The Find: Free Ornamental Ginger
While out for an evening walk I came across a very exciting sign in someone's yard next to the side of the road. It said, " FREE ................. ORNAMENTAL GINGER" and there was a plastic bag with pieces of root inside. I even took a picture for posterity.
 |
| Free ornamental ginger root, with sign |
I let the root sit around for a few days until I acquired another set a free planters. Spring is a good time for getting unwanted plastic (or broken ceramic) planters.
 |
| Stack of free plastic plant pots |
Growing Ornamental Ginger
I planted the ornamental ginger in some potting soil, unsure if it would every sprout. Had I ignored it for too long? Had I planted it too shallow? Would it rot instead of revive? These are the doubts that plague a gardener.
But plants can surprise you with their hardiness, at least this ornamental ginger root cutting did.
 |
| First ornamental ginger sprout |
And then it got a little taller....
 |
| Ornamental ginger sprout approximately 4inches tall |
And then it got this tall and has stayed like that for a while! I'm still waiting on flowers though...
 |
| Ornamental ginger co-planted with an impulse purchase clematis |
In addition to the vertical growth (a.k. the plant's "habit" in the parlance of the horticultural world) I like the slight striping (variegation) of the leaves, which is visible in the photo below.
Conclusion
When taking plant cuttings or roots, be aware of the risk of spreading invasive species or pests. In this case the root cuttings were from the same neighborhood, and I was planning to grow the plant in an isolated container on a patio - not in the ground. I'm not sure whether this plant would get taller if it were planted in the ground and could develop deeper roots, but that is not something I can experiment with right now!
Happy freestyle gardening, don't be afraid to scavenge for beauty!