Known as bat flower or devil flower, Tacca chantrieri is a plant native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia (especially in Thailand, Malaysia and southern China), whose presence can bring a touch of exotic beauty to the interior of a house or a shaded patio.
It is a species of perennial herbaceous, with short stems that arise from a cylindrical rhizome, thick and fleshy, which can reach a height of between 50 and 80 centimeters. Its leaves are simple, erect and dark green in color bright on the beam and paler on the back.
The main attraction of the Tacca chantrieri is constituted by its strange flowers accompanied by large bracts of very dark purple color that extend like bat wings, which has given rise to one of its popular denominations. Its particular appearance acquires an even more interesting tone thanks to the presence of long filiform organs or "whiskers" that hang below the flowers.
The plants of this species multiply mainly by division of rhizomes or by seeds that are sown in a fertile substrate rich in organic matter, such as a mixture of equal parts of peat with perlite or vermiculite with pearlite, burying them under a layer of 5 centimeters of earth, in a place with warm and humid conditions, and well lit but without receiving direct sun.
The soil must be well drained, although they need a good amount of water to grow properly. The ideal minimum ambient temperature can also range between 15 and 14 degrees Celsius, although in certain areas it can tolerate values close to 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Tacca chantrieri: Germination and fertilization
In general, the germination of a Tacca chantrieri usually demands an approximate time of 8 to 12 weeks, and the seedlings can be transplanted when the first leaf is well developed. Seedlings can benefit from frequent applications of soluble fertilizers.
It is important to know that these plants, when they are small, tend to go through a stage of almost chronic chlorosis, even when they have undergone regular fertilization. However, this situation is usually overcome after a few weeks. Once they have started their growth stage, it is better to place them in shaded sites by 60 or 70 percent.
The flowering of Tacca chantrieri specimens seems to start when they have already produced two to three full-sized leaves, producing each plant between 6 and 12 flower stems during the warm months of the year.
It is important to keep in mind that these flowers are not suitable for cutting, since they wither too quickly once they are removed from the plant.
