Gardens grow and change. The plants we plant today may expand until they overgrow their allocated space. Many perennials, herbaceous tropicals and ornamental grasses not only will grow larger but multiply to form masses of plants.

Gardens grow and change. The plants we plant today may expand until they overgrow their allocated space. Many perennials, herbaceous tropicals and ornamental grasses not only will grow larger but multiply to form masses of plants.
Periodically, many plants need to be thinned out or divided. Division is a way to start new plants, but it also can reduce overall plant size and restore vigor to struggling plants growing in overcrowded conditions.
Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) is one of the plants that commonly grow larger than the gardener expects, both in height and width. Ginger grows from thick fleshy underground horizontal stems called rhizomes. New leaves emerge from the bottom throughout the year.
If your ginger is getting out of control, take a shovel and begin cutting out sections that can be planted to begin new clumps in your yard or shared with neighbors. As you cut out ginger, you will probably notice new sprouts or growing points along the rhizomes. These are the most important parts to protect.
If you go to plant the ginger again, you may find that the new limited root system won't support the large emerging stems and leaves of the ginger. Many times most of the aboveground stems are cut back to about 2 feet or 3 feet, leaving only the lowest leaves on each stem. New shoots usually will arise quickly from the ground.
Common banana plants (Musa acuminata) and canna lilies (Canna sp.) also are staples in South Texas landscapes that quickly multiply. Applying the same principles of periodic division and removal with these tropicals will he