Shell pep is an leisurely - to - grow tropical leafage flora suited for both the garden and abode .
Shell pep , a tropical leaf plant native to East Asia , is commonly grown as a landscape ornamental or houseplant in the U.S. It forms large upright thud when growing alfresco inbright filtered lightand moist tad , allow a tropical grain to the garden . When grown as a houseplant , shell gingerroot adds a tropic style to any room .
Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
Although it has shell - shaped bud and beautiful flower , shell ginger ( Alpinia zerumbet ) blooms on old growth and might not bloom reliably for the home plate nurseryman . weigh this plant for its foliar charms rather than its flowering potential .
Peter Krumhardt
Where to Plant Shell Ginger
To thrive , shell powdered ginger needs bright , dribble sun , nutrient - rich soil , and ample moisture , either indoors or outdoors , so plant it where these requirements can be easy met . To help shell ginger flourish as a houseplant , experiment with locations in your home to determine the right balance of warm temperatures and sunlight .
Whengrown in a glasshouse , shell ginger can farm 10–13 feet tall and form a clump 3–4 feet wide . Although it is unlikely to strain this sizing when grown as a houseplant , where it seldom exceeds 6 feet marvelous , make certain to grow this industrial plant where it will have enough way . Shell ginger can form large , heavy clumps that make the plant difficult to move , and the top - labored growth may necessitate a heavy planter to insure it remain vertical .
How and When to Plant Shell Ginger
Shell ginger prosper in warm , humid weather and should not be planted outdoors untilthe danger of hoarfrost has passed . Established plants can bear light icing and might be root hardy in freezing temperature , but a frost or freeze early in the growing season can damage a immature industrial plant .
To implant scale powdered ginger outdoors , prod a hole no bass than the pot the industrial plant was grow in and up to two times as blanket . deploy the flora at the same acme as it was in the pot . If it is bare - root , plant the rhizomes about 1 inch beneath the filth line . Add a 2 - 3 inchlayer of compostor mulch to retain moisture .
Shell ginger needs about 30 days of warm weather to start out actively acquire at the beginning of the season . Be patient after implant .
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Jay Wilde
Shell Ginger Care Tips
Light
Shell ginger grows good in bright , fond shade but tolerates sunup or previous good afternoon sun . If you want to try out with acquire shell powdered ginger in full sunlight , supervise the plants for signs of stress , including leaf singe , and relocate to a funny web site as needed .
Soil and Water
This plant requires moist , well - drained soil plentiful in compost and food to thrive . It needs lot of wet but does n’t tolerate stand water . Whether grown outdoors in the garden or indoors as a houseplant , keep the ground constantly moist but not impregnate .
Temperature and Humidity
This plant favor ardent temperatures andhigh humidity . Shell ginger is root hardy to about 10 ° F ( perchance colder ) , but it is evergreen in climates with little to no icing . Even a wakeful freeze can damage the stems , restrain the plant from reaching its full potential ( up to 13 animal foot tall ) . With protection from winter winds , plants in Zone 8 might be part evergreen , although a cold gingersnap may induce the plant to die back to the ground .
plant life grown indoors need additional humidness , especially in winter when dry indoor tune is common . Frequent misting with a atomiser bottle or plugging in a humidifier can aid .
Fertilizer
provender carapace ginger monthly during the grow season with abalanced liquid plant food . Stop fertilizing while the plant is not actively growing in winter and wait until spring to restart feed .
Pruning
Shell ginger requires little pruning whengrown as an annual or supply ship perennial . Remove damage leaves during the raise time of year and cut the plant to the soil when it goes dormant at the onset of cool weather . When uprise this plant life indoors where it will remain evergreen , remove stems as needed to shape the plant .
Potting and Repotting Shell Ginger
casing peppiness cangrow outside in large planters , supply they do n’t dry out out during the produce season . In regions where shell ginger is not hardy outdoors through winter , plants should be provide to go dormant and then brought indoors to a dry , coolheaded ( 55 ° farad ) infinite , such as a garage or cellar , and let to stay over winter . Keep the soil intermixture mostly ironical to prevent rotting . As the temperature rise , begin acclimating shell ginger outdoors during the daytime .
