How Do You Get Vanilla Orchids to Bloom at Home?

You've been growing your vanilla vine at home and you're anxious to see a bloom. Getting your vanilla orchid to bloom requires patience, the right environmental conditions, and proper care. Vanilla orchids typically take 3 to 5 years to mature before they start flowering.

In a recent visit with our vanilla farmers in Mexico, they demonstrated how important a dry week or month is to strain the vines enough to encourage a bloom. A healthy, well-watered vine simply wants to grow longer in perpetuity. If well nourished, the vine has no reason to bloom. So there are a few tricks to increase the likelihood of successful vanilla orchid blooms.

(Here we are in the Yucatan region of Mexico at one of our vanilla farms. The vines around us are 4-5 years old, growing up Caribbean Mahogany trees.) 

Here’s how you can encourage blooms:

1. Provide Ample Light

  • Vanilla orchids need bright, indirect sunlight to flower.
  • Ideal light: 6–8 hours of filtered sunlight daily.
  • If growing indoors, place near a south-facing window or use a grow light.

2. Maintain Warm Temperatures

  • Optimal range: 70–85°F (21–29°C) during the day, with nighttime temps not dropping below 60°F (16°C).
  • If temperatures are too cool, flowering may not occur.

3. Create High Humidity

  • Vanilla orchids thrive in 60–80% humidity.
  • Mist the plant daily or use a humidity tray with pebbles and water.

4. Train the Vine Properly

  • Vanilla orchids only bloom on mature, horizontal vines (not the vertical main vine).
  • Once the vine reaches 6–10 feet, loop it back down so sections grow horizontally.

5. Use the Right Fertilizer

  • Apply a balanced orchid fertilizer (20-20-20) twice a month during the growing season.
  • Switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer (10-30-10) before the blooming season to encourage flower production.

6. Allow a Slight Dry Period

  • In the months before flowering (usually late winter to early spring), slightly reduce watering.
  • Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings—this mild stress can trigger blooming.

7. Be Patient

  • Even with perfect care, vanilla orchids may take years to bloom.
  • Flowering season typically occurs in spring or early summer.

If your vanilla orchid blooms, remember that each flower only lasts one day, and you’ll need to hand-pollinate it if you want vanilla beans!

Here's a quick , 40-second video on how to pollinate your orchid when it blooms:

Get started on your first orchid today with a cutting to grow vanilla at home.