Growing and Using Shampoo Ginger: A Gardener's Guide
Shampoo ginger aka Awapuhi is one of my most prized plants in my garden. This tropical plant produces bright red flower cones filled with a fragrant liquid that's an all-natural shampoo and perfect for body products due to its moisturizing properties.
In this blog post, I'll walk you through my expert tips on growing shampoo ginger so you can be successful in cultivating it at home. I'll also share how I use the liquid from the plant and answer some frequently asked questions about shampoo ginger.
Check out the video version of how to grow shampoo ginger here:
What is Shampoo Ginger?
Maybe this is your first time hearing about this unique plant. Shampoo ginger, or awapuhi, is native to Southeast Asia and widely cultivated in Hawaii. It's part of the ginger family, related to culinary ginger and turmeric. The plant is known for its bright red or green cone-shaped flowers, which produce a fragrant liquid used as shampoo, conditioner, or skin moisturizer.
Why Grow Shampoo Ginger?
The liquid from shampoo ginger has soap-like properties, helping to smooth hair, reduce frizz, and combat dandruff. It’s also known to promote hair growth. Plus, it hydrates and nourishes dry or damaged skin. The rhizomes are edible too, often used in Hawaiian cooking, although they have a milder and bitter flavor compared to regular ginger.
Growing Shampoo Ginger: Understanding Its Life Cycle
To grow shampoo ginger, understanding its life cycle is key. This plant propagates through an extensive rhizome network just beneath the soil. It's not grown from seeds, so you'll need a piece from the rhizome network. This plant loves heat and thrives during the summer. Later in fall and winter, the plant goes dormant and all of its upper vegetative growth will die back. As long as the root system under the ground is healthy and does not die from a freeze, it will re-sprout in spring.
Finding Shampoo Ginger Plants
Finding shampoo ginger can be a challenge as it's seasonal. In summer, I can easily locate rhizomes, but in fall, once foliage dies back, I have to wait until late spring for new growth in order to find them. You might find them at local nurseries or online. Depending on the season and stock, I sell shampoo ginger plants on my website HERE.
Planting Tips for Shampoo Ginger
If you're in a warmer climate where the ground doesn't freeze, you can plant it directly into the ground. Just be cautious, as the rhizomes spread and can quickly become a large bushy patch. In smaller gardens, growing shampoo ginger in grow bags or containers can help control its spread. In colder climates, grow it in containers and bring it indoors during winter, or dig out rhizomes to store until spring.
Ideal Growing Conditions For Shampoo Ginger
Shampoo ginger grows best with bright morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant it under trees or fruit trees to protect it from the harshest sun. It's not fussy about soil – I've grown it in native sandy Florida soil with minimal amendments. It loves consistent moisture but not standing water, as this can rot the rhizomes.
Blooming and Harvesting Shampoo Ginger Liquid
The time it takes for shampoo ginger to bloom depends on the maturity of the rhizome network. In ideal conditions, plants grown from existing rhizomes can bloom within a year. The blooms are pine cone-shaped, turning red as they mature. They produce a hydrating, floral-scented liquid, perfect for bath products. Squeeze the cones gently to release the liquid, which can be stored in the refridgerator to last 3 to 7 days. Or you can freeze the liquid in ice cube trays and use as needed.
Using Shampoo Ginger Liquid
This liquid is excellent for skin and hair. Rub it directly onto the skin or use as a hair mask after washing, leaving it on for 20 minutes before rinsing. It can leave hair feeling greasy if not rinsed out.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Shampoo Ginger Toxic? No, it is nontoxic so should be fine if accidently ingested by animals, pets, or other humans. However, it does not taste that great so I dont reccomend eating.
2. Does It Suds Up Like Soap? It has mild sudsing properties but it will not suds up or make a lot of bubbles like regular soap. I like to mix it into other products like shampoo or castile soap for more bubbles.
3. Does It Make Hair Greasy? I find that if I do not rinse out the shampoo ginger from my hair, it can leave a greasy feeling. Therefore, use it as a hair mask for 20 minutes and then rinse off.
4. Is Shampoo Ginger Edible? The roots are edible in small amounts, and used in some Hawaiian dishes. It does not have a strong flavor like culinary ginger.
5. Is It Safe for Sensitive Skin? Generally, yes, but try a patch test first.
6. How Often Can It Be Used? Use it as often as you would like.
7. Can You Buy Shampoo Ginger Liquid? Shampoo ginger liquid has no preservatives and goes bad in about 3 days if left at room temperature. Beacuse of this I do not sell and ship shampoo ginger liquid.
Further Uses and Recipes
Shampoo ginger can replace aloe vera in recipes for soaps and other bath products. If you have any unique uses or recipes, please share in the comments.
Shelf Stable Shampoo Ginger Hair Shampoo Recipe
HERE is the blog post with directions for shampoo ginger hair shampoo or watch the video tutorial below.
Here is the blog post with directions for shampoo ginger body butter or watch the video tutorial below.