Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Why I Like Gingers, 1 by gingersrus

gingersrus wrote:
Clare, sorry for the delayed reply, I somehow missed your question about blue ginger until now. No, I have not had any problems with mealie bugs (or any other pests for that matter). I do not use chemicals, just some insecticidal soap in the greenhouse mainly for aphids.

Since it is not a true ginger, I don't have a data sheet on it on my website - which is now limited to Zingiberaceae and Costaceae - only in my online catalog. I have three large patches in my garden, which tells you how much I think of them since I am almost exclusively into true gingers. My blue gingers start blooming in September and are in full bloom by October. They always freeze back when we have freezing temps and the foliage is damaged in a light frost, but they come back strong in the early spring - like right now they are sending up new shoots. If you ever dig up a mature plant you will find huge root tubers deep and at the end of the roots, which is what allows them to survive dry periods and dormancy in frost areas.

Also, thanks to all for the kind comments about the newspaper article. I am going to Ecuador in May to look for two Costus species that are on the threatened list (very rare) and who knows what else I may find there. Wish me luck.

Dave Skinner
http://www.gingersrus.com