Ginger experiment

On By CarynIn Garden

I bought ginger root intending to make Singer’s Tea, but left it in the plastic bag for too long and it started to grow.

Photo description: ginger root with green sprout and white root shoots.

I have tried placing the root in water (yeah, this has happened before) but the water quickly grew mold and the root didn’t do well. This time I thought I would do an experiment with water storing crystals, with the idea that it might keep the root moist without drowning it. And it looks cool.

Photo description: bag of Miracle Gro water storing crystals and a clear cylindrical glass jar with about a half in of dry crystals in the bottom (this is too much, by the way)

Wow do the “crystals” absorb large quantities of water. I thought I was being conservative with the amount of dry crystals, but they absorbed all the water I put in the container, and I had to scoop some off the top. I did add some Miracle Gro fertilizer so there are nutrients in the medium. I placed the root into the container and placed the container in the front window.

Photo description: top of container filled with hydrated water “crystals” with the green ginger root shoot sticking out.

I’m not holding much hope on this experiment. The ginger shoot is not radiating happiness in its new container, but we’ll stay the course for a couple weeks to see what happens.

Update: this does not work. The ginger starts to grow, then withers.