Turmeric plants grown outdoors delight the gardener's heart with their magnificent flowers for at least three weeks in summer. With their fresh green leaves, the plants also look very attractive throughout the rest of the growing season.
What do the leaves of turmeric plants look like and how should you care for them?
Turmeric plants have elongated, alternate leaves up to 90 cm long. They form a false trunk and often reach a height of 80-100 cm. Of course, the leaves wilt in autumn, there is no need to worry. Protect plants from extreme heat and direct sunlight to avoid damage.
Shape and structure of the leaves
As a rule, turmeric plants in pots or in outdoor beds can reach a height of around 80 to 100 cm. The leaf sheaths of the leaves arranged one above the other form a so-called pseudo-stem. The elongated leaves, up to a maximum of 90 cm long, are arranged alternately and usually have a pointed end. The spike-like inflorescences of turmeric, which at first glance appear very conspicuous, actually consist of rather inconspicuous flowers and bracts that contrast in color with the green of the plants. These tapered bracts on the flowers are the reason why turmeric is so important as a decorative houseplant. But more important in terms of cultivation are the rhizomes, which have given the turmeric plants the following names:
- Turmeric
- Saffron Root
- Yellow Ginger
Don’t panic about wilting turmeric leaves
We always read about hobby gardeners who, after an initially pleasant summer, dispose of their turmeric plants on the compost heap in frustration. Care errors are then usually suspected to be the reasons why the plants died in the fall. In reality, however, this is a misunderstanding: After all, it is completely normal for the different types of turmeric that the flowers and leaves die off after a growing season and the plants retreat into their underground survival organ in the form of a rhizome. So wear it with composure and remove wilting leaves in the fall without resentment. You can either dig up the tubers or overwinter them in the pot in the house. In spring you can first plant the tubers in a pot indoors and then put the young plants back outdoors from May onwards.
Check the leaves regularly for pest infestation
Turmeric is often grown from tubers and cultivated on the windowsill or in the winter garden. At high temperatures and low humidity, the house can sometimes become infested with spider mites. You should therefore regularly check the leaves for the typical white webs and, if necessary, remove them from specialist retailers with a sharp jet of water or appropriate treatment products (€28.00 on Amazon).
Tip
The leaves of turmeric can be sensitive to extreme heat, dryness and intense sunlight. The plants should therefore, if possible, not be planted in the blazing sun and in locations prone to heat accumulation.
