When do they flower, and how many flowers do you usually get per plant?
Koa said:
When do they flower, and how many flowers do you usually get per plant?
I’m not sure about the exact number, but when they bloom, the entire tree is covered in flowers from top to bottom. It’s incredible—hundreds of fragrant flowers, more than we can even pollinate! The number depends on the climate and humidity.
Paden said:
@Zeek
Please share updates when they flower! I’ve never seen vanilla growing—it’s fascinating!
Yes, me too! Would love to see more pics when they bloom.
Absolutely gorgeous! Please post more pictures of the process and the harvest. I’m so jealous of your vanilla!
Dev said:
Wow, I just learned that vanilla comes from an orchid.
Yep, vanilla comes from the seed pods of the vanilla orchid. Fun fact: every single vanilla bean has to be hand-pollinated because the natural pollinator, the vanilla bean bee, might be extinct. Pollination has to happen within six hours of the flower blooming to get a bean that will take nine months to develop. Here’s more info.
@Fisher
I just learned about the vanilla bean bee possibly being extinct.
Ren said:
@Fisher
I just learned about the vanilla bean bee possibly being extinct.
It’s so interesting. They haven’t seen any bees pollinate vanilla in their natural habitat yet—it’s a mystery whether the bees are extinct or just really rare. Since most vanilla is grown outside its native range, hand pollination is now the norm.
@Fisher
Thank you for explaining, that’s fascinating and a little sad.
@Fisher
That’s really interesting.
Flann said:
@Fisher
Does that mean wild vanilla doesn’t produce seed pods anymore?
Wild vanilla does flower, but without pollination, the seed pods won’t form. This only happens naturally in their native habitat, where the bees might still exist. Outside of that, it’s all up to hand pollination. Habitat loss and overexploitation have made wild vanilla rare. More about it here.
Dev said:
Wow, I just learned that vanilla comes from an orchid.
I just found that out too!
Wow, I didn’t realize vanilla plants are climbing vines! Thanks for sharing—there’s so much to learn about plants!
Amazing! Please post again when they’re flowering.
This is such a dream! Vanilla orchids don’t do well indoors in the Midwest, so I’m jealous!
Have you ever tried using the beans fresh, like green beans?
Ellis said:
Have you ever tried using the beans fresh, like green beans?
Fresh vanilla beans don’t have much flavor—they’re kind of mild and herbal, plus they can cause irritation if eaten raw. After harvesting, we cure the beans. We usually end up with several kilograms of pods and often give a lot away to friends and neighbors.
@Zeek
You’re amazing for sharing them like that!
I love seeing posts like this! Vanilla orchids are so unique, and it’s amazing to see them growing like this. Please share more when they flower and when you harvest!