What am I doing wrong? Orchid is dying

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Hiester

I'm wondering if anyone has a source for Tacca chantrieri, the Black Bat Flower? I've looked at Amazon and EBay but neither seems to have what reads as a reliable source, except maybe for seeds.

I have read that this plant can go dormant when the proper conditions are not met, unlike Tacca integrifolia, the White Bat Flower.

Just via links in this thread, it seems they go dormant in winter normally, not because of bad culture.

I need to chill on this....hardly for the first time when I fall in immediate love with something.

[Hiester]

Originally Posted by JMNYC

Just via links in this thread, it seems they go dormant in winter normally, not because of bad culture.

I need to chill on this....hardly for the first time when I fall in immediate love with something.

Yes, the further I read the more it sounds like the dormancy is a winter slowdown with the loss of some leaves and a generally ratty (batty?) appearance. There's one source on Amazon for a live plant that's not too expensive, so I might order it just to try... it is advertised as T. chantrieri, the black flowered species. I think T. chantrieri takes longer to reach blooming size, hence the relative scarcity.

One commercial grower fact sheet said T. integrifolia can be bloomed from germination in about nine months. Sounds like T. chantrieri can take up to three years.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Hiester

Yes, the further I read the more it sounds like the dormancy is a winter slowdown with the loss of some leaves and a generally ratty (batty?) appearance. There's one source on Amazon for a live plant that's not too expensive, so I might order it just to try... it is advertised as T. chantrieri, the black flowered species. I think T. chantrieri takes longer to reach blooming size, hence the relative scarcity.

One commercial grower fact sheet said T. integrifolia can be bloomed from germination in about nine months. Sounds like T. chantrieri can take up to three years.

That's what I get as well......but YOU are seriously in love! I think you deserve both!

[La Casa de las Orquideas]

They ARE spectacular!! But they need a lot of room... hope you get an idea of the size of the plant with these pictures:

[lauraeli]

I just repotted mine into a coarser mix so I can water it more often without worrying. It is in 5 parts bark fines, 1 part perlite. It is about 2/3 that mix...but i mixed in some of the medium it was already in, and Im not really sure what that was.

It didnt mind the repot, even though I took it down to bare roots to switch out the medium. I was careful though.

Hopefully someday mine will be big and beautiful too :-D