Pollinating Bat Plant: A Guide to Boosting Yield

The exotic bat plant (Tacca chantrieri) is treasured for its unique dark purple flowers that resemble bats in flight. However successfully pollinating these unusual blossoms can be tricky. Unlike more common plants the bat plant cannot rely on wind or insects for pollination. Instead, gardeners must carefully hand pollinate the flowers to ensure productive fruit and seed yields. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about pollinating bat plants successfully.

Understanding Bat Plant Flowers

The bat plant blooms in spring or summer with intriguing flowers unlike any other plant. The petals extend into long, dangling whiskers that give the blossoms their signature bat shape. The flowers grow in clusters surrounded by large, tropical-looking leaves.

What makes the flowers so unique is the specialized structure The tiny female and male flower parts are tucked inside a large papery bract, This hood-like bract protects the reproductive organs and also emits a musty odor that attracts pollinators in the wild

Why Hand Pollination is Essential

Under natural conditions, bats and moths would pollinate the flowers by entering the bract and brushing up against the flower parts, transferring pollen between blossoms.

However, in a home garden, pollinators are not readily available. So gardeners must step in and manually pollinate the flowers by hand. Without assistance, the plants will not set fruit or seed.

When to Pollinate

Timing is key when hand pollinating. Wait until the bat plant flowers are fully open before attempting to pollinate. Flowers generally open in the evening, so late afternoon or early evening is the prime time.

Pollen is fragile and dries out quickly if the flowers have already been open for more than 12 hours. For best results, pollinate newly opened, fresh flowers daily.

Pollination Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to successfully hand pollinate your bat plants:

• Collect pollen using a small soft paintbrush. Gently lift the bract flap and brush the brush against the anthers to pick up pollen.

• Carry the pollen-loaded brush to a different flower. Lift the bract and deposit pollen onto the stigma, the receptive tip of the female part.

• Repeat the process on several flowers to ensure adequate pollination. Cross-pollinating from different plants improves the gene diversity.

• Clean your brush between flowers to prevent cross-contamination. Use a mild bleach solution to sterilize the brush after each pollination session.

Tips for Maximizing Pollination Success

• Pollinate multiple times over several days on each flower to increase chances of fertilization.

• Avoid spraying insecticides which could deter potential pollinators.

• Maintain optimal growing conditions to keep plants healthy and vigorous for better pollen and seed production.

• Remove faded flowers promptly so the plant’s energy goes toward developing fertilized fruits rather than old blooms.

• Grow more than one plant to allow for cross-pollination between different individuals.

Signs of Successful Pollination

If your hand pollination is effective, the bat plant flowers will wither and drop off within a week or two. Swelling at the base of the flower indicates a developing fruit beginning to form.

The resulting fruit is a hairy black berry that changes from green to dark purple when ripe. Each fruit contains several seeds that can be collected for propagation.

Troubleshooting Pollination Problems

If your bat plant flowers fall off without forming any fruit, inadequate pollination is likely the culprit. Try the following tips:

• Check for flower abnormalities like diseased or missing flower parts. Damaged parts prevent pollination.

• Use a magnifying glass to look closely for signs of pests like thrips that could be interfering with pollination.

• Test pollen viability by touching it to a dark paper. The powder should leave a bright yellow stain. If it’s pale or spotty, the pollen grain quality is low.

• Rule out other issues like improper sunlight, excess heat, overwatering or pests stressing the plant.

Achieve Optimal Bat Plant Yields

Ensuring adequate pollination is the key to getting prolific fruit set and abundant seed yields from bat plants. Assist your plants by hand pollinating the finicky flowers daily when they are freshly opened. With the right technique, you’ll enjoy watching the ripening bat plant fruits develop.