Ginger has a versatile history – ancient Chinese used the root of ginger as a tonic to treat common ailments while Romans used it to make sweets.
Ginger is a tropical plant that is most commonly grown outdoors as an annual crop However, with the right conditions and care, ginger can be grown indoors during the winter months to provide a fresh supply of ginger root for cooking, teas, and natural remedies.
Why Grow Ginger Indoors?
Growing ginger indoors allows you to
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Have access to fresh ginger root all winter long when it’s not in season outdoors. This lets you flavor dishes, drinks, and DIY products with homegrown ginger.
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Produce your own ginger at a fraction of the cost of buying it.
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Grow exotic tropical plants as houseplants.
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Fill your home with the spicy scent of ginger leaves and roots
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Show off the architectural stems and vibrant foliage.
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Propagate new ginger plants each year.
Choosing the Best Ginger Variety
Look for compact, container-friendly ginger varieties that can thrive indoors in winter. Good options include:
- Hawaiian Yellow – Pale yellow rhizomes, vigorous growth
- Rio de Janeiro – Prolific large white rhizomes
- Chinese Yellow – Winter hardy, smooth yellow skin
- Nigerian – Dwarf, ideal for containers, very aromatic
- Baby ginger – Thin skin for easy harvesting
Avoid store-bought mature ginger rhizomes as they may have inhibitors to prevent sprouting. Purchase certified disease-free ginger starts from reputable suppliers for best results.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
Ginger needs warm temperatures, high humidity, bright filtered light, loose potting mix, and consistent moisture to flourish indoors. Ideal conditions are:
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- Humidity: 40-60%
- Light: Bright indirect light or 2-4 hours of morning sun
- Soil: Loose, well-draining potting mix amended with compost
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy
Monitor conditions daily and make adjustments using humidifiers, grow lights, and careful watering to meet ginger’s preferences.
Planting Ginger in Containers
Select a pot at least 12 inches wide and deep with drainage holes. Fill 2/3 full with amended potting mix. Place a 2-4 inch piece of ginger rhizome sideways just under the mix with growth buds facing up. Water well then keep moist. Add more mix as stems and leaves form. Plant multiple rhizomes in a large container for higher yields.
Caring for Indoor Ginger Plants
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Watering: Check soil daily. Water when just dry 1-2 inches down. Avoid overwatering.
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Fertilizing: Use balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during growth.
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Light: Rotate pot weekly for even growth. Introduce to morning sun gradually.
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Support: Stake stems as needed. Ginger can reach 3-4 feet tall!
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Pruning: Remove yellow leaves and spent stems to encourage new growth.
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Repotting: Shift to larger container in early spring if rhizomes fill the pot.
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Pests: Inspect and treat for pests weekly. Quarantine new plants.
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Cleaning: Wipe leaves often to remove dust.
Troubleshooting Problems
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Yellow leaves – Overwatering. Allow soil to dry out more.
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Brown leaf tips – Low humidity. Increase humidity around plant.
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Few leaves/leggy stems – Needs more light. Supplement with grow lights.
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Failure to sprout – Rhizome dried out. Maintain even moisture.
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Slow growth – Night temps too low. Aim for over 65°F.
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Root rot – Soil too wet. Allow more time to dry out.
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Pests – Treat immediately with organic sprays when spotted.
Harvesting and Storing Ginger
After about 10 months, carefully tip the pot to access the rhizomes. Select some to replant and break off the rest. Lay rhizomes out to cure for 1-2 weeks then store in an open bag in the fridge crisper. They will last for several months. Replant pencil-sized side rhizomes with visible buds to continue harvesting.
Tips for Growing Ginger Indoors
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Choose compact varieties suitable for containers.
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Give ginger warm temperatures and high humidity.
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Plant in a roomy pot with drainage holes using loose, organic potting mix.
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Place in bright indirect sunlight.
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Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
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Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during active growth with liquid fertilizer.
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Monitor for pests like spider mites. Treat organic sprays immediately.
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Harvest rhizomes when the pot is full, about 10 months after planting.
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Select the best rhizomes to replant for the next crop.
With the right conditions and care, it is possible to grow prolific ginger indoors to enjoy fresh homegrown rhizomes throughout the winter. Follow these tips to sustain a thriving productive ginger plant inside.
Month 3: Check Your Seedlings
There’s no need to thin Ginger, but you should check on your seedlings’ progress to make sure you’ve got enough light. They should be about 2 inches tall by the end of Month 3. If they aren’t you likely need a bit more light.
Preparing your Planter & Watering Schedule for Ginger
Ginger plants do well in moist soil conditions. If the soil dries out completely the roots will die back and it will be tough for the plant to recover. On the other hand, if the roots are exposed to standing water for too long, they can rot.
A Ceramic Self Watering Planter filled with a standard potting mix self-regulates to keep the soil at consistent moisture for your plant to thrive (and no watering guesswork for you).
To set one up:
- Fill up the planter with dry soil from the bag, gently tamping down the top.
- Dump the soil into a large mixing bowl and add water until the soil is moist, but not sopping wet (about ½ Cup)
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of the Vegetable Blend Plant Food.
If you are using a regular pot instead, it should be a little bit bigger (at least 8″ / 1 gal) and will need drainage holes to prevent it from being over watered. Let the top of the soil dry out between watering.
How to Grow Ginger in Containers And Get a Huge Harvest
FAQ
Can you keep ginger as a houseplant?
5. Caring for Your Ginger is easy, as long as you provide warmth, humidity, moisture and drainage. Summer is the best time to grow ginger because it’s already hot and humid, but if you’re growing it indoors you can place it in a bright windowsill and occasionally mist it with water.
What temperature is too cold for ginger?
It can be grown in the ground in Santa Clara County over the summer but when night temperatures drop below 50°F in the fall, it needs to be harvested or …
Can you leave ginger in the ground over winter?
Most gingers do go dormant so it’s best to let your’s go dormant since you don’t know what they are. Keep barely moist over the winter. When you see new growth give more light and water. Check the sight below and you may be able to identify them.
How to grow Ginger indoors?
INDOOR CLIMATE Growing ginger indoors allows you to mimic this plant ideal climate: filtered sunlight, warm weather, and humidity with rich moist soil. 2. SELECT A RHIZOME Start with the root – a rhizome – of an edible ginger plant. Look for a rhizome with growth bud eyes.
Can you grow ginger as a houseplant?
Although most flowering gingers are too large to grow as houseplants, you can keep them in your greenhouse or conservatory or grow them on a shaded deck or patio. In fact, most gingers have a longer bloom period if grown in large pots. Ginger blooms will last as cut flowers for as long as three weeks.
How do I grow my own ginger plant?
Growing your own ginger plant all starts by planting a ginger root. Ginger roots are rhizomes, which is nothing more than a fancy name for roots that continuously grow under the surface of the soil. While you can often find ginger root at grocery stores, it’s best to avoid using it for planting.