Hedychiums in zone 6?

[Ohiopalmloverz6]

These wonderful gingers have caught my eye because they look so much like Alpinias and they are incredibly cold hardy and have seen people online in my zone growing them as perennials. But no one has really gone in depth on how they overwinter them like how much mulch to put on. I would appreciate it if I got a more in depth explanation on how to overwinter hedychium in zone 6. Thank you!

[Silas_Sancona]

43 minutes ago, Ohiopalmloverz6 said:

These wonderful gingers have caught my eye because they look so much like Alpinias and they are incredibly cold hardy and have seen people online in my zone growing them as perennials. But no one has really gone in depth on how they overwinter them like how much mulch to put on. I would appreciate it if I got a more in depth explanation on how to overwinter hedychium in zone 6. Thank you!

Imagine ..if left in the ground, you'd have to apply a deep enough layer of Mulch to keep the Rhizomes from freezing.. Maybe tossing something over that to keep the soil where the plants are planted drier?

Living out there for a few years myself, while i remember the snow ( ...and ice )  we'd see each winter well,  i don't recall how deeply the ground would freeze ..Don't think it was more than a few inches, but could be wayy off on that, esp. the further north / closer to the lakes one gets. 

I know people can dig up the roots and store in a dry garage / basement until spring ..but that doesn't sound like the advise your in pursuit of..

[Ohiopalmloverz6]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Imagine ..if left in the ground, you'd have to apply a deep enough layer of Mulch to keep the Rhizomes from freezing.. Maybe tossing something over that to keep the soil where the plants are planted drier?

Living out there for a few years myself, while i remember the snow ( ...and ice )  we'd see each winter well,  i don't recall how deeply the ground would freeze ..Don't think it was more than a few inches, but could be wayy off on that, esp. the further north / closer to the lakes one gets. 

I know people can dig up the roots and store in a dry garage / basement until spring ..but that doesn't sound like the advise your in pursuit of..

I am thinking of planting them deep. 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Ohiopalmloverz6 said:

I am thinking of planting them deep. 

Tough question..  A few inches deeper might be fine  but not sure how planting them say a foot deep would end up..  Might work, or ends up too deep and rotting the rhizomes..

Planting a little deeper + burying in a deep layer of leaves might be an option..🤷🏽‍♂️ if you have access to a bunch of rhizomes, could test different techniques / planting depths i suppose..

[Dartolution]

Agreed on the testing that @Silas_Sancona mentions. 

However, keep in mind that they are a rhizomatous plant, that naturally creeps long the soil surface or just under it, so, in time, they will inevitably grow upward if planted deeper. 

 

Mulch, and a good microclimate will be your friends. 

Check out plant delights nursery - there are a few cultivars that have been known to be hardy in zone 6 but I have no experience growing that cold.