How to Care for Variegated Ginger Plants With Curling Leaves

Variegated ginger leaves curl when plants need more water.

Variegated shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet), also known as pink porcelain lily, is named for its fragrant hanging clusters of white seashell-like blooms, each porcelain white flower tinged with pink. Variegated ginger is most appreciated, though, for its attractive variegated foliage. This 6-foot perennial develops very large leaves, 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. Plants may tolerate full sun with plenty of water, but they thrive in light to medium shade. Dry soil and frost stress variegated ginger, a tropical plant related to culinary ginger. Both situations cause leaves to turn brown at the edges and curl.

Things You'll Need

• Rich compost
• Trowel
• Shredded leaves, grass clippings or other organic mulch
• Large pot and drain tray, if needed
• Rich potting soil, if needed

Instructions

1. Make sure your variegated ginger is getting enough water, because during the growing season insufficient soil moisture is the most likely cause of stress-curled leaves. Increase irrigation if necessary. Variegated ginger needs rich but evenly moist, well-drained soil.

2. Improve your soil if it is too sandy and not retaining moisture. Variegated ginger thrives in rich but light soil. Apply 2 to 4 inches of rich compost to the soil surface beneath the entire clump and gently work it into the top 2 inches of soil. Water it in well.

3. Apply organic mulch to the entire soil surface beneath your variegated ginger. Mulch will help the soil retain moisture, and as it breaks down it will add organic matter and some nutrients to the soil.

4. Dig up and move your variegated ginger if the sun’s intensity consistently seems to be too much for the plant. It may do better in a partly shady spot, producing healthy vegetation with better color. Intense sun can bleach the variegation pattern from leaves.

5. Remove your ginger from the garden if the leaf stress occurs in winter. The roots of Alpinia plants are root-hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 8, but frost will kill them. They won’t bloom when they reemerge. Avoid this cycle by potting up the plant and bringing it indoors for winter. Grow it in a very bright window. Take it back outdoors come spring. Ginger does well in containers.

References

• Floridata: Alpinia Zerumbet
• Hoe and Shovel: Enamored with the Ginger
• Learn 2 Grow: Alpinia Zerumbet "Variegata"