Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Stumped by non-blooming butterfly gingers, 1 by Ncasselberryfla

Ncasselberryfla wrote:
Tapeinochius ananassae is one I think more ginger growers should venture into. I planted this one in a 15 gallon pot in the Fall and over Winter had to drag it in and out of the house as both greenhouses were too full for it. It held on and looked frazzled. I kept it on the dry side with occasional light water only. Whenever I had a day above 50, out it went under the shade cloth. This ginger is very easy to care for. In the Spring it took off after a feedling and two weeks left alone in the warm weather. Now it has produced its first inflorescence, which is VERY slow growing , having been on there for two months now. This is a pic from a few weeks ago when it first started. It is very, deep red now and a bit taller and larger. Many new shoots are now coming up and the old shoots that the tips died on over winter began "branching out: from the nodes, giving it almost the appearance of a weeping fig from a distance. What a cool ginger! it is so easy to care for. I leave it toally alone except for occasional feedling. No pests, no diseases...very easy care and many new "bumps" appearing underneath the soil, signaling more blooms to come. It prefers shade or very filtered sun. 70% shade cloth seems perfect for it, as is under a nice, shady tree. Direct sun will burn the leaves. The rains water it here in Florida, so I have basically not done anything to it in about a month with all the storms. Anyway, here's a pic from May. (Yes, I need to make more, but I run a little nursery and I get sidetracked by all my plumerias coming into blooms!--LOL).
Brad

This message was edited Jul 17, 2006 8:41 PM

This message was edited Jul 17, 2006 8:41 PM