

Height : about 5 to 20 cm (depending on seasons)
Fast grower
Ah, the Alpinia zerumbet, it heals all the pains of the soul!
It is not by chance that this Ginger is called by so many sweet words "flower of paradise", "flower of my soul", "tears of the virgin",... Everything about it is attractive: its very decorative foliage, with shiny leaves finely variegated with yellow; its long spikes of flowers with elegant white corollas opening on bold red and yellow petals; its funny orange fruits looking like Chinese lanterns...
And moreover, it smells good... Its flowers are deliciously fragrant and its leaves smell like cinnamon! That's why it's also known as "Cinnamon Ginger". It is hardy - its rhizome can withstand -10°C - but keep it at more than 5°C for a beautiful bloom.
So, no hesitation, quickly, a cinnamon ginger in your home!
Also known as: Light galangal, Pink porcelain lily, Shell-flower, shell ginger, Butterfly ginger
When you receive your plant, repot it in a pot slightly larger than the bucket, which must be well pierced. Avoid pot covers which prevent residual water from draining away and encourage fungal diseases. Choose a fine potting soil, ideally with added perlite or sand to lighten the substrate (do not use garden soil or acidic soil such as heather). Then plan two repottings per year (spring and autumn), gradually increasing the size of the pot and adapting it to the size of the root network (the roots must have room, but not too much as the plant must be able to dry out its substrate between waterings). This avoids having to add fertilizer, which always risks burning the fragile roots of the plants and making the plant wither as soon as the fertilizer is stopped.
Moderate watering: watering should be copious (the whole root ball should be wet), but wait until the substrate has dried deeply before watering again (you can stick your finger in the soil: as long as you feel moisture, do not water). Your plant will recover better from a lack of water than from an excess of water. Always water at the base of the plant, and do not mist it, because stagnant water in the armpit of the leaves favors cryptogamic diseases. If your atmosphere is too dry, put bowls of water nearby (above radiators for example), so that evaporation humidifies the air.
Your plant benefits from being taken out in summer, a half-shade suits it perfectly. It should be brought indoors in winter, and ideally placed in a warm and luminous place, like in a veranda or behind a window. It fears excessive humidity when temperatures are low, so avoid cold rooms. Attention: do not take it out and bring it in all the time, it should be taken out in good weather, then brought in when the cold weather arrives, because plants adapt their foliage to their environment, which should not constantly change. It often happens that plants lose their foliage when they are taken out and/or brought in, don't worry, your plant will adapt and will emit its new foliage accordingly.
If your climate allows it, you will be able to plant your plant in full ground, a half-shade is recommended. We advise you however to cultivate it in pot the first year and to make it spend the first winter in the heat, in order to strengthen it well. Plant it between the end of the risk of frost (generally at the beginning of May) and the end of August, in a soil which must be light and draining; do not hesitate to add sand and fine compost if necessary. Be careful with the minimum temperatures indicated: they are given for a mature plant, and you have to take into account the wind which accentuates the cold felt, as well as the water retention capacity of your soil, which can make the roots rot if it is not sufficiently draining. So take a little safety margin!
This plant can not be pruned If you feel that it is becoming too bulky, you can limit its growth by continuing to repot it and change its substrate but without increasing the size of the pot. If the root network becomes too important, do not hesitate to prune the roots.
Our plants are grown naturally, without chemical fertilizers, so we advise you to repot them regularly (twice a year) rather than adding fertilizer.
If your plants are under attack by aphids or other pests, the best way to control them is by hand. Change their soil, remove as many undesirables as possible by hand and then shower your plants with a strong stream of water to eliminate any eggs that may be present. Spray them (insist on the underside of the leaves) with liquid black soap diluted in water. Repeat the operation several times at a few days interval. Take them outside in good weather, rain, sun and wind will kill most of the aggressors!