What do we know about gingers?

1. “Gingers are beautiful and attractive.”
2. “Gingers makes food nicer to eat.”
3. “Singapore played historically big role as a ginger research centre.”

The 1st and 2nd answers would be what most of our locals would tell you, as the beautiful and colourful ginger flowers which are planted in many locations around Singapore are not hard to miss and some of the best Asian delicacies are made with ginger to flavour up the dish; but the 3rd answer, is perhaps known to only a few.

Curcuma Curcuma sp

Since its establishment in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has played an important role as an agricultural experimental station and soon after, as a botanical research centre in Southeast Asia. Gingers drew the attention of several botanists working here, especially H.N. Ridley and R.E. Holttum, whose work on gingers stood out. Both of them were also directors of the Singapore Botanic Gardens for many years and had a keen interest in many species of gingers.

Alpinia

To keep up with the reputation as a location with the wealth of knowledge on gingers, the Ginger Garden was concepted in 1999 and officially launched 18 October 2003. It is devoted to the most spectacular members of the tropical flora - plants belonging to 8 families of the other gingers (Zingiberales). Apart from true gingers, this order contains bananas, “birds of the paradise” plants, colourful heliconias, marantas with wonderfully designed leaves, spiral gingers or small jungle orchidanthas, just to name a few. The 1 hectare plot displays over 550 species, varieties and horticultural cultivars of gingers and their allies. With no doubt, Ginger Garden it is now one of the favourite spots for tourists.

Ginger Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens

With its excellent taxonomic background, good nursery facilities and favourable climate, the staff of Singapore Botanic Gardens is proud to take up the exciting challenge in making our garden one of the major research centres for gingers in the Asian Region.

Costus Etlingera

WHAT ARE GINGERS?

Gingers are a group of plants with huge economic, medicinal and ornamental potential; however, the entire family is not yet well known. There are over 1200 species of gingers, but many more has yet to be discovered. Most of them are native to Asia, but only few are from South America and Africa. You will probably encounter gingers in your meal every day - common ginger, tumeric, cardamom, kantan or blue ginger (galanga). They make Asian food incredibly tasty and delicious. There are also plenty that are ornamental with major horticultural uses - eg. landscape plants or cut-flowers.

Marantaceae Globba sp

Globba Hedychium

Boesenbergia

- by Jana Skornickova

Ever thought of the key ‘ingredients’ of nurturing a healthy and strong plant?

Normally, people will tell you the usual stuff -

The plant would need soil to receive the nutrients from it.

Water…well, everything needs water.

Indirectly or directly, all of us depend on the sun. I wouldn’t dare to imagine what this world would become if no sun existed.

That’s pretty much what most people would think a plant would need to grow healthy and strong, but personally, I think the most important ‘ingredient’, is the care a person gives to the plant with their heart.

This ‘heart’ factor really makes your plant turn out different. Only when you really put your heart into it, then will you notice the littlest changes in your plants.

So, the next time you wonder why your plants aren’t doing well, think again, and maybe you will find an answer, if you really put your heart into it.

- by Sumo Loh Chin Fong

“Urgh, gardening is so difficult!”

“My plants keep dying!”

“I just don’t have green fingers!”

Heard these lines somewhere in the past? Or even you yourself have said that before in frustration? Well, do not be surprised, because you are not alone.

I have spoken to many people who grow plants, or those that would have grown plants, and these few excuses are a very common grouse. But really, is it an absolutely arduous task to nurture those greens?

To me, this is a very interesting question. My mum grows a repertoire of plants - ranging from spices like chilli, to ornamentals such as roses. And they are usually in the pink of health. When I was much younger, I always liked admiring her while she was happily fertilising her beloved plants. I thought to myself, hey, growing plants is like taking care of a normal pet, such as a dog. Surely, all one has to do is to read up on some simple gardening skills and on the plants in question. And just like taking care of our furry friends, a bit of tender loving care is all they need to thrive with the passing days.

Now I know better.

My sister and I have since followed my mum’s footsteps, and started our own little gardens in our respective offices. Although I’m happy to say that most of my plants are blooming, the same cannot be said for my poor sister. Every plant she has grown seems to die on her, even if it is something relatively easy, such as the money plant. My mum (before she got used to my sister’s misfortune with plants), used to sigh whenever my sister sheepishly brought home yet another dying plant.

Was it the site conditions, or were there more than meets the eye?

Is there really truth to what we term as “having green fingers”? Some people are just so much better at keeping their plants alive and healthy. While there are others, I must say, are born “plant-killers” - whereby any plant that land in their hands are destined to die a horrible death!

I wonder if there is some unknown factor that contributes to this ability of “having green fingers”. Could it be that certain genes in our human DNA are involved and would affect a person’s ability to excel far better than others in caring and nurturing plants? Thus far, there is no scientific proof that such a factor exists. No one has yet to put the ‘green finger’ theory to the test. Well, I guess probably no one is crazy enough to try proving this yet.

Until the day where we solve this puzzling matter, I guess for plant lovers like myself, along with those bestowed with ‘green fingers’ and the accursed plant-slayers, we should simply just go ahead and start a garden anyway.

Occasionally, I do have a few plants that die on me. And when this happens, I do feel that I’m not cut out to grow plants. But then again, so what if your plants die after a few days, weeks or months? Won’t you miss out on the joy of admiring these plants, no matter how short those times may be? Won’t you miss out on the satisfaction of seeing new shoots budding, the uncurling of new leaves, the opening of a lightly scented flower? What about the most basic routine of watering and fertilizing the plants?

Well, I know I would.

So, like I say, just go ahead and plant a new plant today!

- by Jeff Seow

Bold, flashy and attention-seeking. From hot pink to forest green, lemon yellow to shades of burgundy dark as night, the inflorescence of Heliconia command attention the same way a stop sign demands of motorists.

Heliconia

Blooms can take the form of stiff and upright lobster claws, or hanging spirals of colourful bracts. A vast range of flower forms, coupled with a mind-blogging array of vibrant colours, are the main reason why Heliconia form the centerpiece of so many tropical landscapes all around the world. Indeed, a single well-established colony of Heliconia immediately adds a sense of elegance and class to any garden, large or small.

Contrary to popular belief, not all Heliconia grow to uncontrollably large proportions; numerous cultivars exist that are able to grow and thrive in a simple balcony pot, while rewarding the grower with an unending supply of magnificent blooms.

Heliconia are close relatives of gingers, bananas, birds-of-paradise and traveler’s palms. There are approximately 350 species making up the single genus, with the bulk of them originating from Central and South America. Oddly enough, a small group of about 6 species have evolved separately in the South Pacific, and these are typically characterized by having green inflorescence.

Being rhizomatous in habit, Heliconia rapidly occupy any available area through the production of adventitious underground stems. They are herbaceous or non-woody plants, with a ‘pseudostem’ made up of overlapping leaf petiole sheaths that offer the leaves and flowers mechanical support. Each stem can only flower once, after which the entire stem deteriorates, drives up and collapses. The plant’s height can range from 15cm to more that 6m tall, depending on species and growing conditions.

In their nature habitat, Heliconia typically occupy clearings on the forest floor in humid tropical rainforests, especially in places where sunlight can penetrate through the leaf canopy, and also along river banks. Understanding the native growing conditions of Heliconia should aid in providing the appropriate conditions for growing them.

Habit of a Heliconia

- by Ong Chong Ren