Tacca Chantrieri a.k.a Tacca, Bat Flower
Black Bat Plant Quick Overview
Full Size | 3 foot |
Light | Bright indirect |
Temperature | 65-70°F (18-21°C) |
Humidity | Medium-high |
Cost | $ |
Care Level | Easy |
Toxicity | Toxic |
Size
When kept indoors with proper care you can expect your Bat Plant to reach up to 3 foot in length. The flowers can grow up to 12 inches wide and the “whiskers” can grow up to 24 inches in length.
Light Requirements
Black Bat Plants prefer to be positioned in bright indirect light for best growth and require this to thrive. A sign your Bat Plant is not getting enough light is stunted or slow growth. This can be resolved by changing the position of your plant to somewhere that better suits its light requirements.
Temperature
Black Bat Plants will perform best when in an area which maintains a temperature of 65-70°F (18-21°C) . Being kept outside of this temperate range for prolonged periods of time can lead to poor plant health.
Humidity
Maintaining a moderate to high humidity (approximately 50-70%) will assist in keeping your Black Bat Plant happy and healthy. If your plant is housed in a spot with a humidity level consistently outside of this range read our indoor plant guide to humidity for tips on how to increase or decrease humidity levels.
Watering Requirements
You can expect your Black Bat Plant to require water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. During winter when growth is slow, allow soil to dry out slightly. When watering your Bat Plant be sure to water thoroughly, allowing water to drain completely. Aside from solely relying on the watering frequency to tell when your plant is thirsty, a tell tale sign that your Bat Plant needs water is when you notice the leaves starting to wilt.
Fertilizing requirements
As a rule of thumb your Black Bat Plant should be fertilized every 2 weeks during its growing season (spring and summer). This will assist in keeping your plant alive as well as promote healthy growth.
Soil Requirements
Black Bat Plants require a rich, well draining soil as they like to be kept moist but not soggy.
Diseases & Pests
The most common diseases and pests that you can encounter whilst caring for your Black Bat Plant are mealy bugs and root-rot. For more information on combating a large range of indoor plant diseases and pests see all indoor plant pest & diseases.
Toxicity
Bat Plants are considered to be toxic if eaten.