Does anyone know about a plant called "tahitian ginger"? and Inflorescence

Does anyone know about a plant called "tahitian ginger"?

I have searched high and low for any information regarding this plant!!! I bought two of these plants at the Ventura County Fair... The plant did not come with any literature so therefore winter is near and my plant is dying...Does anyone know anything about it? Please give me sources... My e-mail is princess_lew86@yahoo.com


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Answer by tuipecancook
'Tahitian Ginger' looks similar to the common red ginger when it begins to flower, but the inflorescence continues to branch, forming a gigantic ball of flowers. Very impressive. Grows in full sun to partial shade and blooms year round.

This is a zone 10-11 plant that must be greenhouse grown in zone 8.

The Tahitian Red Ginger, also called the Ostrich Plume, is originally from Malaya but can be found growing throughout the tropical Pacific region. This stunning plant is one of over 1,300 species of ginger that can be found around the world, though within the US the Red Ginger only grows in Hawai'i and Puerto Rico.

The Red Ginger can be found in colors from light pinks to deep reds. The plants grow slowly, producing no flowers for up to 3 years, and then quickly take off producing huge football sized flowers that bloom year round.

Each flower is actually a clump of red spikes that grow out of the end of a long, leafy green stalk. On a mature and happy plant the stalks can reach up to 15 feet tall, but most plants are around 6 to 7 feet in height.

Unlike most other flowers, the Red Ginger reproduces by new plants growing in the middle the old flowers, which weigh the flowers down to the ground. The new plants can be removed and planted for a fresh crop of Red Ginger.

On Alpinias, once a leaf turns yellow the leaf is a goner. So don't try to save individual leaves ... you'll lose.

You need to be concerned with the rhizome / root-system. There might be some root rot going on. But you can't know for sure without taking it out of the pot.

Also, if you have the plant out in full sun in 85+F temps, and its a packed pot, you may need a lot of water, but if its in less than those conditions and its a skimpy pot, you may indeed be overwatering.

A healthy rhizome will appear white (once the dirt is washed off) below the soil line. If it's browm/black and gushy ... then it's rotting. Nothing you can do to reverse that.

Look for new "eyes" emerging from the rhizome ... if you find any, then _that's_ what you have to concentrate on. Those eyes would be the next generation from your mother plant.

For a potted Alpinia, make sure the soil is fast-draining.

Hope this helps somewhat.

inflorescence

Inflorescence


Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, Peru

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