Hedychium

Hi All,

I was in Amsterdam over the weekend, and spent hours at the flower market there. Spent an absolute fortune
Most were imulse buys

I bought a few Hedychium, some of which look like H gardnerianum, but there is also a red, un-named variety.

The rhizomes look like they should have been planted out a few months ago, but there are plenty of green "eyes" so there is still life in them.

I have never grown any of the ginger family before, so some advice please.
What is the best way to get them going?
Ground, pot in greenhouse, or airing cupboard treatment?

How hardy are they likely to be?
Can they be left outdoors in winter?
Or do they need to be lifted?

Thanks
Sirius

 

Hi Sirius ,
with Hedychium it`s really important that you know the species as some are really hardy and can be left outside in the soil and some other need to be lift up for winter , they are really shy plant and usually will start later , but overall treat them as cannas .
This year mine are not doing really well , just like the cannas are barely half of the size they should be .

 

I agree with Sal, you really need to ID which species or varieties you have before anyone can say how hardy they might be.
I've found many flower far too late for me, so I stick with Gardnerianum, Densiflorum,(which is hardy and flowers in August with me), and "Tara" which flowers quite early also.
I'm sure there are other early flowerers as well.

I have a large pot of Gardnerianum that is only just showing new growth, very late, but I did overwinter it in the green and left the old stems on, its only started moving since I cut the whole plant down.
I think it might still flower this year as once they start moving not much stops them.

I'd pot up you new plants and grow them in pots for atleast the first year.

 

Here is a photo of the packaging that the rhizomes came in.

 

they look like HEDYCHIUM GARDNERIANUM , it actually quite possible , I both mine at wilkinson years ago , supplied from Holland , they done well in the soil for 2/3 years and then 2010 winter killed them , it maybe was my fault as the soil wasn`t really drained .
I`ve got 3 type at the moment and one must be a real tropical , didn`t even come out in the first year , then the second year start to flowering in December , but die down before I could see it and at the moment it`s no longer then 4inches .
I think Pete is absolutle right about , If I will ever buy some more I will only point to early flower species as usually mine are flowering in October , not enough time to enjoy them.

 

Yep the yellow one looks like Gardnerianum, not sure on the red but both look good plants.

 

Ok,
Well i am starting them in a bag of damp vermiculite. Indoors but not the airing cupboard.
When the roots look strong, i will pot them up, for a year at least. And may then try them in the garden if I am brave enough.