Ruby spice is a plant that is native to the tropical regions of the world. It is a member of the ginger family and is used as a spice in many cuisines. The flesh of the ruby spice plant is red and has a strong, pungent flavor. The plant is used fresh, dried, or powdered.
Related plant:
Hydrangea Quercifolia Ruby Slippers
Related plant:
Ficus Elastica Ruby
About soil condition, ruby spice can be summed up in one word: forgiving. This plant is not too particular about the quality of the soil, as long as it is well-drained. In fact, ruby spice actually prefers poorer soils, as they tend to be more drainable. That being said, if your soil is on the sandy side, you may want to add a bit of organic matter to help retain moisture.
Similar to other spices, ruby spice requires sun light to grow. It should be planted in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. If you live in an area with shorter days, you can supplement with grow lights. Ruby spice likes well-drained soil and should be fertilized every few weeks.
The temperature was perfect for a cup of ruby spice tea. I added a little bit of honey to sweeten it up and took a sip. The warmth of the tea felt good going down and the spice was just the right amount. I felt myself relax and the stress of the day melted away. It was the perfect way to end my evening.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is between 40 and 50%. Too much humidity will make the leaves turn yellow and encourage fungal growth, while too little will cause the leaves to drop off. The plant should be watered regularly, but allowed to dry out somewhat between waterings. Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season.
Regarding fertilizer, this plant does best with a light application of a well-balanced fertilizer applied regularly throughout the growing season. A root stimulator may also be used to encourage strong root growth. As far as watering, the soil should be kept moist but not soggy.
Pruning is an important part of caring for your ruby spice plant. Pruning helps the plant to stay healthy and produce more flowers. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or dying branches. Cut back any branches that are growing too close to the main stem of the plant. You can also trim back any branches that are growing out of control.
Propagation is the process of creating new plants from existing ones. Ruby spice plants can be propagated from seed, division, or cuttings. When propagating from seed, it is best to start them indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Division can be done in the spring or fall. To propagate from cuttings, take a four-inch cutting from a healthy plant and root it in a pot of moistened perlite or sand. Keep the cutting in a bright, warm place and water it regularly.
Usually, the plant growth rate experiments have shown that the plant grows relatively slowly. However, some studies have found that the growth rate of ruby spice can be quite fast when the plant is grown in ideal conditions. When grown in rich soil and given plenty of water, ruby spice can grow up to 2 feet tall in just a few months. When grown in poorer conditions, the plant may only grow a few inches tall in the same time period.
Common problems for this kind of plant are that the leaves turn yellow and fall off, the plant becomes stunted, and the flowers are small and insignificant. These problems are usually caused by too much water, too little light, or too much fertilizer. To fix these problems, make sure to water your ruby spice plant regularly, give it plenty of light, and fertilize it sparingly.
Source:
Special Programs Institute For Career Excitement | Registered
The Spice Home Page
SPICE - a brief overview - University of Pennsylvania
