Shell ginger is an easy-to-grow tropical foliage plant suited for both the garden and home.
When grown as a houseplant, shell ginger adds a tropical flair to any room.
Consider this plant for its foliar charms rather than its flowering potential.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Whengrown in a greenhouse, shell ginger can grow 1013 feet tall and form a clump 34 feet wide.
drop in the plant at the same height as it was in the pot.
If it is bare-root, plant the rhizomes about 1 inch beneath the soil line.
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Add a 2-3 inchlayer of compostor mulch to retain moisture.
Shell ginger needs about 30 days of warm weather to begin actively growing at the beginning of the season.
Be patient after planting.
Credit:Jay Wilde
Soil and Water
This plant requires moist, well-drained soil rich in compost and nutrients to thrive.
It needs lots of moisture but doesnt tolerate standing water.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant prefers warm temperatures andhigh humidity.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Plants grown indoors need additional humidity, especially in winter when dry indoor air is common.
Frequent misting with a spray bottle or plugging in a humidifier can help.
Fertilizer
Feed shell ginger monthly during the growing season with abalanced liquid fertilizer.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Stop fertilizing while the plant is not actively growing in winter and wait until spring to resume feeding.
Pruning
Shell ginger requires little pruning whengrown as an annual or tender perennial.
When growing this plant indoors where it will remain evergreen, remove stems as needed to shape the plant.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Keep the soil mix mostly dry to prevent rotting.
As the temperature rises, begin acclimating shell ginger outdoors during the daytime.
Replant the rhizomes about 1 inch below the surface of the soil.
Although shell ginger thrives in moist soil, it doesnt tolerate standing water.
Perpetually saturated soil can lead to root rot.
Replant in alocation with better drainage.
Repot them infresh potting soilat the same depth they were growing and water well.
Replant each division at its original depth in a prepared garden bed and water as usual.
Grow this selection for the dramatic foliage.
Variegata Dwarf
Alpinia zerumbetVariegata Dwarf shell ginger is similar in appearance to Variegata.
This diminutive selection only grows 1 foot tall.
It is not widely available in the marketplace.
However, it doesnt make a good houseplant; it grows to 8 feet tall.
The massive dark green leaves ofelephants earlook incredible with the yellow and green of Variegata shell ginger.
Experiment with other ferns to find what suits your garden best.
Hosta
Hostas come in all sizes, from downright diminutive to massive and stately.
Pair medium to large hostas with shell ginger to create a contrast in form.
Once open, the flowers add rich red and yellow colors to the show.
Shell ginger is not the same asculinary ginger(Zingiber officinale) and should not be consumed.
Enjoy this plant for its incredible structure and foliage.
Shell ginger requires active growth and dormancy periods to produce flowering stems.
Flowers are produced on shoots that are grown during the previous season.
