Don't know if I can tell you exactly where to make the cut, but here's one way. Our town picks up yard waste and composts it, and then residents can go to the compost site and pick it up. A friend of mine picked up some compost and mulched her beds and Costus speciosus came up all over where she used the compost. I got mine from her, as she had a LOT of it. Can't think it's awfully hard to propagate.

The cupped ligules is a characteristic of the form of Costus vinosus that is common in horticulture, but it is not necessarily a character that distinguishes the species. There might be forms of this species that do not have cupped ligules. The same is true of Costus productus, which has forms with cupped ligules (in horticulture they are called 'Emerald Chalice' and 'Maroon Chalice') and the more common form without cupped ligules (usually sold under the wrong name of Costus curvibracteatus). It is impossible to tell for certain without seeing flowers, but your plant looks very much like Costus laevis. In the third picture from the top, the young folige near the ground has the characteristic silvery sheen of Costus laevis along the midrib. I went to the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica this summer to study the Costus there, and this species was by far the most common, so I saw lots of it and can recognize it pretty well from the foliage. The coloration varies with maturity of the leaves and depending on the shade condition. Suggest you check and compare the photos of Costus laevis on my website against your plant. By the way, I have just finished updating my website with over a thousand new photos and have added a new search engine to search the images. Here is a link that might be useful: All About Gingers

Hi, I purchased several bare root Curcuma Scarlet Fever plants (sold as C. 'Red Giant') last fall and received little growing info with them so I potted them and kept them on my visqueen-enclosed patio for the winter. Despite the freeze protection their leaves still died back, so I wasn't sure if this was natural for the plant (like the beautiful big ginger I have in the ground, the name of which I know only as "Hidden Ginger Lily") or if they were all dying. I put the leafless pots outside along the north wall of the house after the last frost and all three pots now have beautiful, healthy new deep red stalks with large green leaves. YAY! A special thank you goes to birdlady liz for the very helpful info on cultivation of these beautiful plants; now I know where to plant them and how to care for them in the ground next winter. Can anyone tell me if the C. Scarlet Fever blooms, and if so, a little about the blossoms? Thanks so much for your help. Happy gardening, y'all! Patricia

I have several costus gingers, I could trade with you, if you are still interested. Do you have other rooted passion vines? We have traded twice before. If you don't hear from me right away, it's because we lost power from another hurricane. But I will get back to you. I'll be honest, the postage on the tubers will be high, so I'll need it to be worth my expense.:)