Gingerplants (Zingiberspp.)
Their leaves are usually lance-shaped or oblong, deep green, and glossy.
Flowers vary greatly from one genus to another and may be borne throughout the growing season in tropical climates.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
Flowering ginger will grow quite vigorously in the garden and has been known to take over garden spaces.
Avoid planting it near natural areas where it might escape.
Feed at least every other month, and clip back flower stalks to the ground after they finish blooming.
Pineapple GingerThe Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
The plant is fairly trouble-free, but root rot may occur in cold, wet soil.
Soil
Ginger plants like organically rich, moist, well-draining soil.
Most species are not picky about pH level.
Torch GingerThe Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
Water
Water frequently during the growing season, less often in fall and winter.
Weekly deep watering is preferable to shorter daily showers.
Aim to give your ginger plant approximately one inch of water per week.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
If flowering ginger plants get too dry, they will cease to flower and may even become dormant.
As a tropical plant, ginger plants prefer temperatures above 50 degrees.
Otherwise, it’s possible for you to apply a completeflower fertilizerevery other month.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
Gardeners just looking for an attractive container plant can look for a plant in bloom that they admire.
The ones that did bloom can be cut down to the ground after the flowers fade.
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Prune well in the spring before new growth appears.
Remove dead or damaged canes at any time during the year.
In fact, most gingers have a longer bloom period if grown in large pots.
Ginger blooms will last as cut flowers for as long as three weeks.
Gardeners should consult the care tag of the individual species to choose a proper location or container size.
When repotting, choose a new vessel that is an inch or two wider than the previous.
Also opt for containers with drainage holes.
Store thedormant rhizomesin sawdust or sphagnum moss as you would other tropical bulbs, such as gladioli or dahlias.
Replant in the spring.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Unfortunately, flowering ginger plants are like a beacon for insects.
Common pests include aphids, mealybugs, ants, red spider mites, cutworms, and more.
The treatment is usually an insecticide, but check with your local nursery for the appropriate treatments.
Monitor the plants closely for pests.
There are two disease issues that are common to flowering ginger: bacterial wilt and fusarium yellows.
To be sure of what’s happening, look at the rhizomes.
They will be water-soaked in appearance, show signs of bacterial ooze, or have significant dry rot.
The only treatment is to remove the plant from the garden before the problem spreads.
Ginger can be harvested fromZingiber officinale, or common ginger.
Other flowering species are purely ornamental.
It’s possible to grow ginger from rhizomes you buy at the supermarket.
If the rhizomes are indeed viable, you may see sprouts within two weeks.
Yes, these plants can grow indoors when given the proper care and a sunny, south-facing window.
