Zingibers are usually grown from rhizomes - the main part of the roots. To grow ginger from home, you simply begin by picking up ginger root from a grocery store. The preferred ginger for Thai cooking is the lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum). Gingers are grown from an underground rhizome. They are related to the edible ginger used in many Asian and Indonesian dishes, but ornamental gingers do not produce an edible rhizome. Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) is a huge plant with big spikes of blue flowers atop a tall tower of foliage. Both of these plants are easy to grow and tolerant of the conditions inside most homes. Just cut rhizome in half with a knife and you've already got two plants. A good landscaping plant. They can be planted into a pot or planted in the ground and will spread out more. It also makes a good pot plant. Blue Hawaiian ginger root is an edible type of ginger that has a blueish tinge … Red Torch Ginger Propagation. Preferred climate and soil. Choose your ginger plant. Cut them back hard at the end of their flowering season to give the plants a rest. The long and narrow leaves are the same color as the leaf stems and grow in an alternate pattern. Moth Ginger. This group of plants is perfect if you are trying to achieve that lush, green look in a tropical or Asian-style garden. Outdoors, use 15-15-15 fertilizer every couple of months during the growing season. It has finger like roots. Most gingers are native to Asia, where it has been used a food staple for thousands of years. Propagation. Let the soil dry between waterings. Lower temperatures interrupt their bloom cycle. Flowering heads are borne on shorter stems and the plant produces cone shaped, pale yellow flowers . Deciduous in cool climates. How to grow ornamental ginger in a pot. Flowering. Spice up your garden, literally, with ginger. Edible members of this family include ginger, cardamom, turmeric and galangal, but here we introduce the flowering ones, which offer so much more than a tropical splash of lush green foliage. The ornamental ‘butterfly’ gingers, in latin Hedychium (heh-DIK-ee-um), belong to the Zingiberaceae family which also includes Zingiber officinale, the culinary ginger. Though that doesn’t mean they aren’t edible. In Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, you can grow blue ginger outdoors. This is a broad group including plants of the families Heliconiaceae, Costaceae and Zingiberaceae. The best cooking ginger is Zingiber officinale and you just lift up the root (a type of rhizome), split it into pieces and replant it. You can also divide pl… Its cream, pink and yellow flowers hang through the foliage on long, pink racemes in spring. Fill chosen pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Choose ginger roots (technically rhizomes) that are plump and free of wrinkles, with visible eyes (small points) at the end of the "fingers." Blue ginger produces flowers that can last for months, and they continue to produce new flowers year round. Indoors, water the pot thoroughly, letting excess moisture drain from the bottom of the pot. Seed should be collected as the seed pods open in the late fall. They had spiral gingers and butterfly gingers, shampoo gingers and blue gingers… it was a cornucopia of wonderful gingers. Variegated ginger, which grows from underground rhizomes that look much like ginger root, is propagated by dividing the rhizomes of mature plants. Propagating ornamental gingers is easy. Ornamental Gingers and Heliconias including Cucurma, Alpinia, Hedychium, Dichorisandra, Zingiber, Globba, Etlingera, Elettaria and Costus. Blue ginger plants, with their stems of dainty blue flowers, make delightful houseplants. Place the pots in a warm location and cover with clear plastic to keep in moisture and heat. MULCH to keep weeds at bay, retain moisture in the soil and provide protection from the cold for ginger plants left in the ground over winter. They’re rhizomatous plants, growing from subterranean stems that look very similar to the ginger ‘root’ you’d buy in a supermarket. Alpinia caeulea is an Australian native that grows more than two metres tall and has long slender leaves that weigh down on the stems and make them curve over. Turmeric is another herbaceous perennial. Hedychiums are relatively easy to propagate via seed. The ginger rhizomes are thick and coarse with yellowish-brown outer skin. The green shoots or leaf stems are leaf sheaths that wrap around each other. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! They make neat garden plants in tropical areas or gorgeous houseplants for those of us that experience cold winters. They are generally tropical plants - while some are very tropical, and will not grow outside the tropics or warm subtropics without a greenhouse, others are surprisingly cold hardy and will often grow very well outside of the tropics. HARVEST fresh ginger in late summer and early autumn or, if drying, dig up about 10 months after planting. Both the roots and berries were used in Indigenous cooking. But some newer varieties come with stunning, long-lasting ‘beehive’-shaped flowering cones in apricot, yellow, orange, pink and vibrant red. Then use it to spice up your dinners... even your life! Her passion for gardening began in her mother’s huge vegetable patch and orchard in the country and now extends to the challenge of city plots, where the constraints are countered by the delights. 