Ginger Plant Care

When we say ginger plant, it is applicable to a group of tropical plants belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, which are related to each other. For example, the true root ginger (Zingiber officinale) is planted for culinary and medicinal values; whereas the varieties - white ginger and red ginger are popular garden plants grown for their large magnificent blooms. Besides these, the wild ginger species is used as a ground cover.

Also known as garden ginger, the true ginger is a must have plant in every herb garden. Other than the innumerable health benefits of ginger root, you can also use the leaves to flavor tea and also to make ginger tea along with other food recipes. A healthy garden ginger plant can grow to a height of 2 - 4 feet with narrow, glossy leaves measuring about 1 foot length. If retained for more than 2 years without uprooting, the ginger plants will bear yellowish-green flowers. With this brief information, we shall discuss the tips for common ginger plant care.

How to Care for Ginger Plant?

If you are wondering how to plant ginger, you can follow the same growing tips as you carry out for other rhizomatous plants. For many hobbyists, they are probably the most neglected plants in the garden. Really, it is very easy to grow and maintain ginger in the vegetable garden. Mention below are some of the steps for use and taking care of ginger plant:

Soil Condition: In order to have healthy ginger plants, make sure that the soil is well-drained and rich in nutrients. If planted in humus soil, there is no need for regular fertilization. In case of poor soil, you can add a heavy dose of farmyard compost at the time of plantation and supplement it with a slow release liquid fertilizer after every 2 - 3 weeks.

Light Requirement: Being native to the tropical areas, a ginger plant needs adequate bright light for quick growth and development. In the wild, they are adapted under the canopy of larger trees, thus exposing to indirect or filtered light. Consequently, garden ginger plants also grow well with filtered sunlight (not direct sun).

Preferable Temperature: Tropical temperature range falling between 70 - 80 ºF is ideal to grow garden ginger plants. They cannot tolerate temperature below 60º F. Considering this, it is also understandable that they cannot stand harsh winds and heavy frost. Thus, ensure that you prepare plastic sheets before arrival of frost to protect your ginger plants.

Humidity Level: Ginger plants grow best in high humidity levels, which may be difficult to maintain in an open garden. Hence, if possible, plant ginger in a partial shaded area that is warm and moist. In case of dry air, especially during winter months, you can practice misting and spraying the leaves with water.

Watering Frequency: Garden ginger plants need lots of water, especially during the active growing season. But, this does not mean that you should water heavily every day, which will lead to waterlogging and draining away of the nutrients. The trick is not to let the top soil dry out completely.

In a nutshell, ginger plant care is all about caring a tropical plant having rhizome. Simply, provide the growing conditions that resemble tropical environment and you will definitely maintain healthy ginger plants in the garden. At the same time, you can harvest large rhizomes after about 3 - 4 months of plantation. Consider dividing garden ginger plants and repotting during spring time to ensure continuous supply of aromatic ginger every year from your garden.