Um plant lovers..how do you care for a heliconia musa?
Question:I bought this really cool plant but as the days go by he looks more and more like he is dying. I dont think the card from the store is right about how to care for the plant considering they gave me the card for a bananna tree...does anyone know where I can find this information?.I found some info like the light factor but that was all. I need to know about water and food and potting soil and etc..Thanks for any help
Answers:
Gingers
Carefully unpack your new ginger. If you’ve purchased a rhizome, you’ll spot at least one new shoot, called an eye, on it. Be sure to plant the rhizome with the eyes growing upward. If you’ve purchased a bareroot growing plant, be sure to plant it at the same level it was growing.
Cover the rhizome or rooting plant with well-drained soil mix only about 1" deep. If planting in the ground, be sure there’s no danger of frost and that ground temperatures are at least 60 degrees. If planting in a pot, make sure there’s plenty of room for your ginger to grow. A pot at least 3 inches larger than your rhizome all the way around should suffice. Place it in a sunny, warm place to begin its growth.
Gingers have a dormant period during the winter months, even in the tropics. Different varieties behave differently, but most gingers will not produce many blooms during their dormant period. In a warm climate, the foliage of most gingers will remain alive and green. In colder climates, the foliage may die back completely, but the rhizomes will survive in cold earth for the next season. If you plant your gingers in the ground – regardless of the climate -- be sure to mulch the area to protect your rhizomes for spring. In climates where the ground freezes in winter, it would be best to leave your gingers in pots and bring them indoors in winter, or dig up the rhizomes and store them in a warm, moist area for their dormant period.
Once planted, water the soil thoroughly. Then give it a little time to dry out between waterings. Don’t overwater or the rhizome may rot. Once your rhizome begins to grow normally, keep the soil evenly moist but not wet.
Gingers don’t like too much sun. In many northern climates, full sun for part of the day is a great growing condition. In warm, southern climates, be sure your ginger is given at least some shade throughout the day. Follow the appropriate light conditions for the variety of ginger you purchased.
Feed your ginger with a good tropical fertilizer of elements below 10-10-10. Monthly feeding during the growing season will yield vases full of flowers.
If your ginger isn’t growing well or blooming, check the soil pH. Gingers like a somewhat neutral pH soil in the 5 to 7 range. The culprit may also mean too much sun. If the tips of the leaves begin to brown, your ginger wants more shade. Also, the leaves of most varieties should be broad. If they begin to curl back, they likely are getting too much sun and not enough water. Gingers have few pests so there isn’t much need for herbicides of any kind.
gingers will take full sun, prefer warm temperatures (above 65 degrees), like to be moist but not soggy. Lift the pot, light = dry, aerate and water. Heavy = wet, allow to dry out.
good luck
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