent place and resume normal care.
Pruning
Orchid Vanilla calmly endures pruning. And its crown can be formed at its discretion. But it is advisable to carry out the procedure in the spring. So the liana will quickly bear the stress of the event. In addition, it stimulates the growth of side shoots. As a result, the crown is more magnificent and voluminous.
Cut the shoots to any length, but use only sharp and sanitized scissors for this. Sprinkle the places of cuts with charcoal. Do not rush to throw away the trimmed shoots, because from them you will get cuttings that can be used for reproduction. See how to do this in the next chapter.
Breeding
For rooting, select cuttings on which there are at least three nodes with aerial roots. Root them in a container filled with wet sand. But before that, be sure to hold the shoots in any growth stimulator. Heteroauxin or Epin is suitable. After planting, cover the container with a plastic film cap to create greenhouse conditions for the plants.
For the cuttings to take root, they need light and heat. Therefore, keep the greenhouse on a warm eastern or western windowsill. But cover the young vines from the midday rays. And also do not forget to daily air the greenhouse and regularly spray the soil with warm water from the spray gun. Try to keep the sand always slightly moist, but not wet.
When the cuttings take root and begin to give new shoots, gradually remove the shelters. Transplant mature specimens into individual pots as soon as 2-3 new leaves appear on them.
An attractive liana will decorate your collection of home plants. But for this you will need to strictly adhere to the recommendations for care, and the Vanilla orchid will certainly thank you with its fast growth and numerous fragrant buds.