An exciting flower is blooming at Collector’s Corner right now.
By Marco of Collector’s Corner.
Tacca chantrieri is also known as “the bat plant”. It is a native of the steamy jungles of South East Asia and in particular, Borneo and Sumatra.
It grows from 1-1.5 metres high and equally as wide.
A true jungle plant, bat plants enjoy high humidity and fairly still air movement though still buoyant. High temperatures are appreciated and will thrive between 23-32c . They can tolerate temperatures down to 10 c but excessive exposure to these temperatures will cause irreparable damage in the long run.
Bat plants thrive in rich humus soils where a lot of aeration is available to maintain plant vigour. A bromeliad type mix is preferred in cultivation and for the home gardener. Watering is regular in their home habitats and the plants never experience drought, we must thus emulate this in cultivation.
Light levels are low in the forest floor and we recommend 70% shaded situations at all times and it has been noted that increasing light levels will not benefit flowering, these plants enjoy humid, warm and shady conditions at all times.
A challenge to grow in the southern states this plant will make an excellent garden plant in the tropics and is highly regarded as one of the “must have” plants in those climates.
Long lived and truly spectacular, this one of those rare gems that we often do not believe exist in nature and think that they are made up fantasies, but as you will see, these beautifully different plants are no myth but a wonderful addition to our collection here at Collectors Corner.