not totally sure what you are saying, but I'm assuming you are pulling off all of the storage roots of the boesenbergia. I've noticed some in the markets tend to be quite damaged. If the roots (i assume this is what you are calling fingers) are broken then they can rot, and of course aren't going to help the plant out. On a normally healthy rhizome though, removing the storage roots is only going to slow the growth down considerably. It may also be that you are starting with a dormant plant and watering too much in the beginning, causing the rot. The flower on these is attractive (at close up) but quite small and somewhat obscured. easy plant to grow though. Tim Chapman

Indiana winters are a lot colder than in Florida. While cardamom does well outdoors in summer and likes it on the cool side our Northeastern winters are much too harsh for the plants to be kept outside year round. Giving it a good summer vacation outdoors would surely help plant gorwth. Will - I don't know of anyone who has succesfully gotten them to bloom.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Posted by nygardener z6 New York (My Page) on Fri, Dec 21, 07 at 22:16 There is a (reputedly) edible cold-hardy ginger, Asarum canadense, which is sold as a ground cover for a shady, woodland spot. Oh yeah any one else know this plant? was pretty excited to see it posted here. I can truley verify its Cold Super Hardiness For it grows all over around here in the wild and its darn near zone 2 here. Not really what you would think of as a ginger though. Taste is much differnt-closer to galangal. And the root"lets" are tiny little things. mayber the size of a one inch piece of pencil. But It is a gorgeous little ground coverwith heart shaper leaves and My personal favorite wildflowere, seriously, ok one of them. a truely unique looking flower, split in thirds,that hides completely unknown under a miniature jungle canopy an inch off the ground to be pollinated by beattles I believe or something the like. Maybe its not cold enough for the rest of you though? thats a first. I magine having to dig them up in the fall, pot, and store in your chest freezer! rediculous.

Thanks Jay. I look at it this way, whatever going to make it through this winter will probably not going to die anytime soon and this kind of freak weather probably won't occur for another 10 years so there's no where to go but up from here. I'm not too bum about it. I noticed your imbe, their looking good. I also have one too. It is quite cool tolerant. Read somewhere that it is graft compatible with a mangosteen but haven't been able to confirm it yet. Also what is the name of the pineapple your growing there? Red, have you tasted the capulin cherry before? I had some before and wasn't really pleased by it.