Bat plant 'Tacca chantrieri'

When in flower the Tacca chantrieri is uniquely exotic in its appearance carrying a large black flower on its straight stalk. In the Dutch language the Tacca chantrieri is called ‘batflower’. The flower of this ‘batflower’ plant consists of a black petal, small, black flower buds and a thin, black layer of hanging hairs. The leaves of the Tacca chantrieri are large and glossy-green. The Tacca chantrieri is a spectacular plant in your home or at your office. This species is native to Asia.

The Tacca chantrieri thrives indoors or in a conservatory. It prefers to be in a light spot but not in direct sunlight. The Tacca chantrieri likes its potting soil to be permanently moist. A higher humidity helps to improve the development of the leaves and flowers of this exotic plant. You can raise the humidity by spraying water and by placing the container with the plant in a saucer filled with water. In winter when the plant has stopped growing, you should not be watering it. The temperature for the Tacca chantrieri must remain between 5°Celsius [41°F] and 35°Celsius [95°F]. Its substrate should be rich in vegetable mould and must be capable of retaining water, use for example one of Araflora’s soil mixes for orchids.