Do you have a garden with warm temperatures? If so, you’re in luck because Curcuma plants will thrive in your landscape. These exquisite flowers bloom during the summer and look stunning in container gardens.
The Curcuma genus includes plants that will give your garden a tropical ambiance. With their long stems and discreetly hidden flowers, they resemble pinecones, earning them the name “hidden cone gingers.”
Key Takeaways
Delving Deeper into This Tropical Plant
The clustered flowers of Curcuma plants are vibrant throughout the summer and fall seasons, but it’s during springtime that they truly shine. In this period, the plant is still developing, and each purchase becomes a delightful surprise.
When planted alongside daffodils, a flowering bulb, the turmeric plant adds a splash of color to your garden from spring to autumn.
Curcuma originates from Southeast Asia, Southern China, New Guinea, and Northern Australia. However, you can also find some species growing in tropical Africa and Central America.
Many botanists believe that Curcuma longa, the most commonly known turmeric plant, is native to India, where it is widely used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Some gardeners even grow them as northern perennials.
In their native habitat, Curcuma plants emerge during the monsoon season, while dry weather causes them to become dormant. Cultivated for thousands of years, turmeric plants are prized for their health benefits, and people dry their rhizomes for use as a spice or yellow dye.
On the other hand, the Curcuma amada rhizome is consumed fresh for its anti-inflammatory properties. And the Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes can be consumed as a bitter vegetable. Alternatively, you can grow Curcuma for its beautiful cut flowers, as they are winter hardy.
Caring for Curcuma Plants
Before we dive into the meticulous care routine for Curcuma, let’s take a quick look at everything you’ll need to grow these attractive flowers.
Finding the Perfect Potting Medium
Whether you’re growing hidden lilies or turmeric plants, their care requirements are essentially the same. These plants thrive in moist, well-drained soil filled with coarse sand and organic matter. However, they struggle in clayey soil.
Now you have the perfect excuse to start a home compost pile, using food scraps and garden waste. Just remember not to add any meat. You can grow Curcuma plants in container gardens, garden beds, or even pots placed in sunny windows.
Providing Ideal Lighting
While Curcuma plants can tolerate full sun, they thrive better in partial sun. Excessive sunlight may scorch the foliage, so it’s best to provide some shade. However, keep in mind that without enough sunlight, the flowers may not be as vibrant. Therefore, aim to give your outdoor plants some morning sunshine and afternoon shade, or find a partly shaded spot for them to grow.
Watering Your Plants
Curcuma plants love consistently moist soil and can tolerate heavy rainfall if the ground is well-draining. Avoid letting the potting mix dry out, as this will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
During the spring and summer seasons, it’s advisable to water them well once a week. In scorching weather, monitor the soil’s moisture level and water accordingly. If the top few inches of soil are dry, hold off on watering. But if it’s dried out more, make sure to quench your plant’s thirst.
As for outdoor plants, adding a layer of mulch about two inches deep helps retain moisture. Additionally, you can reduce your watering schedule in the fall and winter when the plant becomes dormant.
However, if you’re growing Curcuma indoors, make sure the soil is well-drained. Remember that potted plants tend to dry out faster, so keep a close eye on the moisture levels, especially during the growing season.
Temperature and Humidity
Curcuma plants thrive in warm temperatures, ideally between 68°-95° F (20°-35°C). They benefit from up to three hours of sunlight but not excessive exposure.
In terms of humidity, the moisture level should remain above 60%. Giving your Curcuma plants a small splash of water will help maintain the ideal humidity level.
Fertilizing During the Flowering Season
Your Curcuma plants will bloom splendidly if you feed them a soluble fertilizer with a balanced ratio, such as 20-20-20. Apply one tablespoon of fertilizer per square foot where your plants grow.
During spring, when new growth appears, it’s best to provide your Curcuma with fertilizer. Additionally, adding some well-rotted manure or compost will give them the essential nutrients they need.
Propagation of Curcuma Plants
The fantastic news is that you can grow several Curcuma species in pots. Choose a container that is 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Fill the pot with well-drained soil and obtain two rhizomes from a store. Break them into small pieces.
Plant the rhizomes about two inches below the soil surface, ensuring that the bud tips face upwards. Regular watering will facilitate healthy growth.
Curcuma seeds are primarily sterile and can be difficult to find. However, if you happen to have wild species, you can hand-pollinate them during summer. If you manage to obtain seeds, germinating them is a breeze. Collect the seeds from the seed pods in late fall and sow them on the surface without covering them.
Growth Zone
Curcuma plants planted in USDA zones 8 to 11 are considered winter hardy. However, providing them with morning sun and afternoon shade will be beneficial.
Potting and Pruning
Before winter arrives or in early spring after the last frost has passed, you can plant your Curcuma in the ground. While they begin to grow in spring, the best rewards will come during summer. So be patient and wait for the frost to pass and the weather to warm up before planting.
Whether you choose to grow them in your garden or in pots, proper drainage is crucial. Add a layer of gravel at the base of the pot and plant rhizomes about three inches deep. If you’re planting them in the landscape, leave about a foot of space between each Curcuma plant.
As summer arrives, your plants will delight you with densely packed flowers that emit a subtle fragrance for about four weeks. The foliage will become lush, and you’ll enjoy the lance-shaped, green leaves.
After the flowers have bloomed, grab your sterilized pruners and cut the flower spike down to four inches above the ground. During the growing season, there’s no need to trim your Curcuma plants, although you can remove any brown leaves.
Protecting Curcuma Plants During Winter
Curcuma plants are perennials and go dormant during cold weather. To protect them, cut them down to keep them sheltered when growing outdoors.
However, if you’re growing them in containers, bring them indoors if the temperature drops below freezing.
Curcuma Varieties
Curcuma longa
The foliage of turmeric plants grows up to three inches tall, and their pinecone-shaped flowers nestle within the leaves, creating an enchanting display.
Curcuma petiolata
Also known as hidden cone ginger, this variety produces huge leaves that can reach a length of ten inches and a width of six inches. The leaves grow in a clump formation from the rhizome and bear purple flowers in late summer.
Curcuma zedoaria
This variety of hidden cone ginger features beautiful bicolor bracts in white with stunning purple tips. The foliage can grow up to six feet, with striking maroon stripes running down the center.
Common Diseases and Pests
The most common pests affecting Curcuma plants are shoot borers and scales, which can cause severe infestations.
Shoot borers lay oval, pink-shaped eggs on the leaves, which hatch in about six days. Once the larvae hatch, they feed on the internal tissues of the plant, resulting in yellowing and drying leaves.
Scales are tiny insects with brown to gray colors that infest the rhizomes. These pests feed on the buds and cause the flowers to wilt. They are most noticeable during the summer season.
By following these tips, you can successfully grow and care for Curcuma plants in your garden. Enjoy their stunning blooms and tropical charm throughout the seasons!
