Curcuma Culture

Curcuma may be a deciduous herbaceous perennial with thick, fleshy, branched rhizomes. Their "stems" aren't true stems, however really pseudostems, as a result of they're composed of long, succulent, interlocked leaf petioles from that the leaves arise. Pseudostems with clasping leaves are common during this cluster of plants and may even be seen in each canna and bananas. All the genera within the family Zingiberaceae have food storage rhizomes with a "gingery" or "lemony" scent. The leaves, that are just like a canna, are often solid inexperienced, variegated, or have a red central blotch.
Curcuma have flower spikes that arise from the highest of the pseudostem or typically on a separate stem directly from the rhizome. Flowering could occur early within the growing season, simply before the leaves unfurl or along side them late within the growing season, counting on the species. The bracts close to the highest of the spike are colourful and showy, however don't have florets. The florets are held lower down on the spike amongst less-showy bracts. Like poinsettias, the particular flowers aren't the featured attraction. The florets are white, yellow, pink or orange in color and therefore the bracts are often a range of colours together with white, pink, yellow, green, burgundy, or multicolored. the general impact is that of a technicolored pinecone. Curcumas would like heat to trigger flowering and therefore do well in heat climates like the Southeast US. In delicate climates (like nice Britain) Curcuma could grow well however never bloom.

Although Curcuma come back from heat elements of the globe, they are going through a dormant amount during which the plants die back to the rhizome and then are slow to re-emerge within the spring. several gardeners assume that they need lost their plants however are relieved to check them finally emerge in June and July when the soil temperatures heat up.

In their native habitats, Curcuma emerge throughout the monsoon season and are triggered to become dormant by dry weather. This roughly corresponds to the winter/summer cycle in temperate gardens. Ginger professional, Tony Schilling, says "treat them to monsoon conditions - heat, wet and well fed within the summer, and funky and dry within the winter." If you let your Curcuma get too dry, they're going to lose their leaves and stop flowering. Moist, however well-drained, organically-rich, slightly acidic soils manufacture the most effective flowering. Curcuma like sun for a minimum of one or two of hours, however most species also will do fine in high, open shade.

We have conjointly found that curcumas can perform best if lifted and divided each five years so as to keep up their vigor. In doing thus, keep in mind that if you divide the plants once they are too little, they will not flower for one or two of years. At a minimum, leave 3-5 eyes (the creamy pointy things) per division, however a lot of is best. Dividing is best exhausted spring or summer. When re-planting, place the rhizomes 4-6" below the surface to offer them some cold protection, though the rhizomes can eventually grow to the depth that most closely fits them.

After frost kills the tops, {you may|you'll|you can} reduce the stems and compost them or leave them alone and therefore the stems will detach from the rhizomes naturally. In climates where the curcumas are not winter hardy, raise and store the rhizomes within during a box of sawdust or peat moss (to stop desiccation) where the temperatures keep higher than freezing.

Curcuma conjointly create nice potted plants, however, gardeners can got to re-pot the plants actually because the thick rhizomes quickly grow massive enough to separate open a pot. Potted specimens need several water (daily or maybe a lot of frequently) once they are active and root-bound.

Pests and Diseases (Ginger ailments)

Luckily, Curcuma aren't bothered by several pests, with slugs and snails being the worst...especially on the unfurling leaves. In containers or during a soil that's too dry, mealy bugs and spider mites could become a retardant. In recent plantings, a fungal disease referred to as mushroom root rot could occur. the primary symptom is that the browning and loss of the highest few leaves on the stem. If you chop open a rhizome and realize brown flesh with white specks your plant most likely has root rot. bring to a halt all of the infected elements of the rhizome, dirt the remaining healthy elements with sulfur powder and replant during a new location.

Propagation 

Most curcumas are sterile, resulting in this assumption that the majority plants within the trade are hybrids, thus do not expect to check any seed unless you've got access to wild collected species. within the wild, specific curcuma pollinators also are gift that aren't gift within the temperate garden. therefore curcuma won't set seed within the garden unless you hand pollinate them throughout the summer. If you manage to truly get seed, they're comparatively simple to germinate. Seed ought to be collected because the seed pods open within the late fall and should be surface sown (don't cover) immediately. Curcuma seed could take many months of heat temperatures to germinate.