Shampoo ginger lily plant

Shampoo ginger lily (Zingiber zerumbet) is a tropical flowering plant within the ginger household that grows from underground rhizomes. This herbaceous perennial has pinecone-shaped purple flowers and slim inexperienced leaves. The crops develop effectively in moist climates and usually attain 3-5 ft tall and 2-3 ft large. Sap from the flowers can be utilized for hair care.

Introduction to the shampoo ginger lily

The shampoo ginger lily (Zingiber zerumbet) is a flowering herbaceous plant within the ginger household Zingiberaceae. This plant is often grown for each its roots and its flowers. Its rhizomes can be utilized in cooking, and its flower-like inflorescences comprise clear sap that can be utilized as a hair care product.

This plant is native to the tropics of Southeast Asia, together with areas of India, China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It’s additionally been launched into some hotter areas of the world, together with Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Madagascar, Queensland, and Fiji.

Widespread names for Zingiber zerumbet embrace shampoo ginger lily, shampoo ginger, shampoo lily, bitter ginger, pinecone lily, and beehive ginger. In Hawaii, the place it was initially launched as a canoe plant, it’s known as ‘Awapuhi or Awapuhi Kuahiwi. In India, the plant is named Avanti. 

Shampoo ginger lily (Zingiber zerumbet) isn’t a real “lily” plant within the botanical sense, as it’s within the ginger household (Zingiberaceae) moderately than the lily household (Liliaceae). This tropical plant and might solely be grown open air reliably in USDA Zones 10-12. Gardeners in Zones 8-9 could possibly hold this plant rising open air whether it is in a protected surroundings away from frost and frozen soil.

Plant care fundamentals

Firstly, shampoo ginger lily requires well-draining soil and a location with partial shade or dappled daylight. Harsh solar can scortch the plant (particularly in a dry setting). Water the plant commonly, however make sure to let the soil dry out barely between waterings. Overwatering can result in root rot, so it’s necessary to be conscious of the moisture ranges within the soil.

Fertilize your lilies as soon as a month through the rising season (spring and summer time) with a balanced fertilizer. Keep away from over-fertilizing (past bundle instructions), as this could result in foliage progress on the expense of flowers and even burn the plant.

When it comes to pests, shampoo ginger lily is comparatively proof against most typical plant pests. Nevertheless, be looking out for mealybugs, which could be managed with a powerful spray of water or an natural insecticidal cleaning soap.

To encourage wholesome progress and flowering, it’s a good suggestion to prune your shampoo ginger lily commonly. Take away any useless or broken foliage as wanted, and reduce the stems of the plant by a few third after it finishes flowering.

The right way to plant shampoo ginger lily

Shampoo lily could be grown as a houseplant, a container patio plant, or within the floor the place temperatures usually stay above freezing (Zones 9-12). Potted crops are usually accessible within the spring in tropical plant nurseries, or you possibly can order dormant bulbs within the wintertime/wet season.

Rising shampoo ginger in a pot

To plant shampoo ginger lily in a pot, select a container with drainage holes and fill it with a well-draining potting combine. Place the plant within the pot and gently tamp down the soil across the roots to safe it in place. Water the plant totally and place it in a location with keen on full solar.

Rising shampoo ginger within the floor

Should you stay in a tropical local weather and wish to plant shampoo ginger lilies within the floor, select a location with well-draining soil and keen on full solar. Dig a gap that’s simply barely bigger than the basis ball of the plant, and thoroughly place the plant within the shallow gap. Tamp down the soil across the roots to safe the plant in place, and water it totally.

Care after planting

In both case, make sure to water the plant commonly, however permit the soil to dry out barely between waterings to stop root rot. Fertilize the plant as soon as a month through the rising season with a balanced fertilizer, and prune it commonly to encourage wholesome progress and flowering. With correct care, your shampoo ginger lily ought to thrive in both a pot or within the floor within the tropics.

Should you’ve planted a dormant rhizome as a substitute of buying a potted plant, anticipate the stalks of leaves to seem within the spring earlier than the flower does. The flower stalks will usually sprout up from the bottom within the summertime. The flowers begin as a inexperienced colour however flip purple as they fill with liquid and mature.

The right way to take care of shampoo lily crops indoors

Shampoo ginger lily is beginning to grow to be extra frequent as a houseplant. Basically, these crops want vibrant however oblique gentle, extra water than another houseplants, and heat, humid air.

Shampoo ginger lily prefers vibrant, oblique gentle. Place the plant close to a window that will get loads of gentle, however make sure to defend it from direct daylight, which may scorch the leaves. If your own home doesn’t get a lot pure gentle, this plant will often flower greatest close to a synthetic plant gentle.

