Modern history of the Vanilla orchid had its origin right in the 16th century. The Aztec Indians were the one who in Mexico discovered that the seemingly inedible fruit or bean of a tropical orchid, when cured for months in heat and humidity resulted in the exotic aroma.

History:

Vanilla was not only considered to be a wonderful flavoring for foods and beverages, but right from the 16th to 19th centuries it was also considered to be an aphrodisiac and also to have therapeutic values, ranging from aiding digestion and preventing headaches to counteracting poisons and bites. The Aztecs referred these brown beans as the "tlilxochitl"(tea-so-shill), the Aztec word for "Black Flower", and also required the Totonac Indians who produced these orchids to give some of the finest pods to the emperor of Montezuma as a tax payment.

The Vanilla Orchid is often grown for the curiosity of more than the flower. The
fleshy green leaves which grow in a zig zag pattern clinging to the bark by aerial roots are formed by each leaf node. The plant can also climb up to 30 feet tall, as the mature plant which produces the flower and the seed pods. The seed pods are often dried and used for the vanilla flavoring in many food products. The blooms are of a yellowish-green color with a yellowish-orange labellum resembling the Cattleya flower. As the Vanilla is vining, a stake or trellis should always be used for extra support.

The various requirements for growing Vanilla Orchids are:

Light:

The Vanilla orchid generally prefers a partially shaded location. An east or west window location will definitely work if the plant is shaded from the intense mid-day sun.

Temperature:

Generally warm temperatures are extremely beneficial for the Vanilla Orchid. During the daytime the temperatures should be ideally kept between 80-85ƒ. During the night, temperatures ranging from 60-65ƒ are generally preferred.


Water:

The Vanilla orchid particularly is a tropical plant and prefers a moist climate. If the soil is too wet, the roots may rot, if they are kept too dry, then they can shrivel or even burn especially in the hot weather. Humidity should always be kept high which can be easily obtained by using a humidifier, a humidity tray or a tray of pebbles and water which is kept under the pot.

Fertilizers:

The vanilla orchids are vigorous growers so they may require more food as compared with other more slow growing orchids. A balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) is generally recommended with less feedings during the winter. Since vanillas orchids do not produce flowers until they reach maturity, therefore a bloom booster is not important.

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