Growing Vanilla Plants in New Zealand – A Green Haven Guide
Vanilla plants can be a challenging species for some to grow in New Zealand, but here at Green Haven, we’ve successfully cultivated vanilla vines over 15 feet in length! With the right setup and a bit of care, vanilla can be a surprisingly manageable plant to grow at home. Here’s how you can do it too.
Light and Location
Vanilla vines prefer bright, indirect light. In summer, place your plant near a window that receives filtered or partial sun—too much direct sunlight will scorch the leaves, too little will slow growth. A warm, humid spot that mimics a tropical understory is ideal.
💡 Tip: Bathrooms or sunrooms with good natural light and humidity often make perfect growing spaces for vanilla orchids.
Watering
In the warmer months, water weekly to biweekly, keeping the soil slightly moist but never waterlogged. During winter, reduce watering significantly to prevent root rot—this is one of the most common issues growers face.
Mist the aerial roots occasionally and provide a moss pole or trellis for your vine to climb—it will thrive with vertical support and humidity. Vanilla vines really appreciate foliar feed, misting with seeweed/orchid fertilizer can help increase growth in the growing season.
Trellising
Vanilla vines require some form of trellis or climbing structure for healthy growth. We supply our rooted cutting plants on 30 cm coir poles, but you’ll notice that your vines will quickly outgrow these supports.
Using a larger, more robust trellis is ideal as your plant matures. Commercially, vanilla is often grown using a “looping method”, where the vines are trained to reach the top of the trellis and then gently looped back down. When looping, bury a section of the aerial root to encourage secondary rooting, which promotes thicker and more vigorous growth, see an example we have done below.
This method also helps keep your plant at a manageable height while maintaining excellent health and productivity.
Pests and Disease
Vanilla vines are relatively hardy and experience few pest problems thanks to their slightly acrid sap (which you should avoid touching if sensitive). However, aphids may occasionally appear on new growth—these can be easily managed with a mild neem oil spray or by wiping the affected areas with a damp cloth.
Tip rot can occur, especially during cooler, wetter months. If you notice any browning or softening at the vine tips, prune the affected area immediately to prevent it from spreading.
If parts of the stem begin to brown, prune the orchid back to healthy tissue—and don’t discard the cut section! The removed piece can be rooted as a new cutting, giving you another vanilla vine to grow.
Occasionally, on large vines you might notice a section of the vine wilting, this is an indication that part of the stem below has rotted. Trace back the vine to the rotton portion, excise this and create a new cutting.
🌱 Availability
We’ll have vanilla vines available for sale in early summer, ready for you to take home. Below is an example of a plant you can expect to receive with your purchase.
Visit our Vanilla Product Page for more information and to secure yours before they sell out.
Bharat from GreenHaven