HYDROPONIC GINGER & TUMERIC PRODUCTION
Potted
,s
as attra pouted rhizo
ctive h
mes ca
ousep
n be g
lants.
rown
Small buds forming on ginger rhizomes
kept in a warm kitchen after purchase
are common, but turmeric often needs
to be sprouted under warm and moist
conditions before the young sprouts will
form and become large enough to see.
Turmeric contains plenty of buds on
the sides and ends of the rhizomes, and
even old and dried up rhizomes can
“
OPTIMAL GROWING
MIXES DURING THE
PROPAGATION STAGE
ARE STERILIZED PERLITE,
VERMICULITE, COCONUT
FIBER OR ROCKWOOL.”
spring back to life once planted out into
moist substrates. Fresh rhizomes can
be broken into fingers or side shoots to
increase the number of plants obtained
from each—even small sections of
rhizome usually contain at least one bud
that will form a new shoot and young
roots once planted.
Optimal growing mixes during the
propagation stage are sterilized perlite,
vermiculite, coconut fiber, or rockwool,
which helps retain moisture but at the
same time, won’t become oversaturated.
Pieces of rhizome are pushed into the
growing substrate in a shallow tray to
a depth of around two inches with any
visible buds facing upwards. The tray
is then best placed on a heated propagation mat or pad to speed up the rate
of shoot formation. Ideal temperatures
surrounding the rhizome pieces are
around 82-90oF in the growing media
at this stage. Buds should start to swell
and grow along the sides of the rhizomes
within two to four weeks, and as they
emerge, young roots will form around
the base of the shoot.
THE FIRST SHOOT
Initial early development of young turmeric rhizomes.
110
Maximum Yield USA | January 2017
After the first leaf has emerged and
unfurled, the sprouted rhizome can be
transplanted to a larger container or
growing bed and the first application of
dilute nutrient solution applied. As the
rhizomes are developing the first shoot,
a moderate level of light that is typically
used in a propagation area for clones