How to Grow Hardy Gingers for Amazing Scented Tropical Flowers! Hedychium gardnerianum Tips

[@dawienatral7083]

Your garden LOOKS GREAT,

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, apologies for my delayed reply and thank you very much!

[@TheRanch4Life]

Thanks George! Lots of useful info. I live up in Durham so knowing what you do with tender plants over winter is really helpful :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for commenting! It's always a gamble but I do try to personally go the extra mile to give the plants the best chance of making it through winter. A lot of my cannas etc get dug up whereas people further south can reliably leave them in, all part of the fun!

[@nazminnarine7901]

I love the gingers. Beautiful flowers. Great video and lovely presentation. I love your mesmerizing voice. You would do well working on television hosting and presenting programmes. Interesting to listen and watch George. Great smile out of 10 I would personally give you 10.Thank you for sharing.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much again Nazmin, you're too kind!

[@nazminnarine7901]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you my dear friend . Take care.

[@FrancesRawlings]

You answered all my questions and more.... I love your garden... inspirational!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That’s great to hear and really kind of you, thank you very much! The garden has certainly evolved since last year so I hope you enjoy checking out some of the more recent updates too 😊

[@VFRRiderFT]

Gingers are definitely going to be my next plant for next year, I had a great success in this my first year of exotics, with Cannas & Bananas, all inspired by your good self.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That’s great Chris, I’m happy you’ve had a lot of success this year and gingers will fit in perfectly 😃

[@davidmackie7473]

Good to see you fit and well and back online. Thanks for the video.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks David, getting there now 😃

[@PaulCFC]

glad to see you looking more like your best self 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Paul, it’s great to have a bit more energy back 😃

[@nathonhamilton4524]

thankyou very much great video.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Nathan, I'm pleased you found it helpful!

[@steverichardson4374]

Glad you back and well bud 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Steve, starting to get there now 😃

[@stanleygladstone1210]

Hi George, for splashes of red amongst the green I use bergamot. 4 to 5 foot tall and sometimes second flushes,Hardy,self seeding. I like the look and as you say it's what you like that matters. Not sure but I've been told you can make tea with it but I've never tried. Great series, thanks very much.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Stanley, thanks for the idea, it's great to hear what other people use for extra colour and impact. If you're anything like me, you tend to find what works well over the years through trial and error and stick to it but there's a lot of these easy filler plants that I think beginners would appreciate hearing about more.

[@MajesticNatureAndAdventures]

Nice to hear from you again Fab upload Big like majestic sis uk too Keep it up George 💚 Stay bles

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you, I appreciate it 😃

[@oldgold5848]

Glad you are back George. Keep well.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much 😃

[@msdrummerkitty]

Good to see you back!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Kate 😃

[@Omlittlebuddha]

Hope you are feeling better today George, try the Wim Hof Method, you’ll be feeling fantastic in no time! 💚😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, sorry, just seen this! Thank you so much, I'm getting back to normal now which is great as I've got loads to do!

[@estherterrier6400]

Glad to see you back George, great video, full of advice 😀

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, it’s good to be back 😃

[@ThePalmGuy]

Glad your feeling better now George. Great video as always. No flowers this year on my ginger but hopeful for next year.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Aaron! I think they take a while to settle in or bulk up but I’m sure it’ll flower soon enough 😃

[@frogsparadise4247]

Good to see you back. Another great video and another plant on my wish list:) Thank you.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much 😃 They’re lovely plants!

[@shane24v]

Salvia amistad is brilliant, been growing them a while and it just keeps coming back and easy to to take cuttings.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It is indeed, definitely a plant I’m going to spread around more now I have a larger garden 😃

[@TheHardlove4u]

Thank you George and glad to see you 'spry' again. I try not to get too nostalgic about my life in Sydney; as the song goes - "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with". But with your talk on Hedychiums took me right back to the huge planter just outside the door on our packed roof garden many years ago. The smell and look of those flowers------ you swept me away. PS. Thanks for the nursery suggestions. PPS. decided not to divide the big green Phormium on your suggestion, too much work for an old git and I've enough gaudy colour around it.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Jeff, they’re beautiful flowers aren’t they! Pleased I could help you and no worries on the phormium, it can definitely be hard work splitting them up!

[@barrymcgee2078]

Good to see you back George 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Barry, sorry, just noticed this comment. Thank you very much, I'm starting to feel better now thanks :)

[@TartanScrubs]

Great to have you back George 🥳

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Laura, just seen this, thank you for commenting, it's great to be back and feeling better!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Great to see you on your feet. I have 4 gingers all in raised beds with 2 undisturbed over last winter and have survived in the North East. No flowers yet but early days. Great advice with non-disturbance of roots. I'm planning to leave all 4 out this winter as I haven't got the room to bring in and I've got my palm seedlings to think about.......🤣. Cheers man

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! I’m sure they’ll do well in your little microclimate, I think they need a lot of sun to flower early but I’m sure they will in time. Yes, definitely prioritise the palms!

