Selling size : Single Plant | Pot Included | Secure Packing
The Heliconia bihai 'Chocolate' (often sold as 'Chocolate Dancer' or 'Yamakawa Chocolate') is a striking tropical plant known for its dark, chocolate-colored bracts. As a cultivar of Heliconia bihai, it requires care typical of a large, true tropical plant.
Here is a comprehensive care guide for thisHeliconia bihai Chocolate :
1. Light Requirements
Ideal: Full sun to partial shade.
Best Results: In the brightest light, you will get the best flowering. If you are in an extremely hot climate, provide protection from the intense afternoon sun (partial shade) to prevent the leaves from scorching.
Minimum: Can tolerate more shade, but flowering will be significantly reduced.
2. Water and Humidity
Watering: Requires ample and regular watering. The soil must be kept consistently moist, like a rainforest floor.
Avoid: Never let the soil dry out completely, as this will cause the large, paddle-shaped leaves to brown and become tattered.
Drainage is Critical: While it loves water, it hates soggy, waterlogged soil which leads to fatal root rot. Ensure your soil or container has excellent drainage.
Humidity: It thrives in high humidity (60-80%). In dry environments, misting regularly or grouping the plant with others can help prevent brown leaf tips.
3. Soil and Fertilization
Soil: Use a rich, organic, and well-draining soil mix. It naturally grows in humus-rich forest soil.
In-Ground: Amend garden soil heavily with compost or aged manure.
In Pots: Use a high-quality, peat-based potting mix amended with orchid bark or perlite for drainage.
Fertilizer: Heliconias are heavy feeders, especially during the warm growing season.
Schedule: Feed monthly from spring through fall (or the entire year in continuous tropical climates).
Type: Use a balanced NPK fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 slow-release) to promote healthy foliage and rhizome growth. For enhanced flowering, switch to a fertilizer higher in Potassium (K) and Phosphorus (P) during the mid-season.
Organic: Topdress with generous amounts of compost or manure throughout the year.
4. Climate and Hardiness
Temperature: Thrives in warm, tropical, and subtropical climates (USDA Zones 10-11). It needs consistent warmth, ideally above 18∘C (65∘F).
Cold/Frost: It is highly sensitive to cold. Temperatures below 10∘C (50∘F) will cause the plant to suffer, and frost will kill the foliage and may damage the rhizome.
Cold Protection: In cooler zones, it must be grown in large containers that can be moved to a sheltered, frost-free location (like a greenhouse or sunroom) for the winter.
5. Maintenance
Pruning: Low-maintenance. The main task is to cut spent flower stalks and old, yellowing, or damaged leaves at the base of the plant to encourage new growth from the rhizome.
Size: This is a large variety, typically reaching 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall. Ensure you have ample space for its height and clumping spread.
Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture, keep the soil cool, and provide nutrients as it breaks down.
Container Growing: Choose a very large, heavy pot (at least 18 inches in diameter) to accommodate its size and prevent it from toppling over. Repot or divide the clump every few years.
