The Repurposing Life

How to Grow Ginger Root Indoors

These step-by-step instructions show you how to grow ginger as a houseplant starting with a piece of ginger root from the grocery store. It’s a simple way to grow a new plant and, yes, you will have more ginger to harvest.

What is Ginger?

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a tropical herbaceous perennial. If you live in a cold climate, this means you can grow it as a houseplant indoors year-round and keep it outside in the summer months. That ginger root that you buy at the grocery store is all you need to start your own ginger houseplant.

It’s Really a Rhizome

To be more accurate, what we call ginger root is really a rhizome. Roots grow from the rhizome, so the common term is ginger root. Ginger is used as an aromatic for cooking, smoothies, and baking. You can find ginger root in crystalized, powdered, or fresh form. Fresh ginger for eating can be chopped or grated.

In the past, ginger was regarded as a good homemade remedy for nausea brought on by morning sickness, sea sickness, or motion sickness. It’s also been used in non-traditional medical practices as an aid for digestion.

The Rhizome Grows the Plant

The rhizome not only provides the aromatic, but tit’s also the part you can root and grow into a new plant. As it grows, more rhizomes form, giving you new ginger roots to harvest.

The easiest method for growing ginger root indoors is to soak the root for 1-2 days, and then plant it. Commercial, not organic ginger root found in grocery stores has been treated by growth retardants meant to prevent sprouting at the store, soaking the root in water dissolves this retardant, allowing the rhizome to sprout new roots. I prefer to use the method shown below because it guarantees I am planting a viable rhizome.

This post will show you how to select a good candidate for rooting, how to make it sprout, and how to continue growing it as a houseplant. If you have some questions, check out the frequently asked questions about growing ginger below.

1. Choose a Living Ginger Root

Tip: If you’re planning to eat your ginger, if possible, start with organically-grown ginger, free of growth retardants.

You can also purchase it from some plant nurseries specifically for this purpose, but I just use ginger from the grocery store.

Look for pieces that are firm, healthy-looking (not dry or shriveled), show no signs of damage, and have “eyes” (see the circled example in the photo, above). These are the little nubs like the ones on potatoes that will grow roots under the right conditions. You might also find a piece of ginger that is already sprouting in the store that will also work fine.

Start with 2 or 3 rhizomes if you want to be sure to get at least one plant. If you want to go big, root 3-6 pieces of ginger and plant them all in one pot.

2. Sprout Your Ginger Root

The arrows in the photo show nubs that will grow roots and shoots.

• Wash and dry the ginger root (rhizome).
• Wrap it in damp (not soaking wet) cloth or paper towels and place in a plastic bag.

It is possible that your ginger root may have been treated with a root inhibitor, but the presence of emerging buds is a good sign it will sprout.

• Stash bag in your kitchen cabinet. The combination of moisture and warmth will cause it to sprout.
• Set a reminder on your phone to check it every three days.

3. Monitor Growth

At first it will be hard to tell the nubs are growing. After two weeks, the roots and shoots will have started to grow.

• After approximately 7-10 days, you should definitely start seeing growth from the eyes/nubs.
• Return the ginger to the damp towel in the plastic bag until the shoots and roots are a few inches long.

Be careful each time you unwrap and rewrap the ginger to avoid breaking any new roots or shoots.

4. Planting Ginger Root

After 4-6 weeks, your ginger root should be ready for planting in soil on a pot. The largest roots and shoots should be a couple of inches long. The whole thing may look odd but if there’s new growth, you’re good.

Your ginger has an “up” side and a “down” side for planting. The horn-shaped growth are shoots, not roots, so you should plant the rhizome root side down in the pot. If you are planting more than one sprouted ginger, use a nice wide pot and place them side by side with room between for the rhizomes to expand.

Pot Size and Potting Mix

Choose a pot several inches wider than your ginger root is long. If it is 3-inches long, use a 6 to 8-inch wide x 6-inch deep pot with drainage holes. These plants grow wider as the root spreads.

• Fill pot with houseplant potting mix (never use garden soil), water thoroughly, and gently press soil mix down into pot.
• Plant sprouted ginger two inches below lip of pot. If you can tell which part is a shoot, aim that up. If not, the plant will sort it out as it grows.
• Cover with additional inch of potting mix and water again. All parts of the ginger should be covered.

5. Ginger Plant Care

Place your ginger pot in a warm, sunny (but not hot) location.

• The ideal growing temperature is higher than many of us keep our homes, 24-29°C (75-85°F). My house stays around 18°C (65°F) in the winter, and can get upwards of 35°C (95°F) in the summer.
• Keep soil moist (not soaking wet).
• Like many tropical plants, ginger likes 40-50% relative humidity. You can also mist it and provide a drip tray filled with water to help maintain humidity levels.

In 2-4 weeks, a shoot should emerge from the soil. Six weeks after planting, your ginger plant should be about 3-feet tall with at least one stalk and long, narrow leaves. It will resemble a very tall, thick blade of grass. As the plant grows, new ginger roots will develop in the potting mix.

Fertilizer

• If you’re going to eat the ginger rhizome, pick a safe, slow-release organic fertilizer suitable for food crops.
• I switch around to test different products but invariably return to the homemade fish emulsion my grandmother used in her garden. It’s simple and easy to make, and a zero waste approach to adding nutrients to your garden soil.

Harvesting Ginger

• After a few years of growth, you can harvest some of the roots once per year, leaving the rest to continue growing.
• The older the ginger root, the better the flavor.
• You can also divide the older rhizomes to create several new plants.

Outdoor Summer Care

• During warm months, you can keep your ginger outdoors in a sheltered location, avoiding blazing sun.
• Follow normal precautions when bringing it back indoors for the winter including cleaning the plant and inspecting for insects or diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can You Plant Ginger Root From The Grocery Store?

Yes, but some ginger has been treated with growth retardants so it will not sprout in the store and there usually isn’t a way to check if this is so. That said, I always use grocery store ginger for mine and have never had a problem.

2. How Long Does It Take To Grow Ginger?

When you plant a ginger root (which is really a rhizome), it takes about 2-3 years for it to be mature enough to harvest. The older it is, the better the flavor. Sprouting a ginger rhizome for planting takes a few weeks.

3. Do Ginger Plants Need Full Sun?

Ginger is a tropical plant originating in the understory of a tropical forest, so it likes moisture and warmth but not direct, hot sun.

4. Can I Grow Ginger In Canada?

Yes, indoors. Ginger is a tropical plant, not a hardy perennial. I grow mine outdoors, in Northern California (in a sheltered location) all year.

5. How Do You Harvest Ginger?

The edible part of a ginger plant is the rhizome, which is usually called the root. To harvest ginger, dig up the rhizomes and cut off the amount you wish to use from the outer edges of the rhizome. Allow the cuts to heal for a few days then replant the remainder.

6. Is Ginger An Herb Or A Spice?

It’s a spice, specifically an aromatic spice. Herbs come from the leafy part of the plant. Spices come from other parts of plants and trees including the bark, roots, and seeds.

Sources and photo credits:
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger
Gardens: Get Your Ginger Up – The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/06/how-to-grow-ginger-james-wong
by James Wong
Growing Ginger
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/browse/featured-solutions/gardening-landscaping/ginger/
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Easy Way to Grow Ginger Root Indoors
https://empressofdirt.net/grow-ginger/
November 3, 2020 by Melissa J. Will