Zingiber Spectabile anyone?

[Dartolution]

I acquired a tiny finger sized section of rhizome of this ginger species with barely a few inches of growth coming off of it about 2 years ago from on online store. 

The first year I grew it in a pot on the patio, and didn't get any blooms but it did however grow rapidly, and produce lush foliage. 

Last year, I decided what the hell - and transplanted 3 sections of it (the rhizome is apparently extremely fragile) into the garden. It took off easily, but still did not produce flowers. 

About a week ago I pulled back the mulch in the areas I have it to check for rhizome viability since the hardiness is rated all over the place online, and sure enough - firm good colored rhizomes that have gotten a decent sized larger than when they were originally planted. 

 

It is my understanding that this species needs to mature before flowering? 

I am in south/central Alabama zone 8a. The lowest its experienced is 19F with a few inches of mulch covering it - seems to have survived.

 

Is anyone else growing this ginger outside of the tropics, and if so what are your experiences?

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Dartolution said:

It is my understanding that this species needs to mature before flowering?

..I'd say yes, would take a couple years of growth before it has enough energy to start flowering..

Know Alpinia and Hedychicum behave like this.. Two Alpinia " ( either A. henryi " Pink Perfection ", or A. malaccensis " Giant Pink Shell " < Lost the tag years ago, but picked it up because of the huge flowers / overall size > ) i've had in pots for several years never flowered.. We'll see if the clump that is left, that i put out front here this year, decides to this year, or needs another year of growth ( thinking it will, based on the size of the mother plant the Rhizome i acquired came from ) Is throwing lots of new growths right now, so that's a good sign it is happy being freed of the pot it has been in..

Grandma and Aunties in the family always had the common yellow and white Hedychium - type Gingers in their yards, and when ever i or someone else took home a smaller piece to start, Grandma would always say " Give it a year or two " before it starts flowering again.  Heliconia ..certain types i've grown at least,  behaved the same way.. Stinks when a freak cold snap kills stalks that are finally at flowering age,  grr, lol..

You probably already do this, but for others ..to help speed them up / get them to flowering age a bit quicker,  throw K at them.. Another " Tropical flowering plant / Banana relative " that is a Potassium hog.

[Dartolution]

@Silas_Sancona Thanks! I thought this much! I have Raffillii and Gardnerianum Hedychiums as well. The gardnerianum really doesn't like to be moved. I moved it last spring and after it only had 1 flower the entire year. The rhizomes are massive (wrist sized) so I know its mature.  

I have langbeinite and have used it with all my heliconias last year (potted) and I did see an improvement in growth and overall health compared to previous years.