7 Causes of Dying Ginger Plant and How to Fix It?

Plants like ginger are great for gardeners because they are hardy. It’s also delicious and perfect for indoor gardening. However, ginger can sometimes have problems growing. Ginger plants usually die because they’re not watered properly, have too much light, are supposed to be at the wrong temperature, have insufficient humidity, are not fertilized, or have diseases. You probably need to know why your ginger plant is dying to resolve the problem. We will discuss the common causes of ginger plants dying in this article, as well as preventative measures, treatments, and solutions.

7 Causes of Dying Ginger Plant

Too Much Light Cause Ginger Plants to Die

The ginger plant likes heat. It does not mean, however, that they prefer too much light. A light that is indirect and bright is necessary for ginger to grow. The leaves will brown if they receive too much direct light. Moreover, watering properly can make it more difficult because the soil will dry out faster.

If ginger is on a window sill or outside in the sun, move it somewhere in partial shade. The leaves should still receive sunlight, just not much of it directly on them. When you have an outside ginger plant, place it under a tree, on a deck, or in your house corner where it will be shaded. Ginger plants can also benefit from shade from taller plants nearby, as long as the roots have enough space.

Incorrect Growing Temperature Can Cause Ginger Plants to Die

As a tropical plant, ginger prefers heat. The temperature is moderate, and much heat (or direct sunlight) can be harmful. Ginger grows best at a temperature range of 24-30°C. Plants thrive when this occurs. Besides this range, it can tolerate heat up to a few degrees higher. It may survive to -6°C in cold temperatures, but it will likely go dormant. In other words, leaves will die off, but rhizomes will survive until temperatures rise enough for them to re-grow.

Keeping ginger alive all year is easy since it is a perennial that grows vigorously. Ensure the temperature does not drop below 15°C so the plant does not go dormant. As long as you’re growing indoors, you shouldn’t have a problem. It may be impossible to prevent dormancy outside unless you live in a warm climate. During the colder months, you can always bring your ginger indoors to continue growing.

Lack of Humidity Can Cause Ginger Plants to Die

Since ginger is a tropical plant, it prefers a lot of humidity. Dry air can adversely affect ginger plants and even cause them to die. It’s not as difficult to grow ginger outside unless you live in an area with dry air. Due to dry and stagnant home air, this can often be a problem. You can boost the humidity of your ginger plants in various ways.

Misting ginger plants every day will provide them with the humidity they need, whether they are grown outdoors or indoors. Water and a misting bottle are all you need for this, which can be found at most gardening stores for a reasonable price.
A pebble tray can be used. Your plant will benefit from a tray of pebbles placed near its base. Pebbles could be evenly distributed in the drainage tray. Water should then be added. As the water evaporates, more humidity will be added to the air. Adding more water to the tray when it runs out of water is all needed.

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Lack of Fertilizer Can Cause Ginger Plants to Die

The soil should be rich in nutrients for ginger to grow successfully. Giving your ginger plant fertilizer or compost a few times a year will help increase its crop and keep it healthy. When ginger doesn’t get enough nutrition, the edges of the leaves brown, and the centers turn yellow. Your ginger plant may be malnourished, and you should address the issue. It can be fixed easily.

The only corrective action you must take is to feed your ginger some nutrients. Well-balanced fertilizers can be used for this purpose. Another great option is to use compost or compost tea. Ginger does require nutrients, but they do not need to be applied constantly. Ginger fertilizer should be applied twice a year to maintain its growth. If your ginger goes dormant in winter, you won’t need to fertilize it again until spring.

Watering Problems Can Cause Ginger Plants to Die

It is usually a sign that your ginger plant isn’t getting enough water when its leaves start turning brown and looking dry. When it comes to watering, ginger is fairly hardy but does not like being completely dry. In this case, it will begin to struggle. You should wait until the top bit of soil dries out, then soak the soil to prevent your ginger from dying. The plants usually need watering once or twice a week.

Ensure the plant has good drainage holes if it is in a pot. Although ginger enjoys water, waterlogged soil is not a good place to grow it. In addition, avoid watering too much before the plant has taken root, as this can hinder roots from spreading and cause growth problems. Ginger leaves will bounce back if you water them when the soil is dry and the leaves turn brown.

Ginger Plant Diseases That Cause Plants to Die

You might end up with a dying ginger plant if your ginger plant gets diseases that slow its growth. Even though these diseases are difficult to treat, many can be prevented. It eventually causes the plant to die by discoloring its rhizomes and stems gray. Bacterial wilt thrives on moisture, so prevent overwatering your ginger plants. Prevent the plant from having any open wounds on the plant. Rhizome rot is similar to root rot, but ginger is much more susceptible. In the case of this disease, the roots and rhizome of your ginger will turn soft and mushy.

There may be a change from white to black roots that are soft to the touch. Get rid of the infected plant right away if you notice this happening. Finally, leaf spot causes white spots on ginger leaves. Eventually, these spots will spread, and the plant will wilt and die. When you notice infected leaves, remove them to prevent them from spreading. According to some gardeners, Neem oil is effective in treating bacterial wilt and leaf spot.

Ginger Plant Pests That Cause Plants to Die

Many pests can damage and even kill the plant, including thrips, aphids, slugs, rhizome flies, scales, rose beetles, nematodes, etc. Some bugs destroy the internal tissues, while the sap is sucked and others kill the plant. Leaves are skeletonized by some bugs that feed on them. As a means of controlling these pest infestations,

Neem oil can be used to remove them. Bugs can be effectively and naturally removed with this method.
The release of natural predators for scales and aphids is highly recommended. By feeding on them, they keep your plant bug-free.
Keep weeds under control to prevent infestations.
To eliminate thrips, the soil should be sprayed with a 50% dichlorvos solution or a 40% dimethoate solution.

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Conclusion

You can save your ginger plant even if it dies. You can save your plant by observing, identifying the signs, and taking immediate action. However, if you ignore the signs and let the plant be, it will eventually die. If you’re a beginner and confused about the signs, this article may be helpful for you to understand the problems, fix them, and get your plant going again.

7 Causes of Dying Ginger Plant and How to Fix It?