[@Labraxsquad20]

Good to see your better George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, its good to be back 😃

[@elf9967]

Glad you’re feeling better 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, getting there 😃

[@johnl7443]

The name George means, “Tiller of the soil”! Great video, thanks from San Diego, California

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks John! I've known that since I was young, who knows, must be some kind of inescapable destiny haha! All the best.

[@shashasayed1992]

What s gorgeous garden. You have great informative content Tq. If you can show how to design different plants in a section of garden, wld be much appreciated.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! It’s something I’ll try to work into a video again some time, thanks for the idea 😃

[@giardinodialberi8751]

What a great suggestion to try butterfly gingers. Your Hedychium gardneranum is the Kahili ginger. A kahili was a feathered ceremonial staff shown as a chief's status in Hawaii. Mildred Matthias in her book Flowering Plants in the Landscape, says this is the hardiest Hedychium. I also love Hedychium coronarium, large white butterflies, are potently fragrant like jasmine or gardenia. The Hedychium bloom period is extended, as each calyx holds two flowers that bloom on differing days.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much for the information, very interesting! They are lovely plants, one I wouldn’t be without in my garden and the scent is beautiful 😃

[@nessylarassimanjuntak4637]

Good advice on ginggers plantation

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you 😃

[@craigwagstaff4625]

Hey George your back,hope your feeling better dude ,like l said to Kris last week lve got loads of questions to ask bit they can wait a bit ,all the best fella👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Craig, apologies, just seen this comment. Cheers, I'm feeling a good bit better now thanks. Is there anything you're wanting a quick answer on?

[@tonyworrall7379]

Hope you are feeling better George. Great video..

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Just seen this Tony, thank you very much, on the road to recovery now!

[@tonyworrall7379]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Good to hear George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@tonyworrall7379 Thanks Tony 😊

[@Royaliize]

Great video! I got a question tho. I bought some huge rhisomes of this plant and I see some New shots. U say They take long to get going. So My question is: should i plant Them now in a container inside the home or wait for early summer, since it still way too cold here to get Them outside atm. Ty in advance.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! If you've got the space inside, it's worth starting them off over the next month or so, the warmer the better to get them going really if you're starting with dry rhizomes!

[@chrisguybob]

Hi George, great videos by the way. My question is; I bought a rhizome back in March. It was huge I mean 15 inches huge. I potted it up in a canvas type flexible pot and have kept it watered and fed in the greenhouse. However it’s only now that it has thrown a shoot up which is about 3 inches and it’s a strong shoot. Is it normal for that to take this long and am I being inpatient which your video seems to suggest.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Chris and thanks! Yes, these ones started off around that size too. Gingers, unfortunately, seem to take a lot of heat and water to get growing, particularly from dry and you may just get foliage this year if it's a cool summer but it will pick up and have more shoots going forwards. It was quite a cool spring though so the real heat-loving plants are likely to be behind. This sun will help though, just keep it well watered while it's warm!

[@Weerchris]

In recent Dutch summers my hefychiums fried in the 38 C sun, hard to keep them wet and the sun was crisping up and kill some of the leaves. The ones planted in 50% shade partly under muse basjoo are still in good shape and are flowering much bigger.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ouch, yes, it's been an extreme one! From what I understand they generally prefer some shade in habitat, the main reason we generally have to give them a bit more sun here is to extend the growing season due to more heat and encourage earlier flowering. I guess in a year like this though, heat hasn't been in short supply and the ones with a bit of shelter seem to have performed well for us both!

[@oldgold5848]

Great stuff as usual George. I've done well from seed this year...cannas, ensete, ricinus, coleus, washingtonia and trachycarpus, looks .I've another one to try next year!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you. Wow, you’ve been busy! 😃

[@SanghaGarden]

beautiful

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you 😃

[@chrisguybob]

Hi George which type of feed do you give your gingers or in fact most of your ‘tropicals’ I started with banjoo banana last year and have just required a 14 inch hedychium Gardnerianum rhizome. Have plenty of Cannas which I propagated last year. I live on the Isle of Wight so I’m lucky to have the climate apart from those frost we had early on, got down to -8 this winter. Chris

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Chris and you definitely have a more sheltered climate than me, I'm surprised you saw -8 but it's definitely been a challenging winter for a lot of the country this time round! As for your question about the big leaved 'summer' tropical plants, I generally use farmyard manure to improve the soil over winter (not all the garden every year though), apply chicken manure pellets around now then top up again every couple of months through summer then occasionally give them a feed of liquid seaweed, Tomorite or generic high nitrogen feed in the summer. The chicken manure pellets are probably the easiest and one I'd pick first - there's a vid about using it somewhere on my channel!

