Hello Ginger-Junkies, I am new to gingers, but have a nice sized Hedychium coronatum. We have a light frost warning for tonight in sunny Maine. Can I keep it out through a superficial frost? How hardy is this baby? I dont want to lose it, but I dont know that I am ready to deal with the fall ritual of bringing in the plants yet.
Hedychium question
Hi mtntrtl,
I live in Florida, so I am not too experienced with cold-hardiness. But I can tell you that Hedychiums go dormant in the winter, so frost won't kill them, but it will appear as though they are dead. They will return in the spring though. If you want to continue to enjoy the foliage and encourage growth for a little while longer, you could bring it indoors.
I don't know what Maine winters are like, but if you get lots of precipation, you will want to make sure the rhizome does not get waterlogged. You could store it inside in a basement or garage where temperatures are cool but it won't get wet. Then plant it out in the garden in the springtime.
I hope this helps. I am sure the other ginger nuts will chime in!
Heather
I've been to Maine, you'll need to bring it inside, just out it in your basement. Zone 7 in the ground is as far north that I know of any Hedychiums growing, even cornarium. Like Heather says keep it dry went it's dormant so you don't rot it. If it stays up just lightly water when it's cold, a sunny window wouldn't hurt either. Wallaby would probably be alot of help or John since they live in cold wet climates.
Ginger Nut,
Liz :)
If this helps any at all, I have a friend who grows Hedychiums in Michigan - zone 5. He wrote an article for my website a few years ago that you can find at http://www.gingersrus.com/gingerpots.htm
where he explains his methods.
Mike emailed me recently and said he is still growing several gingers there and is planning to update this article soon.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
If it's the WHite Butterfly one, then, if you're in zone 6, you can keep it in the ground over winter with a good (about 6 inch) layer of mulch. Our own resident Aroid and canna freak, Brian Williams, has been growing said ginger in Louisville, KY for the past several years with no other protection than the aforementioned mulch.
I'm also going to have to check out those links... I came accross a website (via the Plant Files) of a company in Michigan (ZOne 6a) that sells Zingiber mioga 'Dancing Crane' and claims to have been growing that species outside for the past 10 years....
I, too love gingers, but have been having trouble finding any that would have a chance of surviving in my area....