Rhizomes can be nobble from the pots at the beginning of the growing season and separated into multiple bunch for repotting . Replant the rhizomes about 1 in below the aerofoil of the soil .
Transplant eggshell pep grow as a houseplantto a slightly large new potearly in the develop season when active growth is just beginning .
Credit:Jay Wilde
Pests and Problems
No serious pests target scale ginger outdoors . Spider mites can occasionally be a nuisancewhen it is grown indoors .
Although shell ginger fly high in moist soil , it does n’t tolerate standing water . constantly saturated soil can lead to ascendant rot . If you suspect root rot is affecting your plants , dig out the rhizomes and abridge out and off all the affected expanse . Replant in alocation with better drain .
When grow as a houseplant , shell pep may develop leaf singe , indicating that your plant may be receiving too much intense sunlight . flora allowed to get too cold or ironical mayturn John Brown at the edges of the leave , while Lord’s Day - sear leaves will show damage on the side of the flora facing the window .
Credit: Ed Gohlich
How to Propagate Shell Ginger
diffuse potted shell ginger by dividing the rhizomes as unexampled growing emerges in spring . annul the plant from the container and use a sharp knife to cut the plant into two or three sections , each contain ancestor and foliage . Repot them infresh potting soilat the same depth they were growing and water well .
If the shell ginger flora is growing alfresco , use a sharp spade to cut it into three or more section . Replant each sectionalization at its original depth in a prepared garden bottom and water as usual .
Types of Shell Ginger
Variegata
Alpinia zerumbet‘Variegata ’ is a commonly available choice that reaches 4 - 6 foot marvellous and is small enough to grow as a houseplant . The variegated leafage looks like irregularly dry - brushed with xanthous paint , and the patterns diverge wide from plant to plant . Although little enough to grow indoors,‘Variegata ’ is known to be hesitating to produce flowers even under ideal conditions . rise this choice for the dramatic leafage .
Variegata Dwarf
Alpinia zerumbet‘Variegata Dwarf ’ eggshell peppiness is similar in appearing to ‘ Variegata ’ . This diminutive selection only grow 1 foot tall . It is not widely uncommitted in the mart .
Chinese Beauty
Alpinia zerumbet‘Chinese Beauty ’ is yet another variegated cultivar with light fleeceable and coloured fleeceable variegated foliage . However , it does n’t make a good houseplant ; it grows to 8 foundation tall .
Shell Ginger Companion Plants
Elephant’s Ear
found these giant tropicals alongside scale powdered ginger in racy , moist soil with part Dominicus or filtered light for an impressive foliage - forward summer display . The massive gloomy green leaves ofelephant ’s earlook unbelievable with the yellow and green of ‘ Variegata ’ racing shell ginger .
Ostrich Fern
The large yet delicateostrich fernfronds provide a lovely foil to the robust upright body structure of shell peppiness works . experimentation with other fern to regain what befit your garden best .
Hosta
Hosta fare in all size , from downright diminutive to massive and baronial . Pair medium to large hostas with shell ginger to create a contrast in form . The lateral leave of the hosta provide a bed of people of colour and texture to support the upright foliage of shell pep .
Frequently Asked Questions
The name shell ginger refers to the besotted pinkish and livid heyday bud that resemble tiny seashells before they open . Once open , the flowers add copious red and sensationalistic colors to the show .
Shell ginger is not the same asculinary ginger(Zingiber officinale ) and should not be consumed . savor this plant for its incredible anatomical structure and foliage .
Shell ginger require active development and quiescence periods to produce anthesis stem . Flowers are bring on on shoots that are grow during the previous time of year . Unless you are growing shell ginger in an surround where it stay on evergreen throughout the season , you should deliberate this a beautiful leafage flora that might bloom .
Credit: Matthew Benson
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
