varigated shell ginger (alpinia zerumbet)
I assumed it would be like dividing canna, but not so!!! I can pull them apart once I have them out of the pot, but when I tried to pull this apart I'm tearing off stalks with no roots. Do I cut it apart with a sharp knife?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Judy
Hi Judy,
Yes you will need to cut through with a nice big ol' sharp knofe. Here at the nursery my husband uses one of his knives from when he was a meat cutter.
Liz
Thanks ever so much for the assistance.
Judy
Oh Brother, now I know why he uses a meat cutter's knife!!!
Does anyone leave this ginger in the ground over winter in zone 7b?
Judy
i am going to try one this winter in the ground in a protected spot with lots of mulch
LOL... A freind of mine divided a large number of hers this year and called me to let me know how tired her hands and forearms were, and said 'I'd never want to p--- him off, he'd crush you, after doing that day in and day out for the past 5 years' :)
Tigerlily, let us know how it does, since it's supposed to grow that far north (but, Since plants can't read it doesn't know).
Liz
Is this verigated shell ginger? Sorry! I just saw your heading! Newbie at work. Aloha, Anu
This message was edited Sep 27, 2006 11:10 PM
Is this verigated shell ginger?
Yes, nasty stuff to divide. I gave away 4 large pots of it at the RoundUp because I had offered it for trade, but then had such a horrible time trying to divide. I should have used an electric knife maybe or better yet some kind of electric saw.
Judy
Judy,
This is why I never say a word as to how much Richard does in a day. I just know I don't have to do it so he can go at his own pace without any comments from 'the peanut gallery' :)
I had my big strong DH trying to do it but we were mangling it so bad it wasn't going to be worth anything. He sharpened these big ole butcher knives for me and I still couldn't cut it without doing a hack job on it. BLESS YOUR DH!!!
Judy
take a chain saw if you have one and saw thru the roots..........I've done it they were fine and multiplied again
Who would have ever thought that I would have a plant that needed a chainsaw taken to it. Lol lol I did have a lady tell me she used an electric knife.
Thanks for the advice.
Judy
A good, sharp Bow Saw might work good as well... I've used mine to cut through 8-inch thick dead elm trees, and elm wood is pretty hard (especially if you want to try splitting it)....
Thanks so much for the tip... I'm going to have to Google "bow saw", but I think DH has one of those. Yep he does and he also has the hands and muscle to use it, unfortunately I don't.
Judy
You could also use a Hack Saw.... That's what I use when cutting culms in my Bamboo grove, mainly because of how fiberous Bamboo wood is. The Bow saw would cause a lot of splitting, but the Hack Saw doesn't, because the teeth are much smaller, but the blade is hard and sharp enough to cut through steel, so hard, fiberous, woody stems like bamboo and shell ginger won't pose any problem at all....
Sounds like MY kind of saw!!!
Judy
So how do you keep this stuff in check when it is in the ground? Mine is getting fairly large and while it is OK now; by next year it will overtake an area. I am getting scared after reading how tough it is.
Mine isn't going in the ground for that reason. I've got it in a pot, also I'm going to winter-over in the inside this first year.
Maybe someone will come along and give us some helpful hints.
Judy
Judy have you tried any in the ground in your area? They are supposed to be roothardy up your way. They would freeze back of course and woulsn't bloom but, the foliage is so nice and tropical.
Liz
Liz,
No I haven't.
Judy
I have mine in a very large pot I got from a landscaper at a new apartment complex he was landscaping. I find that in order to keep plants in check u just need to keep up the maintenance. In the case of the apina, as soon as new grow emerges from the ground u can just cut it out. I've used a serated bread knife to saw thru the rizome. It's worked fine for me.
