How to Grow a Red Ginger Plant

Mature red ginger plants grow 4 to 6 feet tall.

The red ginger plant, an herbaceous evergreen plant, grows 4 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 12 to 24 inches. Its showy red or white flowers complement the deep-green foliage. Grow a red ginger plant in your backyard landscape if you live in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10b and 11 and provide shady, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

Things You'll Need

• Pitchfork
• Soil pH testing kit
• Lime or peat moss
• Soaker hose
• Fertilizer
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil for the red ginger plant. Turn over the soil with a pitchfork and break-up large chunks of earth. Test the soil with a soil pH testing kit to determine if it meets the requirements of the red ginger plant.

2. Amend the soil with lime if the pH test reveals a pH level below 6.0 or peat moss if the pH is above 7.5. Mix the required amendment in with the soil according to label instructions.

3. Dig a hole the depth and width of the red ginger's root ball. If you plan to grow more than one red ginger plant, space the plants at least 12 to 15 inches apart.

4. Plant red ginger at the same depth it was growing in the container. Fill in soil around the plant and firm it down to remove air pockets.

5. Water the red ginger plant deeply as it grows. Use a soaker hose, which delivers a deep watering. The red ginger plant requires at least 1 inch of water per week during the first growing season. Once established, the red ginger plant requires only supplemental waterings when the weather is dry.

6. Feed red ginger an all-purpose fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer to the soil around the plant according to manufacturer's instructions. Most red gingers prefer weekly watering with a water-soluble fertilizer or yearly fertilizing with a slow-release fertilizer.

Tips & Warnings

• Spreading a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the red ginger plant deters weeds and helps retain moisture.

• Avoid over-watering. Pooling water causes disease, such as root rot. If the soil feels moist 1 inch down, skip the scheduled watering and check the soil again in a few days.

References

• Plant Care: Red Ginger
• Dave's Garden: Red Ginger

Resources

• Backyard Gardener: Alpinia purpurata ( Red Ginger )
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map