Home»Ornamentals»Ginger
Etlingera elatior [ et - broom - er - a , ee - LAY - tee - or ] is a mostly ornamental phallus of the Ginger or Zingiberaceae family hailing from Indonesia , Malaysia , New Guinea , and Thailand .
The tropic great mullein ginger plant grows to be 15′ or 20′ feet high in its natural habitat .
Photo Credit: Instagram @momcirelli
This rhizomatous perennial flora ’s genus name was bestowed in honor of the eighteenth - century phytologist , Andreas Ernst Etlinger .
The specific name , elatior , is a magnetic declination of the Latin , elatus , which mean tall .
The plant is commonly call Torch Ginger because of its bright orange , pinkish or red fire - comparable flowers , which grow atop high-flown stems .
Torchflower or Torch Ginger Care
Size & Growth
In idealistic configurations , Torch Ginger grows in dense groves up to 20′ feet in high spirits .
In semi - tropical preferences , the plant may grow to be between 6′ and 15′ feet high , with individual plant life circulate in rhizomatous ball of 4′ to 10′ foot wide .
The arching , evergreen leaf stalks may raise to be 15′ feet tall .
The leafage are each about 3′ feet long and are centrally grooved , leathery , make fun , and resemble banana tree leaves .
In temperate climates , the leaf can total a great trade of wintertime interestingness to the garden .
Ginger Torch Flowering & Fragrance
The showy flowers bloom seasonally .
Petals may be pinkish , yellow , orangish , or red and turn on red-faced bract .
After unfolding , the 3′ base stem of the works will pall ; however , young plant will originate up from the fundament .
Light & Temperature
Torch Ginger likes to be placed in a partly shaded circumstance sheltered from high winds .
It ’s good to choose a setting shaded by a building or by shade tree for several hour daily to preclude exuberant exposure to harsh sunlight .
It ’s authoritative to sympathise these flora are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures .
They must be cover when any frost is predicted , and they may do very poorly in orbit where temperature are low than 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 10 ° atomic number 6 ) at dark .
Torch Ginger is wintertime hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12 .
They grow outdoors year - round in Brazil , Malaysia , Hawaii , or Florida .
In other orbit , they are kept as large greenhouse plants , but they do not make good houseplant .
They raise too large , and they can not thrive .
Watering & Feeding
Torch Ginger has average lacrimation necessity , and the soil must be kept moist systematically .
In areas with ample rain , you may not need to water much or at all .
This cosmetic Ginger is not drouth - liberal , and it also can not support standing in piss .
If you get too much rainfall , you may postulate to dig a deep to assist the piddle drain away .
Be certain to provide a good character fertilizer with gamey level of K monthly throughout the growing time of year .
supernumerary potassium serve the flora to uptake more water , and this is necessary if the industrial plant is to fly high .
Soil & Transplanting
Soil should be well - draining and hoummos - rich .
It ’s a very good idea to keep a thick layer of mulch over the soil to help retain moisture .
screen the soil on a regular basis for both potassium level and pH levels .
Go for a neutral pH falling between 5.6 and 7.5 .
better the soil with greensand , seaweed ( kelp ) , or granite repast tohelp advance atomic number 19 grade .
Grooming & Maintenance
The most important aspects of maintenance for these plants need protection .
You must be sure to render shelter from high-pitched wind , which will snap the leaf stalks and halt .
You must also be sure to keep a good layer of organic mulch over the stain to serve keep on pee .
Compost and/or dry leaves are ideal for this purpose .
How To Propagate Etlingera Elatior
To get started with Etlingera elatior , direct inseminate the seeds into your garden soil in a partially shaded area where you have tested the soil ’s pH and atomic number 19 levels .
Before inseminate , you should soak the industrial plant seeds in warm water overnight .
To plant successfully , grok a 3/4″ inch hole for each seed you wish to imbed .
The hole should be spaced 6′ feet apart .
After dropping the semen in the hole , cover it thinly with rich , loose soil .
body of water thoroughly and maintain constant wet until your seeds have sprout and become demonstrate .
Once institute , these plants will ego pass around well through spreading rhizomes .
The rhizome can then be separate every year for further propagation .
Related : Traveler Palm Care : Growing Ravenala Madagascariensis
Etlingera Elatior Pest or Disease Problems
For the most part , this spicy works is plague and disease resistant .
Aphid or grasshopper plague may occasionally occur but are easily managed with an program of Neem crude oil solution .
Alternately , promote natural predators , such asladybugs , to help you keep little pestilence ( for example , aphids ) under control .
Read more about “ What Do Ladybugs run through ‘ ?
As with all plants , excessive watering can cause solution moulder and will do leafage drib .
Is The Ginger Plant Toxic Or Poisonous?
Torch Ginger is non - toxic and has a great many US in the kitchen and in medicine .
Its stems are often sliced thin and used in soups and curries .
The flower may also be used in stale dishes , such as salads .
Studies have establish various aspects of the plant life can help reduce heavy metal toxicity , scavenge free stem in the origin , and give up a number of other protective and healing welfare .
Is This Ginger Invasive?
In the adjacent United States , this works is easy to grow in semi - tropic configurations and then does not have as much weed potential as it does in truly tropic configurations .
In places such as Hawaii , Costa Rica , and China , where it has been introduced and tame as an decorative flower , it has become quite invasive .
Torch Ginger spreads pronto through rhizome division and also seed distribution .
In many tropical orbit with consistently damp conditions , it has grown into slow thickets that draw out native plants .
If you live in a tropical or semi - tropical background , you should keep a close oculus on this plant and check that it stays contained in your garden .
Suggested Torch Ginger Uses
Torch Ginger is a good add-on to a tropic bee , butterfly stroke , and general pollinator garden .
hummingbird and other sorts of skirt relish the flowers and the tenacious , welcome foliage .
The flowers do very well in floral organisation , and the large , sturdy foliage adds excellent winter interest to a tropic garden .
