- What is special about the flowers of the saffron root
- Flowering time and flowering period of turmeric
- How to take care of the plants after flowering
The so-called yellow or saffron root turmeric is cultivated in countries such as India or China for use as a spice and coloring agent. Among the more than 80 different turmeric varieties, there are various varieties with particularly attractive flowers, so that Curcuma alismatifolia, for example, is often sold as a flowering plant in pots.
The turmeric plant has an attractive flower
What is special about the flowers of the saffron root
The visually striking, spike-like inflorescences of the turmeric plant are located on a pseudostem that is formed from the leaf sheaths of the green leaves. The flowers are not very relevant for the propagation and cultivation of the plants, since dividing and planting the bulbous rhizomes is the simpler variant of propagation. The actual flowers are relatively inconspicuous in the saffron root. The optically more dominant part of the flowers, which appear in different colors depending on the variety, consists of colored bracts that tower over the actual flowers.
Flowering time and flowering period of turmeric
When planted out in the garden with propulsion indoors from spring, turmeric usually blooms in the summer months of June to August. With a culture on the windowsill, however, other flowering periods can also be achieved. An inflorescence can bloom for up to three weeks before dying on its own. If dead flowers are cut off relatively quickly, several inflorescences can be formed in a row over a period of about three months.
How to take care of the plants after flowering
The above-ground parts of the plant are cut off in autumn at the latest when they have wilted. Then the tubers are dug up well before the first frost and wintered dry and dark indoors at a room temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius.
When overwintering in a pot, the following advice should be considered:
- do not fertilize after September
- only water very sparingly or not at all
- hibernate in the dark (at around 15 degrees Celsius indoors).
- activate new growth by moving to a warmer place (around 22 to 24 degrees Celsius).
tips
The inflorescences of turmeric are often used as cut flowers. Alternatively, you can also easily cultivate the plant in a pot on the windowsill or in the conservatory.