soapwort?

[kiwirach]

i did a quick search on soapwort and the newest post was early 2007?.

has anyone grown soapwort recently and can give me some tips please. i brought some off ebay a few months back, its in a pot in my flat and seems to be growing well, even if i've read somewhere that it doesnt grow well indoors!. i notice tho, that the stems are getting a bit long and heavy for the plant and wonder if it needs staking?. i am going to put it in the allotment, once i have decided where the medicinal herb bed is going to be, but dont want to loose it now after establishing it so well!!.

any thoughts greatly appreciated!.

[Green Aura]

Hi
I've grown Soapwort for years. I love it but it can be quite invasive - seems to spread by both root and seed. On the upside of course you have plenty of root to make liquid soaps and shampoos.
I don't know how well you get on with your fellow allotment holders. They might get miffed if they're invaded by it. Allotment rules at my old place barred growing flowers!
By the way, I've got a recipe for soapwort shampoo if you're interested. Not tried it but I fully intend to. I can't remember where I got it.
Maggie

[kiwirach]

hi Maggie, yes, would love the recipe if its handy to find!. i got the soapwort with a view to using for making homemade soaps/shampoos!.

is the plant a bit like a creeper then?. i havent seen many pics of it growing....anything i've managed to find has always been a close up of the leaves or flowers!. i had heard it was invasive and that you plant it like you do mint...in a container in the ground?.

can you tell me how you grow yours please? i just dont want to end up killing it after getting it going so well!!.
many thanks.

[Green Aura]

I've got two recipes, the first usable anywhere you'd use liquid soap and the second a colouring shampoo - although I guess you could leave the colouring herbs out and relace them with your choice.

1) Natural Liquid Soap
- uses Soapwort root, which is obtainable from good health food stores.
Take 12 grms Soapwort root and crush or pulverize very well
2 litres of spring water Boil the water and pour over the soapwort.
Leave to infuse for 24 hours then filter though filter paper or very fine muslin then
bottle in jars or bottles

2) Soapwort Herbal Shampoo

This is a very fragrant and stimulating for your scalp.It prevents dandruff and promotes hair growth. Take 1 cup of each of the following and boil them and let them reduce themselves in 2 cups H20. Do not use metal pans....I use an old Mr. Coffee pot or a vision clear glass pan.

Nettle
Spearmint
Rosemary
and for a rich chestnut appearance cloves

Let them steep for at least 2 hours...strain and the liquid left will be very dark brown. Mix these with the shampoo at a 1:1 combination....if you want a darker color add just a little more rosemary and cloves. Pour into bottles and let it set overnight. In the morning you can add a couple drops of your favorite EO to add fragrance....

For the soapwort recipe take 2 handfuls of soapwort root to the glass pan and pour over it 1-1 1/2 cups water. Bring this to a boil and lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Cover it and let it steep until cool strain it into a bottle that closes tightly. When you add the nettle, rosemary, spearmint and cloves let it infuse for at least 60 minutes...I prefer to let it infuse over night. every time you use it, it needs to be shaken. This won't give you a head full of suds as commercial ones will but the cleansing is undeniable. Soapwort is nothing more that Wild Sweet William.

You can add fennel to it as well then it would condition as well.For lighter hair substitute the rosemary for chamomile and the cloves for lemon or lemongrass..


I think I've read somewhere that you can use all parts of the plant but the root is best.
I just stuck mine in the garden without thinking really, it's so pretty (wild wallflower?) in a mixed border that I didn't mind where it went. But a container would give you better opportunity to "harvest" the roots and replant as well as stopping it upsetting theneighbours. I'd use something fairly deep to encourage good root growth.
Maggie

[Eigon]

I had soapwort in the garden of one of the houses I used to live in. The other name for it is Bouncing Bet! I never used the roots, but I would chop up handfuls of the stem and leaves to boil up to make a mild shampoo which worked quite well. I believe that the National Trust uses soapwort soap to wash really delicate fabrics.

[kiwirach]

thanks for your replies guys, and maggie, thanks for all that.