How to Grow Ginger Flowers – Indoor and Outdoor Ginger Care
Looking for information on how to grow ginger? Here, you’ll find
information on growing ginger plants, as
well as tips on indoor and
outdoor ginger flower care.
The Alpinia variety is among the most common and stunningly beautiful
of tropical flowers. From the startling red ginger to the subtle shell
ginger, these attractive plants are easy to grow in home landscapes in
tropical and semi-tropical areas.
If you live in a temperate climate such as the southern United States,
you can grow
ginger
plants in large decorative pots outdoors in the
summertime when they bloom and then move them indoors so they can be
protected from cooler weather and frost in the fall and winter months.
Refer
to the tips and information below on caring for ginger flower
arrangements as well as how to grow ginger in plant containers and in
the landscape.
Indoor
Ginger Flower Care
Red ginger is quite popular as an ornamental and cut flower, both for
the home and for commercial sale.
Bracts are cut off for lei making. Red ginger inflorescences are widely
used in flower arrangements, from cemetery bouquets to extravagant
hotel centerpieces.
Before arranging ginger stems, cut 2 to 3 inches from the base, remove
any foliage that will be under water, and put in a bath of warm water
containing a floral preservative for a few hours or
overnight.
Do not place floral arrangements in direct sunlight or near heat vents,
air conditioners, or drafts.
Water and remove dying blooms and foliage daily.
To prolong vase life, recut the stem bases every 4 to 5 days, clean the
container thoroughly, and rearrange the remaining flowers, adding a
mixture of warm water and floral preservative.
How
to Grow Ginger in the Landscape
Red ginger is a very useful perennial with diverse forms. With its
long, attractive red flower bracts and lush green leaves, it works well
in tropical-themed landscapes.
It is useful as a tall informal hedge or screen. It is a good
backdrop or foundation planting, especially in front of blank walls.
It can be used as a shrub border in mass plantings or as a specimen
plant. It can also be harvested as a cut flower.
Red ginger is easily grown and maintained. The plant is more productive
when started from rhizomes.
When blooms fade, remove stems to ground level. Since this plant can
spread extensively, use caution when planting it near natural areas
that it might invade.
In such cases, plant it in containers or surround beds with a physical
barrier such as a plastic mow strip.
How to Grow Ginger Plants:
Planting Tips
An in-row spacing of 4 to 61⁄2 feet is recommended. Thin out weak
flower stalks, leaving 8 to 12 heavy stems per yard of row.
Closer spacing increases yield per unit of production area, but yield
per plant is reduced. Less dense plantings permit greater per-plant
yields.
Consider
growing
ginger in a container. In colder climates, outdoor planters
can be moved indoors for overwintering.
How to Grow Ginger
Plants in a Container
- Ginger plant(s)
- Well-draining commercial potting soil
- Perlite or vermiculite
- Peat moss
- Trowel
- Large decorative pot(s)
- Fill a large pot about half full with a good potting soil,
a little peat moss and perhaps some perlite.
- Take the ginger plant out of its nursery pot and center it
in the middle of the large pot you have prepared.
- While holding the plant with one hand, fill the pot to
within one inch of the rim with potting soil/peat moss/perlite
combination.
- Pat the soil down around the base of the ginger plant so it
sits securely.
- Water the new plant well and keep it moist but not overly
soggy.
- Place your plant in a spot where it will get plenty of
light. Most gingers need bright, indirect light in order to flower;
some even prefer full sun all day.
A few gingers can thrive in filtered shade, but if your plant doesn't
flower, you probably aren't giving it enough sun. If you bring your
ginger plant indoors for the winter, make sure it still has lots of
light.
Note:
Gingers are susceptible to spider mites. If your ginger plant has
mites, introduce a natural predator such as lacewing or ladybugs.
USDA Hardiness Zones:
10 - 12