Dormant gingers respond to heat more than anything. They don't sprout as fast as one wants, its just the way they are. They aren't sprayed with any chemicals to prevent sprouting. As for the bag method, I store dormant rhizomes in paper bags sometimes, so it definitely doesn't give them a jumpstart. In a pot, in a warm area, they will sprout fine. It will take awhile if the rhizome was in complete dormancy. If you got it out of the refrigerated produce section, chances are its going to take longer. sometimes you can luck out and find one sprouting. regardless, once established in the ground they'll establish their normal season like the rest of the gingers in your area. remember it may have come from the southern hemisphere and be really out of whack. it would still sprout though. you can chop a piece off as needed. some people have preferences and want the dormant dry stuff. in zone 6 you will need to lift them and store inside. you want them dry, but not completely in the open air, just enough to get some kind of air flow/ exchange. also, soaking doesn't help speed up the process. It is hard to do if you have kids/animals or other creatures in the way, but if put a bag of rhizomes on the floor in front of the refridgerator where the hot air blows out, they sprout pretty easily... again, not the most convienent thing but i've done some like this in late winter to get a head start on them. Tim Chapman

I'd lay off the watering until you see some signs of growth. All of my Curcuma are in the ground and have emerged from winter dormancy. You don't need to water until there is growth. Steve

My crepe ginger has never bloomed. It freezes back every winter and comes back beautifully every spring and summer. However, if it is like variegated shell ginger, it blooms on prior year growth... which is why even though we have tons of shell ginger in Jacksonville, you never see one in bloom... except sometimes close to the beach and the St. Johns River where they didn't have a hard freeze. DG, mine also lives under a tree - the magnolia, in my case. It seems to be a very happy place for a ginger. Carol

Last call! Still available: Clematis/Sweet Autumn; Plumeria Seeds; Gingers - only white butterfly and shell remaining. Water plants - miniature arrowhead; minature cat-tail [often called bullrush]; water lillies. Absolutely no freebies due to the abuse by a handful of members couple of years ago over suggested postage/not sending sasbe's etc. Sorry but I just can't be bothered with the hassle.