How to plant Pagoda ginger
Today's experience sharing: Introduction to the planting and maintenance methods of Pagoda ginger and its growing environment, which will definitely help you. Let's learn about it together!
Pagoda ginger (Scientific name: Costus barbatus), also known as red pagoda ginger, has very bright red flowers and lush green leaves. It has the typical characteristics of Zingiberaceae plants and is a perennial tropical plant, native to Central and South America. It has vibrant red bracts with yellow flowers inside.
I. Pagoda ginger and closed-sheath ginger
They both belong to the closed-sheath ginger genus of Zingiberaceae. Pagoda ginger is also known as pagoda closed-sheath ginger. Their inflorescences are red, but the flowers are different. Pagoda ginger has golden yellow flowers, while closed-sheath ginger has white flowers. Their inflorescence lengths are also different, with Pagoda ginger having longer ones.
Here is Hellenia speciosa 'Variegated'
Here is closed-sheath ginger Hellenia speciosa (white flowers, red bracts)
However, closed-sheath ginger has variegated leaf and brocade leaf varieties. The ones with white stripes on the leaves have better ornamental value and are more suitable for ornamental cultivation. If interested, you can check them out, after all, their maintenance methods are exactly the same.
II. Suitable planting areas
Pagoda ginger is most suitable for planting in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, and Hainan. It is best to plant in places without frost throughout the year. In the north, it can also be planted, but it needs to be moved indoors when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius.
Pagoda ginger originally grows under tropical rainforests and prefers a perennially humid and semi-shaded environment. If water is supplied in time, it can also adapt to a sunny environment.
How to plant Pagoda ginger
Pagoda ginger can be cultivated in pots or in the ground. The plants can grow to 1 to 2 meters tall. If grown in the ground under suitable conditions, they can grow to 2 to 4 meters tall. They have an upright growth habit, with very thick stems growing in the center of the plant.
The leaves of Pagoda ginger are relatively large and elongated, overall in a spear shape (alternate leaves), with glossy deep green leaves, and parallel veins in the center of the leaves. The most distinctive and ornamental feature of Pagoda ginger is its bright red inflorescence, which is covered with beautiful red bracts, with yellow flowers emerging between the bracts. The whole inflorescence is spiral-shaped, like a pagoda.
The flowering period of Pagoda ginger lasts throughout the warm season, and its flowers can be seen throughout the summer and autumn. Its small golden yellow flowers can last for two to three weeks, and the red bracts can be observed for one to two months (the flowers are edible).
III. Propagation
If you want to propagate Pagoda ginger, in the warm season, as long as the temperature is above 18 degrees Celsius, you can separate the bottom of the plant and replant it in new potting soil to grow into a new plant.
The operation is extremely simple. Just dig up the whole plant, cut off some lateral branches with roots, and then replant them in new potting soil, ensuring the plant stands upright and some leaves can be cut off.
After replanting in new potting soil, keep it in a shaded place, water thoroughly, and gradually provide some scattered light. After about one to two weeks, you can give it appropriate light.
IV. Maintenance precautions:
1. Light
Pagoda ginger can adapt to various lighting conditions and grows best in semi-shaded areas. For example, 2 to 5 hours of direct sunlight each day, preferably in the morning or evening, can ensure healthy growth and normal flowering.
2. Soil
Pagoda ginger prefers fertile, loose, and well-drained soil. If the soil is slightly acidic or neutral, it will be more beneficial for its growth. You can add some coarse sand or coal cinder to the soil to increase drainage and avoid continuous soil moisture.
3. Water
Pagoda ginger loves water but should avoid soil waterlogging. If the environment is well-ventilated and bright, you can keep the soil slightly moist in warm seasons, and water thoroughly when the topsoil dries out. In winter, when temperatures are low, water should be controlled.
4. Temperature and humidity
Pagoda ginger is a tropical plant and grows best at temperatures between 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. Leaves easily wither below 10 degrees Celsius, but as long as the above-ground parts are not frozen, they can regrow the following year. It's better to maintain a minimum temperature of above 4 degrees Celsius.
Pagoda ginger prefers higher humidity, and the average indoor humidity has little effect on its growth. Higher humidity is more beneficial for its growth. If kept indoors, be sure to mist the leaves regularly and clean them.
5. Fertilizer and diseases
Pagoda ginger does not require a lot of fertilizer. When planting, you can sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer in the soil or pre-bury organic fertilizers like sheep manure or earthworm manure. From spring to summer until the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius, you can fertilize every two to three weeks.
Pagoda ginger has few diseases and pests. Poor maintenance is usually due to poor ventilation or continuous soil moisture, leading to root and stem rot.
The introduction of how to plant Pagoda ginger and its growing environment and maintenance methods, as well as related explanations from the Green Plant Enthusiast website [www.lvzhimi.com], are hoped to bring a little help to your life!