Giant Bat Plant (tacca integrifolia)
Article by Bob Chalmers (Paradise Distributers)
WEB SITE www.paraplants.com
The Giant Bat Plant
Tacca integrifolia Also known as White Bat Plant
Tacca integrifolia is probably the most unusual flowering plant of all !! Its total weird flower arrangement is about one metre from top to bottom, on a spike, also one metre long. Its top bracts consist of two spectacular dorsals usually white and purple stripes and each one about 200mm wide. The true flowers (below dorsals.. centre) are like thick purple buttons and then there are huge purple whiskers which hang from the flowers to about 600mm below. Spectacular is not the word for this one !!
Occasionally there is a variation and the bracts are purple or pure white and very occasionally the whiskers can be white. The Giant Bat Plant has big broad broad glossy leaves 350mm across and 750mm long. A native of Malaysia this one likes it warm, but will grow outside in a pot in a protected shaded position, north of Coffs Harbour NSW or equivalent.
Elsewhere in winter it can be grown in a pot inside or under cover in a warm or heated situation. Night temperature should not be below Zero¬?C...
When you pot up a Bat Plant it must not be overpotted as it will not have control of the moisture content in the soil..... and as it is subject to fungal disease the leaves will be attacked blackening from the edges. Pot up from 75mm to 140 to 200 to 250 to 300mm (across the top) pots over 2 or 3 years.Your Bat Plant should be flowering after two summers of growth.
Never pot up unless you still have 2-3 months of warm weather. In winter in temperate and sub-tropical areas it goes dormant but does not die back. it will die back to its rhizome if you overwater in winter when dormant.
Yes it develops a very strong rhizome over time......so once it is well developed over a year or two it can always reshoot off the rhizome ....unless you overwater that as well...in which case it would rot also. In winter keep the mix just moist or even let it dry out between waterings like an orchid or hoya.
If you have a fungal problem try the High Cineole Natural Plant Spray from Paradise Distributors...this is the only fungal treatment we have found successful and it works on other susceptible plants as well.
PS You will not get this spray anywhere else !!
Even when the leaves wilt they will quickly spring back with water. When its warm and they are growing..... they like more water.
Some Other Tips on growing Tacca Integrifolia:
1)Your potting mix must be very well drained and if in doubt add up to 50% perlite to your mix.
2) Osmocote or similar fertiliser is fine. So is fish and kelp fertilizers and microverm plus but if you want huge flowering results get yourself some worm vermicaste and mix a handful with water in a 20 litre drum and when it settles add a litre to your watering can (throw in a little fish/kelp if you wish) of water and water your bats with this. You will get more flowers and they will last right through from January to June if you do.Only keep the mix described for 24 hours and discard...it will not keep unless aerated.
3) Only grow in the ground in the garden if you live in the tropics or you have a proven spot and your plant has been grown out in a pot. Otherwise keep it in the pot...this will give you more flexibility in winter.
4) If you use common sense this is quite an easy plant to grow but it is not a plant for someone who has no idea at all. Let them kill some less heavenly plant to start with.
5) A good place to grow a young bat plant is behind 70% shade cloth facing the western or northern sun but most areas in well lit shade are fine. As the plant gets older it will take more shade.
6) The Giant Bat Plant is much bigger and much, much more spectacular than Tacca chantrieri, the Black Bat Plant.... and is easier to grow. There are quite a few Tacca species (at least 30) but none as spectacular as the Giant Bat Plant...they are mostly curiosities for collectors.
7) If you want probably the best flowering plant of them all do yourself a favour and get one.
Written by Bob Chalmers Paradise Distributors 10/03/2005.
Phone 07-5441 5921.
email : bob@paraplants.com
Website : www.paraplants.com