[@monica11760]

Hi, when I brought my potted ginger inside over the winter, a few months later it started sending up shoots while in the basement. It was tricky putting it outside because our weather kept flipping back and forth from warm to freezing, so then I kept it inside a little longer. The canes grew very anemic (whitish) in color and very thin. I assumed this was from a lack of sunshine. When I finally put the plant outside for good, I cut back all of the white canes as I didn't think they would turn green in the sunlight (was I wrong about that?). Also, will those canes grow back this year, or will they not grow again until next year? I thought the growth was happening on the canes I had cut back last fall, but now I'm wondering if they were brand new canes from the rhizome. The other times I had tried growing ginger it was when it was already warmer and the shoots all came up green. I wasn't sure if you cut a cane during the season (like after it flower) if that same cane would grow again, or do they only do that once per season. Thanks for any help you can give me!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I generally chop all the old stems back in spring anyway and new ones come back from the rhizome no problem. The thing with ginger though is that they need a decent amount of heat to get started so if you've planted it directly into the ground, I wouldn't be surprised if it's June before it grows away again (particularly this year!). Each stem doesn't tend to grow any more once it's chopped but the whole rhizome will continually send new ones up while it's warm so don't worry about the ones you had to cut back due to the low light.

[@monica11760]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you for your reply! I thought I had read somewhere else to cut the old canes back in the Fall, but maybe doing that also encourage the rhizome to send out new shoots once it was warm enough. Maybe I can avoid this by cutting the old canes back in the Spring like you do.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@monica11760 No worries! I don’t think it matters hugely with you chop it back and it’s potentially more the warmth that encourages new growth but cutting them back in spring has always worked for mine 😃

[@monica11760]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden you were right!! All kinds of new shoots are sprouting up, and it does seem like they are new shoots and not old canes that I cut back previously, growing again (which is what I thought they did). Thank you so much for your encouragement!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@monica11760 That's amazing to hear, great news! Yes, they do tend to just have another go with a new cane after the older ones have been damaged or have flowered, but I'm pleased it's alive and hopefully giving you some flowers to look forward to later this year!

[@suzanneporter738]

Hi, thanks for the video. Can you tell me where you bought your gingers please?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Suzanne and thanks. These were bought from an RHS show but places like Pan Global and Desert to Jungle sell them.

[@GotoHere]

Will ginger over winter in Zone 9 USA? Like cannas die but come back in spring.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I don't know your exact climate and temperatures but you should be fine with most Hedychiums especially, we're around a Zone 8a in theory but with cooler summers which can limit their growth.

[@robertoughton9037]

Hi George just received my first Ginger plant potted about 40 cm high , can i still plant out, or leave in pot till spring . Or bring in doors come oct.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Robert, personally I’d keep it potted in a polytunnel or greenhouse if you’ve got one? In my eyes it’s not going to grow much over the next month or so to justify risking leaving it out over winter as a small / new plant.

[@jessebroere9714]

Hi George, after the frost i’m planting some gingers in my dutch garden. I‘m plant them in tubs do you know how deep i have to plant them in the ground? Keep going with your KZbin and Instagram 👍🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Jesse and I’ve just replied to your Instagram comment with what I personally do. I have the rhizomes very close to the surface of the soil to get as much of the sun’s energy but then mulch the ones that are staying out in winter.

[@amphetaminelogic7006]

Jesse, most hedichiums can go in full ground in netherlands, if your sortof in the western parts, and def on sandy soil! I have at least 7 or 8 species Hedichium in full soil. It is sandy soil, but they have taken -10/-11 winters with a bunch of snow. Think H. coronarium, H. garnerianum, H. dixter, H wardii, H. tara, H. elypticum.... Same for canna: leave them in full ground in NL. bene doing it for years, and these grow! I sold 360 L of rhizomes over last season. PS: slugs avoid Hedichium!

[@Royaliize]

Its funny, its oct now and mine Are just starting to Bloom! They seem to be very cold Hardy compared to the canna that already has yellow leafs. The Hedychium dont seem to mind the cold rain or 5c temps we Are having here... They still growing like crazy. Question is if i should leave Them out to the first frost or take Them inside. It is Best to make Them go dorment like it is for some plants or does Hedychium do Best without dormanys. Ty in advance for the help.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, yes, they’re definitely one of the later plants to do their thing. Mine have flowered a bit earlier this year with the exceptional heat but were in full flower last October. Personally I move my potted plants into a cool polytunnel for protection but also for an earlier start in spring. In the ground they just get a bit of a mulch. I don’t let the potted ones dry out completely but do keep them on the drier side.

