Hedychium.
Leo A. Martin (Tue, 23 Aug 2005 15:11:49 PDT)

Hello Ken,

Don't know which side of the Cascades you are on. The issues with
Hedychiums in areas with frost include

1 they take a long time to begin growing after any root disturbance

2 they need to make a lot of new growth before flowering

3 they require a long warm season to make enough growth to flower

4 in marginal climates they need lots of root room - ie in the ground

5 they need lots of water and lots of fertilizer, more than almost any
other plants

6 if they receive any setback during the summer, they won't bloom that
summer. This would include forgetting to water and having the plants
wilt, just once.

I know people in northern USA climates who dig Hedychium coronarium
rhizomes each fall to store over the winter and they get flowers. But
just barely before the frost.

It is highly unlikely you will get flowers this year. If you are willing
to give it one more try, you might shoot for the moon:

If you have space someplace with even a little bit of light and above
freezing, bring the pot in for the winter and try to keep the shoots
from going dormant. Water just enough to keep the leaves alive. Watch
out for spider mites; spray with water regularly.

Next spring try to get the plant into growth as soon as possible inside
a window or greenhouse or sunroom.

When you might set out tomato plants protected with a wall of water,
very very carefully unpot and plant in the warmest, sunniest spot in
your garden and put a wall of water around your plant. They key is to
try to get it growing in a warm microclimate much earlier than you have
done so before.

Apply fertilizer weekly once they begin growth after transplanting. Use
a lot. Keep the plants dryish until growth begins in the ground, then
water heavily. Try to get a luxuriant plant.

If it still doesn't work, in the fall please chop up the plant into
rhizomes and send them to Dell for the bulb exchange! I bet they would
go fast.

I haven't been successful flowering Hedychium here in Phoenix. I should
be able to but each year it is something different - forget to water,
dog making a bed out of the plant... I do get my bananas to fruit each
year. The fragrance of the gingers is so good I will not quit until I
succeed.

Leo Martin
Phoenix Arizona USA