Ginger Lilies

I've found my growing instructions Geranium ;D....putting them on this thread so that others can benefit too


Background

Gingers have been in cultivation for at least 2,000 years, with over 100 common names for Zingiber officinale used in cooking. Ornamental gingers and in particular the Hedychiums, were popular in Victorian times and are making a recovery with the increase in heated conservatories. The Zingiber family is one of the largest plant families of whch there are 1,400 known species.

Gingers are grown from fleshy rhizomes, like underground stems. Many of the Hedychium species will survive our winters, emerging from the ground with new growth the following spring and early summer, if the rhizomes are protected from soil penetrating frost. The flowers are only produced at the tips of the new seasons growing shoots and therefore, tend to flower from August through to November, depending on how early in the season new growth is encouraged to start.

Position

Outdoors in a warm sunny protected position, or can be grown in a conservatory in large pots. As they flower late in the season, pot growing is the best choice for many hybrids, with an excellent display right up till Christmas, given a heated area.

Water

Gingers like a lot of water (not standing in water) but also recover well from short term dry conditions.

Feeding

Feed heavily while in active growth, with a liquid feed if in pots, and top dress outdoor planted gingers with a good fertiliser.

Potting

Gingers, and in particular Hedychiums, will need a 14 inch or larger pot to attain flowering size. The flowers may appear on shoots from 3ft to 8ft tall, depending on the variety, so make sure you have room for these large architectural plants.

Pruning

Hardy varieties will die back naturally to the ground after the first frosts so no pruing is required. If you are keeping them inside over winter in pots, they will become dormant and it is recommended that the old shoots are left growing and green until the following spring. Water sparingly during this period, but do not allow to dry out. With sufficient heat, new shoots will start into growth from the underground rhizomes during Feb - April and once these are growing strongly, the previous year's growth can be cut off at ground level. Remember only the new growth will produce flowers.

Temperature

If you can give the gingers 15c to 20c in early spring, you will have earlier flowers and stronger plants with more flowering shoots.

Over Winter

Hardy plants in the ground will benefit from a mulch over the rhizomes to protect them during the winter. Most varieties do well in large pots or planted out for the summer. These are dug up, and if necessary divided, just before the first frosts and brought inside under glass. Many will still be flowering and will create a late autumn conservatory decoration of large scented flowers. Plants can also be overwintered dry, in a frost free garage or shed, starting the rhizomes back into growth in the spring with warmth and moisture, but best left in their pots during the process. Cut off the dead foliage to reduce any chance of rot during storage.

Pests

Almost pest free, they seem immune from whitefly attack; snails; resistant to red spider and only the new shoot tips seem to attract greenfly, which is easily controlled.


Hope this helps ;D

Thats fine ;D ;D

Now THAT is a real 'wow' flower! ;D ;D

If it produces a flower like that, then yes! ;D