Gingers

[Dazed_Lily]

I am starting to develop an interest in Gingers, but I live in Zone 6. Also, many gingers grow way tall kinda like cannas. Can they be grown indoors ?

[txbeyer]

They surely can. Use a well drained, organic soil and grow them near a window that allows as much light as possible without direct sunlight. Keep them moderately moist. I recommend Alpinia zerumbet variegata (the variegated shell ginger) for incredible tropical appearance and bright foliage color.

[sue salley]

Wow. What wild foliage. Does it bloom?

[txbeyer]

If the plant doesn't experience temps below 35-40 degrees for 18 months, it should bloom.

[Dazed_Lily]

I got carried away and bought 2 unknowns on Lily Auction. The seller has all diff sorts but doesn't know what these are; that's why they were just $2 apiece. That still doesn't get me the shell ginger but I see some on another auction site. The seller claims they grow 12-14 feet high; does that sound right ?

[txbeyer]

That doesn't sound right. The tallest I have ever seen Alpinia zerumbet variegata get is about 6' and that's a really mature plant. Some "shell" gingers do get very tall to 10' but these are not A. zerumbet and are solid green.. If you are looking for this ginger, I can divide mine and mail you a clump. Contact me off line.

[Dazed_Lily]

Yay ! I hope to be having a varigated shell ginger in the near future.
I also received 3 mystery gingers that I got from L A(uction). They are potted up downstairs and it will be interesting to see 'who' they turn out to be. One of them had shoots like bamboo(should hold up to Kansas wind in the summer).

[Dazed_Lily]

When can potted gingers go outside ?

[Dazed_Lily]

When can potted gingers go outside ? How do they do with rain ?

[txbeyer]

When minimum temperatures are reliably 40 degrees or higher, preferably closer to 50. They like rain and being kept fairly moist, remember, they come from the tropics where they grow as understory plants. They like shade or morning light only. Hope this helps.

[vicki]

WOW! That foliage is amazing! What else in my small collection might I have to entice a piece of that from you too! I've ordered a ton of plants and bulbs and shrubs, etc. on the bulbnplant group I belong to, that will be arriving here shortly. Might have something there to entice you.

[Rowan]

Ok, I'm going to post on this old thread on ginger. I just got two "shampoo ginger" bulbs (zingiber zerumbet) in the mail. They're a native of Thailand. Does anyone have any first hand experience with these?