I have a variegated ginger plant I got when I purchased a hand-thrown pot from a potter up in Maine. She had the ginger growing in it. She said she had used compost to plant it. I live in zone 5. How do I treat this for the winter?
speaking of ginger...
Which of these is it?
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/60083/index.html
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55244/index.html
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/72792/index.html
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1900/index.html
Most gingers can be allowed to go dormant and stored dry for the winter. Gingers usually go dormant when the daylength is short, but can be forced to go dormant by withholding water. Don't water once they are dormant. Store above freezing. Once they break dormancy in the spring water them, but not until you see new growth.
The alpina zerumbet can be kept growing all winter if you have a warm, sunny window. It blooms on two year old growth.