[@Royaliize]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden ty! I just took mine inside, its around 16c in the Room. It got abit of rain before i took it inside. I had to take it in since they say we gona get-5c for one night..

[@sulagnaroy]

My gingers have put on a lot of foliage growth, 6 feet high, but no flowers at all :( Any advice? Thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, are they young plants? It could simply be a case of needing another year to mature but seeing as they’ve grown so well otherwise it might be that they need a sunnier spot or more fertiliser to get bigger quicker. This year has been inconsistent and cool following a late spring so plants that flower later in the year like gingers are potentially one of the main plants to be affected. It’s probably nothing you’ve done wrong so don’t worry!

[@Royaliize]

Hey mate, another question. Sorry for all these questions heh. Have u ever got any seeds from them, do u need 2 different plants or? There isnt much info about hedychium seeds online.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, no worries! To be honest, I'm not entirely sure - somewhere like Jungle Seeds would be the place I'd go to for seeds though. I've never had any off mine (yet) but potentially that's down to our relatively short growing seasons and lack of consistent heat.

[@sivanagarajah913]

Hi George I put my canna musifolias in pots abd stored them in my spare bathroom (darker and colder) for winter. They are sprouting! What should I do ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal - a colder room in your house is still a lot warmer than outdoors and cannas don’t really go dormant as such, they just don’t grow when it’s cold and they’re drier. I’d keep them on the drier side and try to give them a bit more light. The growth won’t be especially strong but less water will slow it down and then you can always chop it down next spring and new shoots will come out. Do you have a garage or greenhouse etc that’s even cooler where you could keep them?

[@sivanagarajah913]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@sivanagarajah913 No worries ☺️

[@ironian24]

Great advice on the gingers, I see yours is flowering already, not sure what variety I have but they are 5 feet tall and no flowers as yet. The gingers are growing with the cannas which have done amazingly with tons of new shoots all over the bed, best I have seen in 4 years of them being in.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much and great to know all yours are growing well! I definitely want some taller varieties of Cannas and gingers in the future, it’s great to have such big plants that don’t take up as much room in winter!

[@paulwright7522]

Great to see you back, always your videos 😁

[@paulwright7522]

Enjoy your videos

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Paul, sorry, just seen this comment, thank you very much!

[@youcando2362]

Sir kindly suggest me about new planting...step

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I personally start a rhizome off on a heat mat or in a propagator, close to the surface of the soil and with good brightness and humidity. They do require a lot of heat to really get going well and patience is required - buying them as a plant isn't a bad idea!

[@mikedinni6318]

Love the video as always. I'm definitely getting some gingers next year. What will you do with your salvia amistad over winter? I've read so many different views on it. Some say hardy, some say half hardy.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Mike! I’m going to leave some in the ground and dig up overwinter others in the polytunnel. Partly as insurance plants but also so I can potentially move them next year. I’m sure in most winters they’d be absolutely fine in the ground from what I’ve heard but a cold winter in damp soil would be challenging.

[@shane24v]

I leave mine in the ground it dies off but it comes back every year, my location is derby, oh it grows just as well in shade as full sun

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@shane24v That’s very helpful thanks, I remember you commenting on my original plug plant video I think. I’ve got some shaded ones here too and they’ve certainly done well, they’re a great filler plant around the big leaves.

[@saltlifess6226]

Another great plant that has a tropical look is Cardoon, globe artichoke believe it or not.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That’s right, one of my friends grows then and they’ve definitely got stature and impact for sure!

[@shineamenmbs3107]

Thank you Georege. Very informative video, but how can this plant be called Hardy if you have to put it in the tunnel during winter? Though, I understand it depends on the type of soil and humidity, and it gives them a better growth afterwards. I wish I could smell their fragrance... Take care

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Just found this comment, it was hidden on my phone but I can see it on here, in case it helps anyone else they are hardy for most UK locations but in wetter soils or cooler areas I'd still recommend overwintering in a greenhouse or polytunnel as they're protected for winter and should grow more quickly the following spring.

[@Nothingfailz]

Has anyone had success growing them in the hot and dry in summer Mediterranean leaving them in the ground for the wet winter? If yes, under what conditions?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I thought I’d reply as nobody with more specific experience has seen this yet. For what it’s worth the winter conditions shouldn’t be too much of a problem, they can survive up here in wet North England winters. I generally keep mine potted as I’ve then got movable displays and also get a head start with them in the polytunnel in spring. They will prefer summer moisture though, I believe they generally grow and flower best during the monsoon type weather in habitat.

[@koosvanleeuwe2580]

Nederlands.👍

[@koosvanleeuwe2580]

Toerisme🥰😍😃

[@koosvanleeuwe2580]

Gemeenthe plantsoen.8 bamboe🥲🤩😇🤣🥰