3x Ginger orchid purple

In spring you can plant the Roscoea’s tubers directly into the ground or in a large patio planter. Beware of late (night) frosts. This plant likes partial shade. When planting the tubers, make sure that the top of the tuber is 10 cm deep in humus-rich soil. Space the tubers approximately 15-20 cm apart. Loosen the soil well and plant the tubers with the roots pointing downwards. Fill the hole again with soil. Provide adequate drainage, especially in winter as Roscoea’s do not like wet feet! The orchid-flowers look their best when planted in groups of at least 3 tubers. Marker stick If the tubers have been planted in the ground it is advisable to use a marker stick to mark their location. As they don’t make an appearance until later in the spring you could accidentally disturb them when weeding in the garden.

The tubers can remain in the same place for many years. Water regularly in summer and in winter they may be left to dry out. Fertilize regularly during the growing season to provide the tuber with energy for the following season. In summer the flowers appear in a cluster at the top of the main stem. Often you will see only one flower at a time, the advantage of this is that it prolongs the flowering time of the whole cluster, which can last for 2 to 3 weeks. Roscoea's in the winter Roscoea are perfectly hardy when planted in well-drained soil. In severe winters, a thick layer of mulch will help them through the winter. Roscoea in pots are more susceptible to frost. After the first frost it is advisable to move the pots to a cool, frost-free place. The tubers can tolerate moisture when they are dormant and can remain in the pots over winter. In spring when there are no signs of night frost, the pot can once more be placed on the patio.

This genus is named after William Roscoe (1753-1831), an English banker and botanist, and also the founder of the botanic garden of Liverpool in 1802. There are Roscoea species that have been found growing in the north Indian hills at a height of 4000 metres above sea level! This however often involves where there is a lot of rain, but it illustrates the hardiness of this plant.