Poor Alpinia Vittata

I knew this plant was hard to grow when I got it. It was so healthy looking when it got here from Hawaii. So I sent it to a friend in Puerto Rico for the winter, in zone 10. My friend said it grew very conservatively. lol. I thought it was supposed to be happy in it's zone, but apparently not. Anyway, since it has come home, I really can't seem to make it happy. It's in the Greenhouse now and I've moved it to sunnier and shadier spots in there. You can see how the leaves curl, and it does not seem to be growing at all, just hanging on. Suggestions, anyone?

Well mine is coming back from the dead..lol..so I won't know what it will look like...it went dormant here during the winter..


Edit to say, the ginger is looking good so far..fixing to open up..there are some more tip shoots coming up..will post pic of it later on...I planted it in a raised,well drained flowerbed. When it goes dormant..I pile about 10 inches of leaf mulch on top of it...

This message was edited Jun 14, 2007 4:25 PM

Tropicanna,

Bigger pot, lots of rain water (if you have some saved) and bright shade.

Thanks again Dale, for the suggestions. I may be able to make a spot for it...rainwater is hard to come by around here most of the time, though..lol

I know what you mean, I have a few in pots in the greenhouse, I have figured out they like bright fiktered light, nothing direct. I have afrind in Delend and he put his in the garage in the winter and it still died......
Liz

Is yours looking okay liz? I have heard they don't like it outside of zone 10.

They don't like it outside of zone 10, I keep mine in the greenhouse and becuase we keep or greenhouses just warm enough in the winter to keep things from freezing it isn't a hppy camper, but it hangs in there. I think this year I will bring it into my garage when iy gets chilly out, I keep the gearage wrm fo rour birds, so I think it will be much happier in there.
I just saw a big beautiful one yeasterday down in Alva Florida, at a friends.. I was so jealous...lol

For me, the irony was that even while the plant ws in Puerto Rico in z10, it still didn't grow all that well for my friend. It seems to be hanging on right now, and that's about it. Was thinking of sending it to someone in a tropical place...lol

I have no idea what to tell you, Jim's is absolutely gorgeous! I will look through my photos of his place and see if I got a picture of his, if I did I'll post it. If I didn't I will be sure to get one with our next visit.
Liz

I wonder if I should spend my money on one of these. All my gingers are planted outside and bring in very few plants. My favorite plumies is about it for me as far as winter protection.

Wondering if I keep it potted outdoors if that will work.

vossner, if you'd like mine, you can have it. Hopefully it would survive the trip...lol, I can't quite seem to kill it or make it happy here

you have dmail

Vittata likes Richmond, TX! Look at all the new growth.

Another view. It is in my holding area, when it gets lots of sun but it is protected by bigger plants. I haven't provided supplemental water, but as you've probably heard, Houston area has had a very wet summer. Little Vittata seems to like that. In fact, all my gingers have thrived this year.

My kampfaerias are fabulous. Have to take pictures of those.

vossner I am so glad it is happy there...I can't imagine what's so special about your place..lol...really I have to wonder what I was doing wrong.

It looks much better...add that to my list of plants that are bettter off without me :)

OH another picture, rub it on...ouch! Gosh, that new growth...eating me up here. I got alpinia formosona and that one seems to like it here ok.

Formosana is a good looking ginger. I arranged an area where I planted (Left to right) a clump of alpinia zerumbet variegata, then formosana and then another clump of the a.z. variegata. You wouldn't believe how showy the pin striped formosana is in that configuration. They are planted inground, shade, close to water hose, though I don't usually give it additional water.

I haven't decided on a permanent location for my Vittata. It is going to be a challange. I am crazy about variegated plants and now it's getting to the point that I need to be really careful about not planting a variegated next to another variegated, so that they don't blend in. It would be a shame for little Vittata to become a wallflower, nobody-notices-me plant.

I think I've done that with my garden, lots of varigation and loud colors, it all kind of melts together, but I like it ok. I have a hard time placing stuff because of the amount of room I have in my beds...so planning to make a couple more for next year.