Overwintering help with Hedychium coronarium

I received three Hedychium coronarium as a gift. I have them all planted up in Pro-Mix. They are just now all beginning to show growth which thrills me to no end. I really like these plants. The issue is that I am in zone 5 and although they will grow fine here outside for the next few months, I am going to have to do something with them come fall when the temps start dipping. I noticed they can handle zone 7-11. Should I simply bring them in the house and cut back on the water and let them die back and enter a dormancy? Other suggestions? I'd really like to keep these plants going from year to year somehow.

Below is a photo of one of my White Butterfly Gingers that is shooting up new growth from the rhizomes. I don't keep the medium that wet but it had just rained when I took the photo-

Mine stay in the ground all year so I don't know what you would do to overwinter them in pots. Try going over to the ginger forum their is alot of information there and many people that overwinter them in colder zones.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/gingerly/all/

I'm so happy they are doing good for you! That's one of my favorite plants.

You lucky duck you! You can leave them out year round!

Thanks for your link. I'll go on over there and follow their directive on overwintering.

Yes! I am thrilled with the plants you gave me. I couldn't be happier, now I need to keep them alive through winter here. I think I've got a good start. The plants are really shooting out new growth now. So much so that I need to take new photos!

I overwintered some gingers inside last year (I was scared they wouldn't be hardy enough, paranoid rather) and I basically just brought them inside in little containers. You probably could do larger containers, but you want to keep them pretty dry. I think I sprinkled them just a little about once a week.

They were put in front of a pretty sunny window and went dormant. Leave the foliage on until you see new growth, then you can cut it back and give a bit more water until you're ready to plant outside. My white butterfly ginger doesn't bloom until the fall. Good luck-coronarium smells so sweet in bloom.

Yes I'm really excited. She sent me three huge plants so I am currently experimenting with them. In fall, I'm going to experiement with a few overwintering locations in the house.

Didn't know I was supposed to remove the old foliage now that new growth has started. Are you sure I shouldn't wait a little bit longer until the existing foliage dies back naturally?

Don't cut the foliage back right now. I was sent a Dr. Moy a few years ago. I planted the stalk gave it tons of water and I got blooms on that same stalk that same summer. You may end up getting flowers on all three this year. I doubt any of the new starts will make it to flower. I think she means leave the foliage on all winter then in spring when you see new growth cut all the old down. All my gingers Looove water in the summer. They have to because I keep them in so much sun.

Exactly, Skinner, I mean in the fall/winter, you may see the foliage start to not look as good, but keep it there until new growth in the spring.

Normally I won't touch anything that is still green for the simple reason that it is still capable of photosynthesis. Now I understand better what you meant. I didn't cut them back so all is well.

Here are a few updated photos, this first plant is in full sun and it evidences the least amount of growth so I'm going to move it-

This plant is in part sun-

This plant is in part shade-

Equilibrium, I have h. coronarium. I just bring it in and take it out. I am probably going to divide it this fall. I didn't know about when to cut off old foliage, so I have just been letting it go until it turns brown, then removing it. It seems to be thriving for me.

-Joe

Hi Joe, thanks for replying. I'll probably try a few different ways because I have three. Ten to one odds which ever one that is brought in the house is going to do the best. Did you cut back on the water when you brought yours inside?

I cut down on water considerably. Because it was down in the basement under artificial light I watered only when the soil felt dry. It did OK. It actually grew a few new shoots and probably six inches of growth. I think I will wait til it blooms, so I can smell the fragrance, then divide it. Once the divisions are established in pots I will start experimenting with overwintering them outside in VERY sheltered locations.

I don't want to make the same mistake I made with my gardenia last winter. From now on, my rule is TAKE CUTTINGS OR STARTS BEFORE EXPERIMENTING. :)

-Joe

Great. I'll keep them damp not moist.

Good idea to have a back up before experimenting. Advice I should give to myself and adhere to myself.

I've seen this plant growing on the road side in Costa Rica- as a weed, almost! quite lovely. Rich volcanic soil, dappled shade, plenty of water, and lots of natural fertilizer.

Michael