Things You\’ll Need
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10-10-10 fertilizer
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Pruning shears
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Insecticidal soap
There are few true blue flowers in the gardening world, and when a plant has the word \”blue\” in its name, and delivers a purple flower, it\’s a bit disappointing. Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) is an exception. Even though many times the flowers aren\’t truly blue, they are so beautiful you may have a tendency to forgive whoever bestowed the name on the plant. Another fib in the plant\’s nickname is belied by the fact that it isn\’t a true ginger but related more closely to spiderworts.
Step 1
Grow the blue ginger in an area of the garden that receives shade or filtered sunshine. It prefers humid, windless locations with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Step 2
Keep the soil around the blue ginger plant moist at all times. Don\’t overwater, though; water just enough so the root zone is slightly moist.
Step 3
Fertilize blue ginger monthly while it\’s in active growth. Use an all-purpose granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, and sprinkle it on the soil around the plant. Use the amount of fertilizer listed on the label.
Step 4
Prune the blue ginger to the soil after flowering. It grows back with increased flowering, according to tropical plant and soil scientists with the University of Hawaii.
Step 5
Check the plant periodically for mealybugs, small insects that are covered with a white substance. Look for clusters of mealybugs on the undersides of leaves or at the junction of a shoot and the main stem. Insecticidal soap sprays manage mealybug infestations. Follow all label instructions when applying.
Tip
Use care when working in the garden around the blue ginger. The stems are brittle and easy to break.