Water the plant commonly, however make sure to permit the soil to dry out barely between waterings. Overwatering can result in root rot, so make sure to test the moisture ranges within the soil earlier than watering. Strive to not let the complete pot get too dry – simply let the highest inch or two of soil dry out earlier than you water once more.

Fertilize the plant as soon as a month through the rising season (spring and summer time) with a balanced fertilizer. Keep away from over-fertilizing with nitrogen, as this could result in foliage progress on the expense of flowers.

Shampoo ginger lily wants heat, humid situations to thrive. Preserve the temperature within the vary of 60-80°F. Complete home or bigger humidifiers are one of the simplest ways to maintain indoor air persistently humid, however you possibly can briefly improve humidity by misting the plant or putting it on a humidity tray.

Be looking out for pests similar to mealybugs, which could be managed with a powerful spray of water or natural insecticidal cleaning soap. These crops may also get spider mites and fungus gnats, relying on whether or not the plant is overly dry or overly moist.

Harvesting shampoo ginger lily

The rhizomes could be harvested at any time, however they’re usually at their largest and most flavorful in late summer time or early fall. To reap the rhizomes, gently dig across the base of the plant utilizing a backyard fork or shovel.

Watch out to not harm the rhizomes or the plant itself. After getting uncovered the rhizomes, gently elevate them out of the soil and minimize off any seen roots. The rhizomes can then be washed, sliced, minced, or floor right into a powder as wanted for cooking.

Cooking with bitter ginger (shampoo ginger)

When utilized in cooking, Zingiber zerumbet is often generally known as bitter ginger. The flavour is extra bitter than different varieties of ginger. Older, extra wizened rhizomes are extra bitter than youthful ones. It’s also possible to use the younger shoots for a less-bitter choice.

Its root is utilized in cooking as a spice, and it has a spicy, pungent taste just like common ginger ( however extra bitter). In some Asian cuisines, it’s used so as to add taste to soups, stews, and stir-fries. It can be used to make ginger tea or different drinks.

The basis could be sliced or minced and added to a recipe. Like common culinary ginger, it can be dried, floor right into a powder, and used as a seasoning.

Utilizing shampoo ginger lily for hair care

This plant can be used for hair care. The purple pinecone-shaped inflorescences produce a sap that acts like a conditioning shampoo. The liquid extract can carry each shine and softness to your hair with out stripping it of its pure oils.

The liquid should be extracted from the flower-like inflorescence for use for hair care. Extraction is mostly completed by squeezing the cone along with your arms till the clear serum squishes out.

Apply the gel-like substance to your moist hair and rub it in. Like another pure shampoo merchandise, it is not going to lather like a standard shampoo. But it surely does a superb job of cleansing the roots of the hair because it acts as a detergent. It doesn’t depart a residue and makes your hair really feel fairly smooth after you rinse it out.

You possibly can depart the flowers on the plant and squeeze the liquid right into a jar. It’s also possible to take the flower into the bathe with you (rigorously) and squeeze it there. Should you’re fortunate sufficient to have an outside bathe, you possibly can depart the flowers on the plant and also you may not even want a jar!

The sap doesn’t hold effectively and is greatest used when recent. When ginger is utilized in shelf-stable hair merchandise (just like the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger line), the roots are usually dried and used as a substitute.

Propagating shampoo ginger lily

If in case you have a shampoo ginger lily plant and wish to propagate it, you possibly can simply accomplish that by dividing the rhizomes (underground stem). Right here’s how:

Select a wholesome, mature shampoo ginger lily plant to propagate. The plant ought to have a number of rhizomes and be in good well being.
Fastidiously dig up the plant or take away it from its pot, taking care to not harm the roots.
Brush off as a lot soil as doable. You possibly can even wash the roots to get a superb take a look at the fleshy rhizomes.
Gently separate the rhizomes of the plant. Attempt to depart a number of shoots arising from every part. It’s often best to slice the rhizomes into sections utilizing a clear, sharp knife. Every rhizome ought to have a number of stems w/leaves and roots connected.
Plant every rhizome part in a person pot crammed with a well-draining potting combine.
Water the rhizomes totally, and hold the soil moist however not muddy or soggy.
Place the pots with their planted rhizomes in a location with vibrant, oblique gentle, and hold the temperature within the vary of 60-80°F.
Because the rhizomes set up themselves and begin to develop, make sure to water them commonly and fertilize them as soon as a month through the rising season with a balanced fertilizer.