Vanilla Care

• Growth habit: Vine that can grow 40-50 feet long outdoors or 10 feet indoors, perennial, hemiepiphyte 
• Preferred climate: Humid, warm (80-90 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Light: Full shade
• Spacing: 5-10 feet apart
• Soil: Well-drained, medium moist, (sphagnum moss recommended)
• Watering: 4-5 times per week
• Fertilization: 20-20-20 once every 2 weeks during the growing season
• Pollination: Self-sterile (requires hand pollination)
• USDA hardiness zones: 10-11
• Dormancy: Goes dormant 
• Winter care: Water less, protect from extreme temperatures
• Common pests: Snails, slugs
• Toxic to pets? No

Growth Habit

Vanilla planifolia is a vining orchid that can grow 40-50 feet long outdoors. Indoors it grows it usually averages 10 feet. It is a perennial (gardening lingo which means it doesn't die annually but rather lives for many years). This vine is also a hemiepiphyte (which is more gardening lingo that means it is somewhat like an air plant which can root in soil and on other plants even without soil). Vanilla will need a stake or trellis to climb because as it vines out, those semi-epiphytic roots will start clinging to anything around it, so support with a growing structure.

Preferred Climate

Vanilla loves warm (especially 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit) and humid conditions. You can successfully grow it indoors if you can give it warmth and humidity. It requires full shade, which makes home growing easier.

Light

Vanilla thrives in full shade. Choose the shadiest part of your yard or home to give your vanilla its most natural lighting environment. 

Spacing

Provide 5-10 feet in between each plant. Remember, as hemiepiphytes (roots grow and attach to other things even without soil), vanillas need a little space to not get tangled into each other.

Soil 

Vanilla prefers well-drained soil that is kept medium moist. You can use any well-drained potting mix or a blend of potting mix and sphagnum moss.

Watering

Water your vanilla 5-6 times per week while getting established, which will allow it to dry out somewhat between waterings. 

Fertilization

All fertilizers contain three primary nutrients: (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Vanilla thrives with a balanced ratio of 20 Nitrogen (N), 20 phosphate (P2O5), and 20 potash (K2O) along with other micronutrients. We've got you covered with our all-purpose Fig Fuel, which contains that balanced ratio.

We recommend fertilizing every 14 days in the growing season (spring/summer). Vanilla is relatively slow-growing, so you'll want to give it a boost during the growing season. Once the cooler temperatures of fall and winter hit, you can take a break from fertilizing as your plant goes dormant. 

Pollination

Once your vanilla blooms, you will have one day or less to for pollination. Vanilla blooms generally open in the morning and close by late afternoon. Increase your harvest chances by planting more than one.  

Once the flower opens, take a toothpick and carefully pull the lower petal down to open the flower. On the upper petal, use your toothpick to pull aside the rostellum that sits in between the Stamen (male part with pollen) and the stigma (female part) Then press the stamen and stigma  together gently with your thumb…. and done.

USDA Hardiness Zones

Can I grow vanilla where I live? What if I live in a cold place? No problem. If it can't grow outside in your area, Vanilla makes a great houseplant.

On our website, we list each plant’s USDA hardiness zone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created the hardiness map to help gardeners identify the areas in which plants tend to grow well based on past average temperatures. On the USDA's site, you can enter your zip code to identify your hardiness zone. Vanilla is only hardy in zones 10-11 (coldest temperature = 35 degrees Fahrenheit). If you live outside the zone, you can grow it in a pot indoors. 

Goes Dormant

Fall sweater weather, the scent of cinnamon brooms, and the flavor of pumpkin spice emanating from the kitchen all signal the beautiful autumn leaves 🍁 we all love turning from green to a crispy orange and yellow; we know that although the leaves have fallen, the trees are still alive and well; they’re just hibernating (in plant terms, going dormant) until the spring season brings a wellspring of new life. 

Winter Care

Compare your city’s USDA plant hardiness zone with the plant’s to see how much cold your vanilla can endure 🥶. If you live outside the zone your plant is listed for, you’ll want to help it keep warm. The best way is to grow it indoors.

Your vanilla won't need as much water while it's dormant. Water lightly 2-3 times per week, allowing it to dry out somewhat between waterings.

Learn more in our Overwintering Guide.

Common Pests

Pests are not a huge problem for vanilla. Just watch out for snails and slugs, which are not any plant's friends.

Toxic to Pets

Vanilla is not toxic to your furry friends.

FAQs

A piece broke off my vanilla. Will it still grow? Yes! A broken piece can root in just a few, short weeks. Just pot it like normal and it will be on its way to growing roots in no time. 

Can I grow my own vanilla beans with both the regular and variegated plants?
Yes, both plants produce vanilla beans. The difference is only coloration: 
Vanilla planifolia is fully green while Vanilla planifolia variegata has variegated white stripes. Both are very closely-related and super cool plants. Whether you want brilliant green or a little color variation, you can't go wrong with either. the non-variegated type does tend to be a little hardier. Plus, sometimes the variegata's variegation fizzles out and the new growth is green. Either way, both are stunning orchids.