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For the past four years I wanted a bat flower. They are a little on the expensive side. I knew they were asian and I knew they were freaking gorgeous. Usually when I really REALLY want something I am smart enough to do research on it on the internet and word-of-mouth with my "experts." (I use the term expert loosely. If you know more than I do on a subject...and that's really easy....I call you an expert.)
Since I never did any research on the bat flower I knew that although I wanted one I didn't really REALLY want it and therefore it wasn't worth me spending my hard-hard earned money on it. However I mentioned how cool they are to my husband once too many times and he bought me two of them. That's right TWO!!
Well of course I was thrilled! I even knew where I was going to plant the things: Right on the pathwalk to my front door. Then everyone who came over would see this huge black flower and say "Wow! Where did you get THAT thing?"
So I looked up information on how to take care of the thing. Wow. Here's some websites I looked at:
ehow.com
toptropicals
Basically they say this is one of those "hard to take care of" "Exotic" plants that I might have to wait THREE YEARS before I can see a bloom. The waiting isn't really the problem...the problem is where it's to be planted. If the weather gets colder than 60 degrees (F) or hotter than 90 degrees (F) the plant will die. Being in central Illinois....and on the Northern part of Central Illinois I cannot plant it outside. It will have to be in a pot in my house. With partial sunlight. And I can't water the thing.
Here is where I'll note that the ONLY plants I've managed to keep alive in this house over a winter is my cacti. I have a jade plant, a aloe vera, and a Pearl of Numberg that have all survived albeit barely inside my house. So now I'm worried I will kill this fabulous exotic (expensive - just slightly but enough!) plant before I get to see it bloomed!
On a side note this is apparently related or at least similar to an orchid - and I've been wanting a go at an orchid for a while (I DID look up how to care for orchids!), so maybe this will be my pre-orchid project. It will be great if I can get the fabulous plants to bloom!!
WISH ME LUCK!