25 Jun. They are easy to care for, too. Some ginger rhizomes sold for food use may be treated with a growth retardant to prohibit sprouting. As you have guessed, the beehive ginger flowers bear a resemblance to a beehive shape. Hardy ginger plant seeds will germinate best at 70-75ºF. How to Propagate Ginger. The leaves are a much smaller than … This exotic Brazilian perennial is the perfect plant for moist, shady spots in the garden and looks particularly good teamed with tree ferns and palms. Remove the bottom leaf and dip the stem in rooting hormone or roll it in hormone powder. But it’s the leaves – long and quite broad for a ginger – the yellow and green variegation have a striking effect in your garden throughout the year. It doesn’t produce seeds, which is fine because all you need to grow ginger are some fresh rhizomes (literally some organic ginger) with living ‘eyes’ on … When propagating edible ginger, save a few pieces of the rhizome from the kitchen, and grow them into new plants. Jenny Dillon is the garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens. Most people are familiar with edible ginger (Zingiber officinale), but it is only one of hundreds of members of the Zingiberaceae, or ginger family. 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The plants can be quite expensive, but propagating blue ginger is easy. Just break off the pieces and then plant them for another year's crop. It takes about six weeks to form enough root mass to support the plant. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Propagating Flowering Ginger It's possible to grow ginger from rhizomes you buy at the supermarket, but it may not be worth the effort if you desire an ornamental plant with flowers. Empty the saucer to make sure the roots aren’t sitting in water. There’s even a chocolate coloured variety. Varieties. Edible ginger is grown for its ornamental features, as well as for its edible roots, or rhizomes, while ornamental ginger is prized for its colorful floral bracts. One of the most stunning looking and attractive ornamental flowers you can grow to spruce up your garden is the Beehive ginger. A warm-climate plant, variegated ginger is suitable for planting in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Ginger is surprisingly easy-care when given the right growing conditions. Costus 'Belize Yellow' From $14.50. Unfortunately, these were all “ornamental” types. While obviously ginger is a must for any tropical garden, because it thrives in warm and humid conditions, it can also add height and volume to a circular garden bed in the middle of a lawn, or as a stunning screen in front of windows where you want privacy but some light as well. Ornamental ginger plants can be a great way to add attractive and exotic color, foliage, and blooms to your garden. When I worked in a plant nursery owned by some good friends of mine, I got to meet a lot of beautiful gingers. The best cooking ginger is Zingiber officinale and you just lift up the root (a type of rhizome), split it into pieces and replant it. Surface sow the seed and cover with a thin layer of perlite. Ornamental Gingers and Edible Gingers. It's a little bit bigger than ginger, growing to about waist height, the flowers are beautiful and it's ideal for an ornamental garden. Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) is not a true ginger, but it has ginger-like, arching stems and vibrant, purple/blue flowers in autumn. These plants love indoor environments. Groups of flowers are beehive shaped and can be yellow, orange or red. Ginger is a tropical, herbaceous perennial, and flowering plant, with horizontally grown rhizomes producing shoots and roots. Red torch ginger, also known as Etlingera elatior, adds a colorful touch of the tropics to yards and ornamental gardens. Colin says, "Ornamental gingers are colourful, versatile and just downright beautiful. The leaves are a much smaller than ornamental gingers and not nearly as flamboyant. Singapore gold is grown in the NT. Position in full sun or semi shade. These plants need a little fertilizer, but the edges of the leaves turn brown if they get too much, so use a light hand. “Ginger is a root crop. In the spring you should repot your plant. With so many uses, it’s only natural the ginger plant is big, bold and beautiful, with long, long leaves, many with a different colour underside, and some of the flowers are simply stunning. Zingiber is a plant that grows up to 2.5m tall. And it tastes great in stir-fries, curries and desserts. Fortunately, there is also a pretty little version of this plant, the weeping blue ginger (Dichorisandra pendula). How To Plant Curcuma