I have had this ginger for about three years. I have not fertilized it or anything. The guy I bought it from said that gingers "never bloom". I knew that was wrong, anyway, it bloomed, but I have no idea what it is. Can anyone help?
Thanks
Lori

He's kinda correct depending on his growing zone. if he is in an area, where it is planted outside and winter cold causes it to die back - it will never bloom. This is a ginger that needs last year's growth to bloom the next year.

Thanks so much for the information. At least now I know what it is.

Thanks again.

Hey Tim- still curious about the 'Strawberries and Cream' hybrid on this page. What do you think it is?

Tim, your link was fantastic! Thanks so much.

A. calcarata isn't the most spectacular one out there, but its becoming more widespread because a certain lab (that I despise :-) ) is selling it under the incorrect name of A. galanga. So, a lot of people are growing this thinking they have the spice plant... but they don't.

Lisa,

the naming of that hybrid is wrong.. for a few reasons. First its a hybrid, so using A. purpurata in the name is not right. .. even if it was one of the parents. Second, I'd bet more than a few smoothies ( ;-) ) that there is no A. purpurata blood in that cross at all. Tom won't disclose the parents i'd imagine, but given his goals he most likely used two cold hardy species... other than that, it would just be speculation. yes yes, you aren't even aware of what cold hardy species are, but trust me A. purpurata is not one of them.

on a side note. a certain shade loving plant you want is blooming, and i am going to try selfing it.. though the temptation to do crosses instead is so strong.

Tim C.

As far as the hybrid, I guess you're right that there's no A purpurata in it. The fact that it's only 3 ft. tall should have tipped me off that it's not what I originally thought it was, but I just really WANTED it to be that because of the implications for other potential crosses, and you know which one I mean... I hate it when you come up with what would be such a great hybrid, but the stupid plants just refuse to cooperate!

On the other thing-- you don't have enough inflos to self some and cross others? Better make sure it will self first, though.

Sorry to keep hijacking other people's questions to talk about hybridizing-- should probably start a separate thread...

as for A. purpurata, i'm afraid there just won't be much that will work with it. I think i mentioned which two should... beyond that ... it might just be wishful thinking (like we aren't guilty of that!).

I'm trying to figure out the laeta blooming scheme here. I brought over a plant (similar to your angle wings) to cross onto, and will self the laeta (thats fair isn't it??). I really want to try a darker winitii'ish type, but nothing is blooming yet in the group i want to try. I do have some mauve/light pinks, but I wanted to try the maroon, dark colored ones... maybe they'll still match up.

might actually get to do a good costus cross in the next few days... it will be one of the few though.

Tim C.