This is the first time I've ever grown pinecone Ginger. How do I know when the time is right to collect the liquid in the cones? Also to use it for shampoo do I use it plain or add something to it?

Ginger growing ginger! I'm going to tag @Gina1960 because I just tend to grow hedychium. Interested to see what she says!

Awapuhi (Zinger zerumbet, Shampoo Ginger) is one of the original 24 'canoe plants' brought by exploring Polynesians to Hawaii way back in the wayback. The pinecone should be squeezed when it is ripe and red. Which, unfortunately, is late season, because they go dormant after they turn bright red and mature. So its kind of a short shampoo season. The stuff that comes out isn't nectar, its called mucilage. I am getting ready to start squeezing mine, they are getting ripe.

Interesting...so do you squeeze when they are red or before? Mine are still green

Its suggested that the best result will be when red. But I think that there is still substance that can be squeezed out when green. I'll do an experiment with some not ripe yet ones.

Thanks, Gina...appreciate that 👍. Excited to try it out as shampoo. Do you add anything to it or just as is??

just as is

Cool...a new adventure 😏😏

OK I got me a not ripe one. Gonna squeeze it tomorrow. Will document with pics. You guys are so much fun LOL

I am on the edge of my seat!

On the edge of my tub here waiting on home grown shampoo 😁😏

LOL!!!

Who else would care about this???? Not many LOL

I think a lot of people would love to "grow their own" shampoo (or anything - everything's so expensive!) Even if they can only get enough for a special treat sometimes or only end up doing it once.

The thing would be figuring out how to have it year round. Zingiber zerumbet goes dormant in winter. As soon isn the pinecone turn red, its just a matter of time. Awapuhi extract in shampoo (commercial) is only possible through chemistry. Otherwise its a seasonal thing

And that folks is Shampoo 101 😂

Well green worked too. I picked a really small one, and got probably 1/3 cup of extract...way more than I needed for my hair length. It works great, but...if you are expecting it to lather up, it doesn;t. Its kind of like a thick rinse you just work it through you hair. But you don;t need to use conditioner after....leaves your hair really soft and completely detangled

How fun is that?!

Thanks Gina and Ginger, I am so tempted to try growing them.

Lol, Kabby...don't thank ME yet. This is my first time, but have to admit I'm pretty excited. Got mine at a local wildflower festival...may just have to go again and get more