| Plants
for the Vivarium
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Vanilla species are about the oldest surviving
genus of orchids. They probably evolved to their present form during
the Cretaceous period (when super-continents were breaking up) as they
are found in nearly every tropical region around the word. This period
also coincides with the differentiation of the other flowering plants.
It is a vine style plant with a stem seperated
into sections (internodes) by nodes that contain: a thick (succlent) oval
shaped leaf, at least one root bud (where the root grows from), and meristem
tissue (where a new plant grows from). The leaves are alternate,
and droop slightly. The plant (depending on species and cultivar)
will begin to flower at about 12' (as mine did), but will not really get
going until it reaches 20'. The flowers come out of an inflorence
that is retained from year to year, and will continue to increase in flower
count until it reaches about 10 flowers. The flowers are really short
lived, 12-60 hours depending on species. This is why vanilla extract is
so
The most commonly seen species of vanilla is
the V. planifola. Vanilla plants are still expensive, but they will
drop in price as more commercial greenhouses make an effort to produce
it. Luckily it is an easy plant to grow and there is only one real
thing to worry about, and that is standing
The plant will grow agressively, and is strong
enough to lift a tank lid if left unchecked. This can be controlled
by "pegging" or by cutting the top off and replanting it, as it will continue
to grow and the origional plant will shoot off new growths from the leaf
nodes. This is an unusual trait for an orchid, but heck the whole
vining habit is too. It grows well in the ABG
mix, or Orchid Grade long fibered spaghnum moss.
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