La Turmeric alismatifolia es a tropical plant native to northern Thailand and from Cambodia. It is popularly known by the names Summer Tulip and Siam Tulip although they are not associated with tulips at all. It belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae cformed by about 80 species of Asian origin, specifically from the Southeast, among them is the alismatifolia, turmeric longa, domestic turmeric y cedoaria turmeric.
Main characteristics of the Turmeric alismatifolia
This plant produces flowering in the summer seasonBy then, a central spike of approximately 20 cm can be observed, which has bracts of large size and two colors, those in the lower part are green while those in the upper part are pink.
Its leaves are very showy due to its long shiny pods whose nerves are remarkable and can grow up to a meter in height. While the flowers are small and very pretty thanks to their violet color combined with yellow. In fact, is a plant with high aesthetic value that frequently It is used to decorate various spaces, both as a plant and as a cut flower. Turmeric It is a plant that is known for its rapid growth and liveliness.
Care
Irrigation should be moderate avoiding generating water wells in the substrate. When the summer is ending they should be made less frequent until they have lost all the leaves, restarting the irrigation in the spring since the plant takes a vegetative rest in the autumn.
It needs to be fertilized with mineral fertilizer every fifteen days only in the summer season. If you are going to plant it in a pot, make sure it is wide enough, since the rhizome grows a lot. It does not require pruning as such, rather it is necessary to eliminate the dry parts or that are damaged, to avoid the appearance of diseases.
It's important to know that If we over-water the plant, the roots will rot and the damage will be irreparable. Likewise, the multiplication of turmeric occurs by dividing the rhizome, at the end of winter. During the autumn the rhizomes of the plant will dry out which is normal, however it is essential to keep it in a cool space with temperatures around 17º C. At the beginning of spring the first shoots should begin to appear and by then it is necessary to return to normal care.
In the same way, special attention should be paid to the fact that in winter times the temperature does not drop below 17º C, because this would be quite detrimental to the production of the flowers. And just as you have to take care of them from low temperatures, also in summer you have to take care of them from exposure to temperatures above 35º C, since the growth of the plant will be very compromised.
The cultivation can be done in two ways, in the soil of the garden or in a pot and as you will see it is quite easy to take care of it, in addition it grows very fast. Regarding its durability, it will depend on the environmental conditions and the care you give it, being able to live up to 3 years. To plant the rhizomes outside the house, for example a garden, it is advisable to do it in spring, so that you can avoid frost and the risk they pose to turmeric.
What uses are known Turmeric alismatifolia?
Its use is mainly aesthetic or ornamental and it should not be confused with the other species that are eaten or used to make products for the cosmetology area. With the passage of time it acquires more decorative value and that is because it is a fresh-looking plant that pleases the eye and improves the mood of people when you see it, so do not lose sight of it.