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5 x white Bat flower plant seeds. Once established plants have proven to be hardy down to -3 degrees Celsius!
How to grow the White Bat flower plant from seed
This is a rare selection of the bat flower - Tacca chantrieri, which can be found growing
wild in the tropical forests of the Yunnan Province, China, this Gothic
plant can reach a height of up 36 inches! It grows best in a
well-drained, slightly acidic soil and although it appears highly
exotic, this beautiful plant is in fact hardy down to -3 degrees
Celsius!
Growing
bat plants from seed is relatively easy. Sow bat plant seed into plug
trays filled with a good quality John Innes ‘Seed’ compost, then give
them a light covering of compost or horticultural grit.
Gently
water your bat seeds in, then seal the tray into a clear polythene bag
placing it on the window sill of a warm bright room. Make sure that the
tray is out of direct sunlight.
Don't
hold your breath because - depending on light and heat factors -
germination can take anywhere between 1 and 9 months! However, this can
be significantly reduced by allowing the seed to soak overnight in warm
water before sowing, and to germinate the seed using a heated propagator.
Once
the bat plant seedlings are large enough to handle they will be ready
for transplanting into individual pots. Using a good quality ericaceous
compost mix, add about 30% horticultural grit or perlite to it for extra
drainage.
TIP.
During the growing season, these young bat plant seedlings must be
watered regularly, and because they thrive in humid conditions, give
them an occasional misting.
During
the winter, watering will need to be reduced considerably, but do not
allow the soil to dry out completely. To maintain the bat plant in its
best condition, move it to a mild, sheltered area such as a
conservatory, then re-pot into a larger container once new growth begins
in the spring.