Hmmmm. Thanks for the cutting suggestion. This vanilla ended up in ICU w/ intravenous fluids. I separated it into 4 cuttings. It's finally showing some new growth - amazing this poor thing is still alive.

DO NOT OVERMIST YOUR VANILLA ORCHID like I did.

I totally understand, something about vanilla, at least for me, took some time to get right in my environment.

I bought 2 vanilla plants in the fall and one is doing okay, but the other I've now got cut into pieces in a bed of moist moss. It probably won't survive. But that's why I got two - it's an orchid I've been wanting for ages!

This is the way I did cuttings, and they have signs of new growth.

1. Dip cutting into RootTone. (root stimulating hormone) - have no idea if orchids respond well to this hormone, but I've done other cuttings with success this way. There is also a fungicide in this stuff - inhibits fungal growth.
2. Put cutting(s) in a shallow dish, cutting is barely submerged.
3. Wait in ICU for better vital signs.

I did use a rooting hormone on the ends, but lay the pieces in a bed of sphagnum moss. It doesn't seem to be doing so well, though. Maybe I'll transfer it to a shallow dish. You actually have the vine IN the water?

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...7/IMG_1082.jpg

Yeah. Not so pretty right now, but it seems to be functional. The cloudiness is from that hormone stuff.

I rooted mine on top of damp moss, it worked very well.

Well I've got the ends in the water now with the rest lying on damp sphagnum. They were looking even worse after some time just lying on the moss, so I'll try it the other way now. Hopefully it's not too far gone.