Curcuma rubescens (at least the form grown here in the US) is a pretty vigorous species, and it should not hurt it much either way. It creates the running type of rhizomes (the fingers)and spreads quite rapidly to fill a bed, especially with a little helpful dividing once a year. The winter temperatures should not make much difference in that range - well above freezing, but if you are having a particularly wet winter, that might be keeping it going unnaturally.

How long have you been growing it there? Has it had time to acclimize to the southern hemisphere yet? I know that some deciduous gingers have problems adjusting when moved from southern to northern hemisphere, or visa versa. Could that be what is going on?

Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com

Hi Dave,

How are you? I often visit your page it is one of the more informative on gingers and has been very helpful.

I bought the plant 2 summers ago so this is the second time I have wintered it. First winter it died back completely, when it broke dormancy it went like the clappers, I had to repot it every 2 weeks until I just gave up and put it in the garden where it proceeded to grow to about 1.3m.
It has yellowed a little but from memory it has the red margin in the leaves. It hasn't flowered since I have had it.

We have had a damp winter so that may be the reason, I have others but they have all gone to bed.

Thanks for the help anymore that you can offer would be well received.

Ree

I have had Curcuma rubescens for over six years and still no flowers. It grows vigorously, the foliage looks great, but nothing I have tried has induced it to bloom. What's more I have never seen it flowering anywhere else, nor seen photos of flowers for this one.

Has anyone else here gotten flowers on this species?

Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com

I found a few with google images but I can't get the link to work.
the one here is the same as the photo on my plant tags address is www.pacificbulbsociety.org.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Ree