Research Dashboard
Greenhouse Monitoring & Performance Data
At Baunilha dos Açores, we believe in open science. The data below represents our research on greenhouse conditions for vanilla cultivation in the Azores. This isn't just a display; it's an invitation to understand our methods.
How We Approach Vanilla Cultivation
We use six different climate profiles throughout the year, matching Azorean seasons. Instead of one fixed set of conditions, we adjust temperature, humidity, and air flow based on what vanilla needs at each growth stage.
Day and Night Differences
Each season has different targets for day and night. Nights are typically cooler and more humid. Our sensors track sunrise and sunset times and adjust automatically.
Real-Time Monitoring
Automated systems respond instantly to sensor data. Temperature, humidity, air flow, and misting adjust continuously based on what we observe.
Still Learning
We test these approaches with real vanilla plants and Azorean data. This is ongoing research—we track how plants respond and refine our strategies over time.
We share what we learn. If you're interested in the data, it's here to explore.
Target Greenhouse Conditions
Plant Status Indicators
Current Outdoor Conditions
Outdoor Environment Assessment
Updated in real-time
Inside vs. Outside: The Azorean Advantage
The comparison below illustrates why our greenhouse design is a breakthrough for vanilla cultivation in the Azores. Outside, the island's temperate climate is beautiful but insufficient for vanilla. Inside, we engineer the tropics.
Why This Matters: Our greenhouse creates a microclimate that vanilla orchids crave—precision weather engineering. This data validates our competitive edge: we use the Azores' renewable energy abundance to power IoT-driven climate control that transforms a temperate island into a vanilla paradise.
24-Hour Trend: The Daily Rhythm
This chart shows the natural oscillations we orchestrate. Notice how temperature dips overnight (we heat to prevent shock) and peaks midday (we ventilate to maintain the ideal range). Humidity follows the inverse: higher when it's cooler, managed carefully during warm hours. VPD is our true north—we adjust temperature and humidity in concert to keep VPD in the sweet spot.
Temperature (°C)
Humidity (%)
VPD (kPa)
Each metric is displayed on its own properly-scaled axis to show accurate relationships and daily patterns
Illuminance (lux)
Soil Moisture (%)
Soil Conductivity (µS/cm)
This rhythm mirrors the natural day-night cycle that vanilla expects, even though we're controlling every variable. That's the essence of our technology.
What the Numbers Mean: Vanilla Orchid Science
Temperature
Why It Matters for Vanilla
Vanilla orchids are children of the tropics. They need consistent warmth to trigger growth and flowering. Temperatures below 18°C stall development; above 32°C, the plant enters stress. Our 24.5°C sweet spot accelerates both vegetative growth and the delicate process of flower maturation.
Growth Signal You're Watching
When temperature is stable in the 24–28°C range, vanilla's metabolic engines run at peak efficiency. The plant allocates energy to developing the inflorescence (flower spike)—the precursor to our precious vanilla beans.
What We Control
- Overnight heating (prevents stress from island cool-downs)
- Daytime ventilation (prevents overheating in summer)
- Seasonal adjustments (respects flowering cycles)
Humidity
Why It Matters for Vanilla
Humidity is the invisible lifeline of vanilla cultivation. At 72% RH, the air holds enough moisture to satisfy the plant's aerial roots (yes, vanilla has roots that absorb water and nutrients from humid air!), while remaining dry enough to prevent fungal diseases that plague tropical orchids.
The Balance
Below 60% RH, the plant desiccates—a death sentence in a greenhouse. Above 90% RH, fungi take over. The 65–85% window is where vanilla orchids achieve the perfect balance of hydration and disease resistance.
Growth Signal You're Watching
When humidity is stable in the ideal range, vanilla's aerial roots remain plump and functional. The plant's stomata (breathing pores) open confidently, allowing photosynthesis to proceed at full capacity. This is when growth happens fastest.
