How to Care for a Red Ginger Plant

Red ginger, or Zingiberaceae Purpurata, is one of a number of ornamental gingers. These ornamental gingers are a different species from Zingiber officinale, which is the edible ginger. The flowers that give Red Ginger its name are actually bracts and come in a variety of colors from bright red to light pink. They are hardy to zone 10, which means that they are indoor or greenhouse plants for most of the continental U.S. However, red ginger is a popular outdoor plant in South Florida and Hawaii.

Things You'll Need

• Red ginger plant Well-draining soil or potting mix Liquid or slow-release fertilizer Container (optional) Drainage tray (optional) Small pebbles (optional)

Instructions

1. Plant in full-sun (over six hours per day) in moist soil with good drainage.

2. Fertilize each week with a liquid fertilizer, or once in the Spring with a slow-release fertilizer.

3. Check for new plants in the center of your old plants. Remove your new red ginger plants and either transplant them or repot in a large container.

4. Grow indoors during the winter as a container plant in cooler climates (zone 9 and below). Greenhouse growing is preferred, but indoor gardening is possible with some extra care.

5. Increase humidity by placing in a drainage dish filled with pebbles. Do not allow red ginger plants to dry out.

Tips & Warnings

• Red Ginger works well as a cut flower.

References

• Burke's Backyard: Ornamental Ginger
• PlantCare: Red Ginger
• Instant Hawaii: Tahitian Red Ginger