Exotics Culture

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Bat Plants (Tacca spp.)

This is a small Family of 35 or so species native to Africa, Tropical Asia, Australia and South America. The plants range in size from 8" across to more than 4 feet. The leaves are a shining green and are shaped similarly to a Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum. The most unusual part of the plant is the flowers. The bloom spike is held above the foliage. On top of the spike are three types of bracts, or modified leaves. The ones of the first set are small. The next set has them much larger, and is shaped much like a Bat in flight. The third set is made-up of many long whiskers sometimes up to 12 to 18 inches long. In the center of all of these bracts are the flowers. Each flower has three sepals and 3 petals. The colors of the bracts and flowers depend on the particular species. The most common species is Tacca Chantrieri or Black Bat Plant. The bracts and flowers are a deep purple-brown. The White Bat plant has large bracts with an almost white background color with a few dark purple lines. The smaller bracts are a brown shade. The whiskers are a rich violet at the base and become paler until being pure white at the tips. The flowers are a very dark brownish-plum. Culture is similar for all the species: grow these plants in a well drained potting soil. They do like to stay moist during the growing season, but not soaking wet. They prefer a shaded environment with no direct sun. Use any even balanced plant fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Most species slow their growth rate during the fall and winter.

Pitcher plants (and other insectivorous plants)

These biological wonders of the plant kingdom will arouse a curiosity that brings out the child in all of us. The unusual beauty of the various forms have rich colors, textures and shapes. Most important of all, insectivorous plants perform a great job that benefits us all, They eat bugs! Watch them and you will actually see them doing their jobs. Using their nectar, they attract the insects, capture and use it to nourish themselves so there is no need to fertilize these plants. In this day for great need of environmental awareness, carnivorous plants act as a biological control against insects. Plants are horticulturally produced, not collected from the wild. All that is required from you is to put them in an area with bright light and keep them lightly moist with rain or distilled water. You'll find that insectivorous plants make for a great relationship, a sort of "pet plant"! In the landscape or window garden, insectivorous plants add an incredible diversity of textures, forms and color. Not to mention the remarkable fact of their biological pest control capabilities.

Curcumas

Curcumas belong to the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. This is a family of 51 genera and about 1000 species which are related to bananas, bird-of-paradise flowers and Canna lilies. They are found in all tropical forests but most occur between south and southeast Asia. These are perennial herbs mostly with tuberous rhizomes. Rhizomes are generally mildly fragrant sending up large lance-shaped leaves. Clusters of flowers in dense spikes appear from late spring to mid summer. Flowers usually last for more than 3 weeks. Some Curcuma rhizomes are used in Asia as part of numerous traditional compound medicines. The rhizomes can be planted from February to June in a well drained medium. Frequent light applications of manure or fish emulsion will benefit the plants. Liquid compost and a general 15-15-15 fertilizer will also give good results. The 6" pot can accommodate 1 rhizome. Drip irrigation is recommended in order to keep leaves and flowers dry. In the phase of establishment, sprouting of the plant is completed in 2-4 weeks, followed by a period of active vegetative growth. The production of flowers is possible from April to October. After the finished flowering period, rhizomes are produced and the plants become dormant. Curcumas can grow under warm and light conditions. Temperature should not lower below 65 °F, optimum being between 70 and 85 °F. Keep the humidity between 70 and 85 %. In general, most of them grow well in light shade. Full sun is recommended for only a few varieties. For diseases and pests. Leaf spot or leaf blotch and rhizome rot are considered the most important diseases of curcumas. The disease can be controlled reasonably by Bordeaux mixture, Ethion or Zineb at monthly intervals. Pests of Curcumas include shoot borers, leaf-eating insects, sucking insects and nematodes. Monthly spraying with Malathion controls these pests.

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