What We Control
- Smart misting systems (supplement humidity during dry periods)
- Ventilation scheduling (release excess moisture to prevent fungal blooms)
- Dew point monitoring (ensures condensation forms strategically, not randomly)
- Air circulation (prevents stagnant pockets where fungi thrive)
VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit)
What Is VPD? (The Science Behind the Number)
VPD is the "comfort zone" metric. It measures the difference between the amount of moisture the air can hold (at current temperature) and the amount it actually holds (current humidity). Think of it as the "thirst" of the air.
Why It Matters for Vanilla
VPD directly controls how aggressively a plant transpires (releases water through leaves and aerial roots).
- VPD too low: The air is so humid that the plant can't release water. Roots suffocate. Fungi thrive.
- VPD too high (> 2.0 kPa): The air is so dry that the plant desperately transpires to cool itself. The plant loses water faster than roots can absorb it—inducing drought stress.
- VPD in the sweet spot: The plant transpires at the perfect rate. Nutrients move through the plant efficiently. Growth is maximized. The plant is neither drowning nor gasping.
Growth Signal You're Watching
When VPD is 1.2 kPa, the plant is in "active nutrient uptake mode." The transpiration rate is optimal for moving water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to leaves and flowers. This is when the magic happens—when vanilla accumulates the sugars and compounds that will eventually become the vanilla flavor we prize.
Why Investors Should Care
VPD is the proxy for crop efficiency. At 1.2 kPa, our energy input (fans, misters, heaters) achieves maximum plant output. This is the data point that proves our climate control is not just precise—it's economical.
What We Control
- Temperature-humidity coordination (maintaining ideal VPD even as outdoor conditions swing)
- Active transpiration monitoring (our sensors trigger interventions before stress occurs)
- Seasonal VPD targets (adjusted for different growth phases)
Illuminance (Light)
Why It Matters
Vanilla is a climbing orchid that prefers bright, filtered light (similar to dappled shade). Too little light slows growth; too much can scorch leaves. We track illuminance to understand seasonal light availability and shading strategy.
What We Control
- Shading and greenhouse layout (avoid direct midday burn)
- Ventilation and orientation (reduce heat + light stress together)
Soil Moisture
Why It Matters
Vanilla roots need steady moisture with strong aeration. The MiFlora moisture number is substrate-dependent and needs calibration, but it is still useful for detecting dry-down cycles and irrigation consistency.
Important Note
Moisture % is not universal across substrates. We treat these ranges as provisional and refine them as we correlate sensor readings with plant response.
Soil Conductivity
Why It Matters
Conductivity is a proxy for dissolved salts (fertilizer strength). Too low can mean underfeeding; too high can stress orchid roots. Tracking conductivity helps us keep nutrition gentle and consistent.
What We Control
- Fertilizer concentration and frequency
- Flush cycles (prevent salt accumulation)
Detailed Data Explorer
Filter by date range to examine specific periods. Researchers can use this data to validate growth correlations, identify stress events, or study our climate control algorithms in action.
| Datetime | Location | Temperature (°C) | Humidity (%) | VPD (kPa) | Dew Point (°C) |
|---|
Tip: A negative Dew Point depression (difference between air temp and dew point) indicates the air is approaching saturation—useful for predicting condensation events.
A Note on Transparency & Open Science
This data represents our current research on optimal conditions for vanilla cultivation. We're documenting what works. We don't cherry-pick results. Our approach is grounded in observation and measurement—understanding the precise environmental parameters that allow vanilla to thrive in our greenhouses on São Miguel.
Why? Because we believe that transparency accelerates innovation. Researchers can validate our methods. Investors can build confidence through evidence, not marketing. Enthusiasts can truly understand what it takes to grow vanilla in the Azores.
We're not just growing vanilla. We're proving that precision agriculture—powered by careful measurement, environmental control, and continuous learning—is the foundation of specialty farming. And we're building the infrastructure to share our knowledge as we scale.