Does anyone know where to buy a vanilla orchid and/or how to grow one (I have a greenhouse already)?

I got some bad news…… The tlilxochitl vine that produces the Vanilla orchid or raw Vanilla beans are banned by the U.S. for import. So unfortunately you cant. The only thing we can enjoy are the expensive beauty's already dried and brought in. There is a way you can, but its expensive and you need a hard to get permit that has lots of limitations. That cant be gotten by the average joe.

Ben where do you get your information? Here's a link for online purchase of Vanilla planifolia: http://www.baobabs.com/Vanilla.htm

I bought mine from a different company, but can't remember the name. Will post later if I do recall.

Edit: Here are more online sources. Bought mine from Glasshouseworks. Very interesting site, a little difficult to navigate the first time or two. Very pleased with all of my purchases from them. http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=vanilla+planifolia+online+nursery&ygmasrchbtn=web+search&fr=ush-ans

R. is right they are VERY common! if you are here in Cali there are a lot of places to get them. Ebay is full of them, Andy at Andys' Orchids might have them. Santa Barbara Orchid Estates has them. So you already know it is a tropical orchid, min. temp. 55 F at night. 90 to 95 daytime, high humidity. They grow in just about any medium. In nature and in plantations they are basically a terrestrial orchid that grows up tree becoming a LARGE vine!! It will need a lot of room and something to climb on. The blooms are ephemeral, lasting less than a day and need to be hand pollinated of course. Treat them like any other orchid, balanced fertilizer, weak solution on a weekly schedule, a cymbidium mix with some course sand should work fine. Bright light……actually not that tough an orchid, most people give up on it because it is such a slow grower.