In the event that anyone else wants to continue discussing Taccas, showing off their new plants, etc. Here is a new thread.
New Bat Flower- Tacca thread
Well, I got a confirmation e-mail that mine is being shipped today. We'll see how long it takes. This is like waiting for Christmas!
Dawn
Thanks, April. I still want to discuss and view. I left mine at work for 3 days and it was dry this a.m. when I came in. I might have to repot BEFORE the buds open, as I want to keep it moist. That is right isn't it, keep it moist? I've read let it dry between watering and DON'T let it dry out... Dawn, I bet you'll have it before the weekend..
I sure do hope so!!
Aunt B that's what I understood!
Dawn, you will be posting photos, won't you?
You betchya!
Mine came today. Here it is just out of the box! Even has a flower on it!
Wow....that's cool!!! Looks very healthy!
:) Donna
Aw, the bloom waited to open just for you, Dawn.. they were quite a bargain for $20, I would have probably paid $30! I did repot mine, with 2 buds, maybe 3. After being dried out Tuesday, I did bring some potting mix and a heavier pot (kept falling over in the one it came in) to work with me Wednesday, and I'm glad I did. It was bone dry-again after one day. Better check him out before I leave today... I really hope mine likes me, they are so different! (And I wasn't going to buy one!) :)
I am not succumbing to buying this!!! I have my self talked out of it!!! pdoyle23323's thanks for the picture of yours might just be what I need to push me over the edge :o)
I'm takin mine home with me. Don't where it's going yet but... I want to repot anyway. I sure hope I can keep this thing alive! I wasn't gonna buy one either!
Dawn
Oh, come on Marie, you know you WANT to! Just put a spray bottle beside it to remind you it needs a little humidity a couple times a day. . . they are so unique... come on, consider it a little gift to yourself, cause you deserve it. . .Dawn, I don't have any more room with enough light at home. I just spread out a trash bag on the floor on my lunch hour and potted her up. I think I'd best not bring anymore to work, I'm up to 11 pots now, and the boss hasn't said anything, so I don't want to press my luck.... although if Marsha would move her philo away from the window, I could maybe move a couple more in while the boss is out of town next week.... philos don't need that much light anyway! lol- just kidding
My Tacca chantrieri (the black one) is flowering now but the flowers are really tiny. I've never flowered it before and maybe they will get larger. I almost missed the flowers since they are hidden amidst the foliage. Is this normal?
My black flower is really tiny too - I posted a couple pictures of it on the original Bat Lilly thread so you can see if yours look the same?
I surfed around looking for additional info on this tacca plant. From what I've seen the black one's bloom's aren't as big as the white. Nothing stated in verbage but from the pics I seen that's what I gather.
The tacca plant is also called devil's whisker's and cat's head plant.... bat, cat, devil.... sounds like Halloween Plant to me.
Bloomed today!
Yay!!
Here is another.
I think it will look tiny, but when you click it, it should enlarge...
Oh my gosh those are just too too! I love them. I can see that I am going to have to give in to this. You guys should get paid by the vendor, you are the best sales staff!
Oooh that is soooooo purrrrrrty, Taylor!!
:) Donna
OK. How long does the bloom last?
Well, I got mine on the 13th with a flower on it (see pic above) and it is still going strong, Doesn't look like it's about to wilt or anything.
Dawn
Found this. Interesting...
http://www.sabot.org/gguide/research.htm
Been following this since it began, you are all sooo lucky. I could only get seeds, has anyone had any luck growing these from seed? Thanks, Lee Anne
I have been reading up on this plant. Everything I have read says it needs high humidity. How are you guys treating this if your growing it in the house?
The one that I have, that bloomed, is still in its pot and it is indoors, still rootbound in it's tiny 6" pot. It is drying out very quickly and will wilt each and every day, and the flower flops over, if I don't water it every single day.
All the others I got are outside and planted in the dirt. They are dug deeply into the soil, and are not wilting a bit. I have not watered them in over a week...hard to imagine the ones in the ground could ever dry out, short of serious neglect, since their roots were planted straight down about a foot and a half. It takes a LONG time for the soil in this area to dry out that deeply, (Actually, I seriously wonder if it ever really has, or would...)
Well in the house I would think that daily misting and/or a humidity tray like this one http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DS2003
would be sufficient. Many folks successfully grow orchids and other high humidity plants in the house- or if you live in Houston you can just open the door for a few minutes, LOL!
CeeJay I knew you would sucumb to the lure of the bat! thanks for the link, that is interesting! So now I can tell my "D"H that I am buying plants to help fight cancer! Yeah, that's the ticket!
That is a very nice humidity tray...very pricey, too!
I still think a steamy bathroom with lots of light, and frequent showers, is the best place, if you are keeping them indoors.
The one I am keeping indoors hasn't found a permanent place in there, only because it is about to get mailed off to someone else.
Yeah that is a pricey humidity tray and it can be done for much less- I have a couple of orchids sitting in deep bowl/dishes w/ lots of glass pebbles, whatever water runs off when I water goes into the bowl and adds to whatever was in there. It's been working somewhat though I think a large tray - simillar in size not price- to the one in the photo would be better. Just haven't found one that I think will work for me.
Well, I'm still scared. What I read says they like humidity, but not lots of heat. Well, the humidity is outdoors, but so is the heat. Inside, not enough humidity. Otherwise they just slowly decline... Where is there lots of humidity and no heat? Does that place exist?!
I have high humidity and NO heat in my gh. I'm just afraid it will get too cool in there for it. I thought I read that it should not get below 60.
Well, I also read that it could take some low temps (like in the 30's) Lemme see if I can find the info...
Here it is:
http://www.rareflora.com/taccachablack.htm
thanks a lot ceejay. I think I might try mine in the gh(sun room) then since the humdity is high
edited to say, I just dont want it to go dormant. you know?
This message was edited Oct 17, 2006 8:40 PM
I want you all to come back next year at this time and tell us how you're doing....
Dawn, it is able to go dormant? I'm going to surf some, myself.... I LOVE plants that are beautiful & interesting in the growing season and it's a bonus if they will go dormant and require small space and little or no maintenance in winter....... OF COURSE I'm going to keep it growing this winter, but maybe next, I can let it go dormant. I'll post if I find any interesting additional info.
Thank Aunt B.
Dawn
Had a little time to look around. First found E.F.G. Orchids- close to Chicago- offer plants for $95! (See, Marie, better get one for $20! ;) They say low light....
http://www.efgorchids.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=efgorchids&Product_Code=Taccainteg&Category_Code=plants
The University of Connecticutt makes a suggestion of a period of dormancy in which the "aroid-like" plant dies back to a rounded tuber....liking a period of dryness.........
http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/199700062.html
Maybe they do die back.... but I must get back to work, right now....
"I read that Taccas can go dormant, but it has never happened to us here in Florida.
Our temperatures dip into the low 30°s sometimes during the winter, but it goes back to the 70°s in a couple of hours. Our Taccas are outside and seem not to mind that.
Actually I lost a few plants that I moved inside our greenhouse a few years ago, I believe because of poor air circulation. The ones outside survived."
This is from the website I posted on Oct 17.
I read that too ceejay. I am confused!
So am I. That's why I would like to know what happened to all of you and your plants at this time next year. You can all give me your advice from experience, and then I can decide whether to get one or not. You are my guinea pigs!!! LOL
Thanks. :)