Hi everyone!!! I'm new to the forum and I'm looking forward to exchanging tips and ideas with you all. I just bought this ginger plant and repotted and placed it in a shady area. It's about 4 ft. tall and I've noticed the tips are yellowing and almost dried out. I keep it moist but not over watered and haven't fertilized it. What should I do to improve it's foliage and encourage it to bloom. Any suggestions?
Hardy Ginger Lily 'Elizabeth'
Your Hedychium hybrid "Elizabeth' likes morning sun and afternoon shade/filtered light. We use Nutricoat (retail name is: Dynamite, in Florida 'Home Depot' has exclusive rights to sell it). We use the 13-13-13 with minors 180 day formula. We use this on all of our gingers at the nursery. It doesn't burn or add any undo fillers into the ground. They actually won an environmental award this year.
You're watering the correct amount, Elizabeth doesn't like to have constantly wet feet.
Try fertilizing it. Was it in this condition when you bought it?
If the tips are damaged they'll never bloom. You can encourage new growth by fertilizing and cutting off any old pseudostems.
I have a 3 page information sheet that I pot together to hand out to my customers, if you'd like I can email it to you at your regular email address.
Welcome to the forum.
Liz
Thanks for responding. The leaves began yellowing (dried up tips) after I placed it in morning sun and afternoon shade. I thought maybe the sun was too harsh for it so I moved it a couple of feet from that location to a shaded area. It seems better but now I'm worried it won't bloom. I'll have to fertilize it. Can I get your opinion on this plant food Hasta Gro 6-12-6. Appreciate all your help.
I haven't used that brand but gingers like a more even ratio. I like the nutricoat (Dynamite) because it release more reliably. Any good time released fertilizer will be fine, definetly better than none at all :)
Your Elizabeth must have been sitting in the shade before you bought it. The new canes will come up in the morning sun and afternoon shade so they will be adjusted to it as they grow. While some gingers do prefer the shade, most hedychiums like a little sunlight, the mprning sun isn't as harsh. If hedychiums don't get their light requirements the pseudostems are weak and flop over instead of standing "tall"