Did you know that taking a little time to grow ginger inside is a fantastic way to keep a supply of fresh ginger handy and enjoy a lush, tropical-looking houseplant all at the same time?
Ginger naturally grows as a rhizome plant. That’s really just a fancy term for having its underground roots spread horizontally, producing shoots and edible rhizomes (the parts we cut and cook with). The good news is that indoors, ginger makes a beautiful plant. And even better, you can harvest bits of root any time you like.
Best of all – it’s easy to plant. In fact, all you need is a piece of ginger root and you are ready to create an amazing houseplant with ease!
How To Grow Ginger Inside All Winter Long – As A Houseplant
What You Need to Start
To get going, you’ll need a few simple supplies: a fresh ginger root (or rhizome) with viable “eyes”. The eyes are the little growth buds or nodules on the root. You will also need a pot with good drainage, a light potting soil mix, and a warm, bright spot in your home.
A wide, shallow container works better than a deep, narrow pot for growing ginger. This is because ginger rhizomes spread horizontally rather than diving straight down. All that is left is to have a piece of ginger root on hand!
Preparing Ginger Root For Planting Inside
Examine the ginger root and choose a section with one or more clear eyes. If you cut the root into smaller pieces, let the cut surfaces dry for a day or two. This allows it to callus a little and reduces the chance of rot once planted.
Next, place the root pieces into your pot, eyes facing upward, just below the soil surface. Adding about an inch or so of soil on top is usually enough. Gently press the root into the soil and water lightly to begin.
Sprouting & Growing Ginger Inside As A Houseplant
After planting, ginger can take time to sprout. Sometimes as long as a few weeks to a couple of months before you see green shoots emerge. During this “waiting” time, keep the soil lightly moist, but not soggy.
Over-watering at this stage can cause the root to rot. This is why light, regular waterings are better than saturating the soil. Once you see shoots, move the pot to a warm location with bright, indirect light. Ginger prefers warm, humid conditions – it does not like cold or frost.
A spot near an east- or south-facing window (but out of harsh direct midday sun) is ideal. The leaves may do best with morning light and a bit of afternoon shade. A slightly humid indoor environment helps, especially since winter air in homes tends to get dry.
Caring For Ginger As It Grows Through Winter
As your ginger plant grows, it important to maintain a balance of warmth, moisture, light, and nutrition for your plant. This includes:
- Keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Let the top inch or two dry slightly before watering again.
- Use a potting soil on the light, well-draining side. A dense or heavy soil can restrict rhizome growth or trap too much moisture. Affiliate Link: Organic Potting Soil Mix for Indoor Plants – Enriched w/Root-Boosting Biochar for Foliage Plants, Flowers, Herbs
- Fertilize every few week with a light, balanced fertilizer or compost to give the plant nutrients. Ginger is somewhat of a “heavy feeder,” especially when growing actively.
- Watch lighting carefully: ginger tolerates lower light better than many sun-loving plants, but too little light can slow growth. Avoid intense, direct afternoon sun that can scorch leaves.
- Maintain warmth — ginger does best when temperatures stay warm and steady. Cold drafts or exposure to low winter temps can stress the plant or even kill the rhizomes.
Harvesting Indoor Ginger
One of the great joys of growing ginger indoors is harvesting whenever you like. You don’t have to wait for full maturity to get fresh ginger.
If you want tender, mild-flavored ginger, gently dig near the surface and remove a small section of rhizome. The rest can stay to keep the plant growing. For a deeper, spicier flavor, allow the plant to mature more fully before harvesting larger pieces.
After harvesting, re-cover the remaining rhizomes with soil so the plant can continue to grow and produce more. This continual harvesting and regrowth means you can enjoy fresh ginger all winter long — with no need to wait until spring or grow outside.
Common Challenges When Growing Ginger Inside
Because ginger prefers warmth, humidity, indirect light, and moist but well-draining soil, indoor winter conditions can sometimes be tricky. If your home’s air gets too dry from heating, consider grouping houseplants together or placing the pot on a tray with pebbles and water beneath it — this helps raise humidity without over-watering.
Avoid placing the plant near cold drafts (windows, doors, or un-insulated walls), or next to hot heating vents that could dry the soil out. Also, resist the urge to overwater: soggy soil is one of the fastest routes to root rot.
Finally, choose fresh, firm ginger rhizomes with healthy eyes. Older, shriveled, or chemically treated supermarket ginger is often treated to prevent sprouting. It makes them far less likely to grow. If possible, source ginger from a nursery, health-food store, or grower. This will give you the best chance of success.
Why Winter Is Actually a Great Time To Grow Ginger
Winter is often a low-maintenance time for houseplants — including ginger. Since outdoor gardening is on hold, bringing tropical plants like ginger inside turns them into living kitchen-flavor supply. Indoors, ginger avoids frost and cold, and with controlled watering and a warm, light-filled window spot, your plant can thrive even when it’s freezing outside.
Last but not least, a pot of leafy green ginger on a window sill or kitchen corner is not only useful — it adds a touch of tropical greenery during gray winter days. Here is to taking time to grow ginger inside this year! Happy Gardening, Jim & Mary.
Old World Garden Farms
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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