Ornamental Ginger Rhizome Growing Guide. The plants can be quite expensive, but propagating blue ginger is easy. Ginger is grown from rhizomes, or enlarged roots, regardless of the variety. Indoors, use a liquid houseplant fertilizer designed for flowering plants according to the package directions. All are very easy to grow indoors. Find out more about these lovely plants in this article. Many are used in the garden rather than the kitchen, and these are called ornamental gingers. Reduce the water, even let the ground dry out. It produces tiny white, shell-like flowers that turn into blue berries. Plant the stem in rooting medium so that the node where the bottom leaf was attached is under the medium. Cheilocostus speciosus 'Variegated Crepe Ginger' From $17.50. Plant the stem in rooting medium so that the node where the bottom leaf was attached is under the medium. It’s smaller than most, growing to about 1.5 metres tall and about 2 metres wide. Water it well and place it inside a plastic bag, sealing the top with a tie. Sign up for our newsletter. Side-dress (mulch) around plants with well composted manure such as cow every spring. Ornamental Curcuma Gingers provide a taste of the tropics during summer months with their lush green foliage and vibrant flowers. Botanical Name: Zingiber zerumbet. 1.5 to 2m Full sun to part shade A great landscaping plant with stunning variegated foliage and showy white flowers produced from red cones. Hot and spicy to taste, although not as strong as chilli, its health properties include working to stimulate the heart, settle the stomach, and as a treatment for morning sickness and other types of nausea. The top sides of the leaves are a soft green, but the undersides are a rich browny red with a soft, velvety touch. They don’t mind dry air or dim light. Feed your plant annually with a controlled-release fertiliser —ideally, one fortified with organics. Towards the end of summer/wet season, as the weather starts cooling down, your ginger will start to die back. Cut tips of stems with three leaves attached. Blue ginger gets its name from its resemblance to ginger plants. Give the plant full sun or partial shade, keeping in mind that the blooms last longer if they have shade at least part of the day. Ornamental gingers have a number of different species, and vary widely in size and growth habit. A rhizome is an underground stem, similar to a root or bulb, that multiplies each year as the plant grows. Dig around the ginger plant with a trowel to loosen the soil in late fall when the plant begins to yellow and enter dormancy. Blue gingers belong to the same family as wandering Jews and spiderworts. Buy organic ginger if you can. Keep your … Remove the bottom leaf and dip the stem in rooting hormone or roll it in hormone powder. Ginger may also be referred to as true ginger, stem ginger, garden ginger or root ginger and it is believed to have originated in the Southeast Asia. It has beautiful lush green leaves, and very pretty pink and cream, shell-like flowers. Maintain blue ginger at the desired height by snipping off top growth. Eyes that have started to turn green are ideal, but not required. The variegated shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet variegata) is one of the more sensational looking gingers. The ginger plant can reach 0.6–1.2 m in height (2–4 ft) and is grown as an annual plant. A fantastic ornamental ginger with lightly variegated leaves, red stems and frilly white flowers. The seed should be sown immediately and grown indoors where they may take several months to germinate. Beehive Ginger Growing And Caring Tips For A Special Tropical Creation. Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price! Therefore, during repotting, it’s very easy to cut off a segment and plant it in a separate pot. Remove the bag when the new plant shows signs of growth. You can find ornamental ginger plants with vibrant flowers at a plant nursery, but these are often inedible. Gingers are not very deep-rooted so it usually requires some effort to make the individual stalks remain uptight after you repot the plant. This encourages the ginger to form rhizomes. Posted on June 25, 2019 September 17, 2019 by Aimee Petel. Ginger is an easy crop to grow at home, and all you need to get started is a knob of organic ginger that you’ve purchased. Cut tips of stems with three leaves attached. Blue ginger tolerates drought conditions for short periods of time. Ginger is a slow growing plant and easily overgrown by others. Zingiber likes to be partly shaded and in well-drained soil. Gingers are generally easy to propagate through clump division. Whether they go in beds or in containers, these plants offer diversity without a lot of maintenance. Growing Ginger Plants that Flower Ornamental, or flowering, gingers are different from the edible variety. Choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and deep. Most gingers are native to Asia, where it has been used a food staple for thousands of years. 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