Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!
Pine Cone Ginger - Zingiber Zerumbet, Shampoo Ginger
💄 Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!
💄Pine Cone Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), is called Shampoo Ginger due to its unique, milky substance found in the cones. If you squeeze these bright red cones, a fragrant, milky liquid seeps out - traditionally used in Asia and Hawaii as a natural shampoo. Even today, you’ll find it in commercial shampoos.
💄 But there's more to it than hair care. All parts of the plant carry a spicy fragrance, the cones make striking, long-lasting cut flowers, and the whole plant adds a tropical vibe to your garden.
💄 And here's a fun history twist: Pine Cone Ginger is a "canoe plant", carried across the Pacific by ancient Polynesian voyagers. Imagine - this little shampoo factory traveled the ocean in canoes centuries ago!
Would you try washing your hair with this tropical ginger?
Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?
Akee (Blighia sapida)
⛔️ Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?
Did you know that fresh Akee (Blighia sapida) is restricted for import into the U.S.?
That's the bad news.
The good news: you can grow your own Akee tree and enjoy this famous fruit right in your backyard!
The reason it's restricted is because unripe Akee (Ackee) contains toxins. Only when the pods split open naturally is the fruit safe to eat, after cooking (video). That’s why it's hard to import fresh – but easy to grow and handle at home once you know the trick.
Plenty of people love this fruit (it's actually a vegetable). It's the national fruit of Jamaica, and a must-have in the classic dish Akee and saltfish. Planting your own tree means you never have to miss out.
⛔️ Why grow Akee?
✔️Fresh fruit that you simply can’t buy in U.S. stores.
✔️You decide when it's ripe and safe, straight from the pod.
✔️A taste of Jamaica in your own garden - both food and culture in one tree.
So don't wait for the fruit that never arrives at the port. Plant your own Akee tree and enjoy the harvest tomorrow! 🛒 Plant your own Akee (Achee) tree
Watch this before cooking with black pepper! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Watch this before cooking with black pepper!
Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
🍃 Watch this before cooking with black pepper!
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is famous for its berries, but the leaves are edible too, and in some regions they’re used just like betel leaves or bay leaves. Here are a few ways you can use them:
Cooking wrap: Fresh leaves can be used to wrap fish, meat, or rice before steaming or grilling, similar to banana or betel leaves. They add a mild peppery aroma.
Flavoring curries and soups: Whole leaves can be simmered in curries, broths, or stews to infuse a gentle peppery note, then removed before serving (like bay leaves).
Herbal teas: Fresh or dried leaves can be steeped with ginger, turmeric, or lemongrass to make a warming tea traditionally used for digestion and colds.
Chutneys and pastes: In South India, young pepper leaves are ground with coconut, tamarind, and chilies to make a tangy chutney.
Medicinal uses: Folk remedies use the leaves for coughs, sore throats, and as a poultice for muscle aches.
🍛 Black pepper leaf chutney
♨️Lightly saute 6-8 pepper leaves in a little oil.
♨️Blend with 1/2 cup grated coconut, 2 green chilies, tamarind, salt, and cumin.
♨️Optional: top with a quick tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves.
♨️Serve with rice or dosa.
☕️ Pepper leaf tea - when you feel under the weather
Boil 2-3 leaves with a cup of water.
Add a slice of ginger and a pinch of turmeric (optional).
Simmer 5 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey.
Both recipes give a warm, peppery aroma without being too spicy. Pepper leaves are milder than the berries, so you’ll get aroma more than heat.
Because they give you more bloom for less effort. They flower on and off
almost all year, they’re tough, and they come in colors you can
actually
plan a garden around.
Will they survive winter in my area?
In frost-free zones, yes, they come back bigger every year. If you’re
farther north, just keep them in pots and bring them inside for the cold
months.
Do they really bloom in shade?
They do. We’ve got a clump under a big oak and it still puts on a
show. Not as heavy as full sun, but enough to brighten the spot.
How big do they get?
Depends which one. Spathoglottis stays neat, about knee-high. Nun Orchid
shoots up tall spikes that can hit 4 ft. So you can go small or dramatic.
Are they hard to care for like other orchids?
Not at all. Forget the bark mix and misting bottles. Just plant them in
soil, keep the water steady, and feed once in a while. That’s it.
Can I grow them in pots?
Absolutely. They do great in containers. Makes it easy if you’ve only
got a patio or you want to move them in for winter. Use
well-drained soilless mix like Abundance
Potting Mix.
Do they attract pollinators?
Yep. Bees love them, butterflies too, and every so often a hummingbird will
check them out.
What is the best fertilizer?
For extra blooms, we use Sunshine Orchidasm
– Orchid TotalFeed Booster. Works like a charm!
Ground Orchid FAQ – Your Questions
Answered
![cooking (video).](
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