Nutritional status affects the processes of flowering and fruiting of plants. This study was conducted to determine the effects of fertilizer application on flowering, fruiting, and leaf nutrient content of Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andr. Treatments consisted of the application of grade 10-20-20 nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizer to the substratum in annual doses of 20, 50 and 100 g/plant plus a monthly application of foliar fertilizer. Two more treatments were foliar fertilization and a control (no fertilization). Treatments increased the number of inflorescences and flower buds per plant, as well as the number and weight of fruits per plant, and decreased the abortion of flowers and immature fruits. These effects depended on Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln] at 13:03 07 October 2015 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2 the type of fertilizer, the amount applied, and the time of evaluation. The best results were obtained with the 100 g/plant-year treatment with an annual production of 1.5 kg of fruits per plant in the second year. Unfertilized plants produced 0.55 kg/plant-year. Differences were alsofound in foliar content of N, P, K, and copper (Cu) between vegetative and reproductive branches. Application of fertilizer to the substratum appears to improve reproductive parameters of vanilla plants and the production of beans, while foliar fertilization alone was ineffective in increasing crop productivity. Nutrients also seem to translocate from mature leaves to fruit racemes.