| Hi Hal, I have a large stand in full sun that are between 7-8 ft tall, crazy healthy with inflorescences on nearly every stalk. My methods are not at all what is recommended but I have adapted because of our different soil/climate. Started with CLAY soil, amended it with compost but mostly aged manure to make some good soil but it is SLIGHTLY more clay than loam. Fertilized once with dumb ol' Miracle Gro about 4 years ago . Based on that here is what I do and it works for heliconia, gingers, guava, canna, plumeria, sugar cane (well, this takes more water really), N.Z. flax, BOP, spider lily, poinsettia, passionfruit, macadamia, brugmansia, stephanotis, agaves, aloes, and other stuff I can't remember. Water well at beginning of hot summer. Let it soak until the water has saturated a few inches of soil well. That takes longer in So. Cal. if soil like mine. Nothing I have ever read, heard or seen would support this method, but on the flip side, I sell plants to landscapers, and flowers to the florist industry. They are oversized and more prolific than any I have seen and incredibly vigorous and healthy. This is the weird part: I don't water the soil again until late summer (3 mos). The only water these plants get is twice weekly (but sometimes I only get it once except when hottest). I put the hose nozzle on a strong mist setting and wash the foliage on the whole stand of ginger (or whatever plant) for about 3-5 minutes total. This will wash off the leaves, trickle down to the soil and provide what So. Cal is lacking - humidity. Do you want to trade for some already tall gingers? I'd be happy to set you up with some 6 or 7 footers. Lisa
lthreeisme@yahoo.com |
