I just found this forum (thank you Adm!) and I have a question. I bought a LARGE varigated Ginger, light green and yellow, with lots of little Gingers coming up. I want to put it against a chain link fence that gets winter sun (short days) and spring low afternoon sun. In the summer it is almost totally in the shade. Is this too much sun? Should I just place the pot there and watch it before I plant it? Does it require a lot of water? Sorry to be so dumb, I bought it for it's beautiful leaves, I didn't even know Gingers bloomed!
Pati
My first Ginger..Help!
wonder if you're talking about zingiber zerumbet. I have seen people plant them in full sun and by June they look horribly ratty, but they do not die. So, I would say the sun conditions as you describe will be gentle enough for this lovely plant. Mine are in full shade and do not get ratty, not even at the height of winter, which is what I am more concerned about.
Every time I drive by this house I so want to knock on the door and say "move that ginger, please!!!"
Sounds like Alpinia zerumbet variegated. Vossner is sooo right. Too many people (especially landscapers) put it right out in full sun, it looks horrible. I have mine in filtered light and the yellow is yellow and the green is a very dark green. In the sun they get so bleached out and then the edges burn as summer encroaches.
Zingiber zerumbet is what is commonly called shampoo ginger or pinecone ginger and has solid green foliage. there is a variegated zigiber zerumbet but it is green and white and much smaller than the green form.
Liz
liz, you're right. I got my names mixed up. I was referring to alpinia zerumber variegated.
Thank you both so much for your replies. I looked in the Plant Files and decided that from your information and what I read there, I won't put it in the ground. It is quite large (and beautiful) and this will allow me to move it if it gets too much sun and in the winter protect it from the infrequent frosts we have.
I have shade garden, but after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, I have lost a great deal of my canopy. (sigh) I have to be more watchful this spring to see if my ferns and other plants are getting the right amount of shade.
Thanks again,
Pati