Taken for granted, the Bamboo plant is often looked upon as unattractive and a frightening experience to uproot due to its tendency to spread like weed. Perhaps that is why we don’t see Bamboo plants in our neighbors' yards. Spreading like weed isn’t your typical hope for plants, though it could be if the demand for its use increases.The Bamboo plant contributes to many great things in life, given its resiliency, it is made into 1) stakes, as such; I have a few in my yard to help hold up my newly planted trees. Bamboo is also a popular material in building construction, 2) wall paneling, 3) flooring, and 4) reinforcing concrete beams. The great advantage over wood is its 5) flexibility and light weight.
For many centuries, Bamboo has been used for medical and healing purposes. Several familiar uses are 6) acupuncture, 7) asthma and 8) coughs. The powdered, hardened secretion is the basic ingredient for the oral remedies. Have you seen Black Bamboo? It’s quite rare. The ingredients from the root 9) help treat kidney disease, while the Bamboo roots and leaves are used to treat venereal disease and cancer. Sounds to me like us humans have figured out many of its secrets and have taken advantage of every part of the Bamboo plant. In addition, even the 10) sap is used to reduce fever. Before technology and the advanced chemical discoveries, people had to resorted to natural plants and vegetation to cure and reduce sickness, this mentality has been now replaced by the use of chemical in modern medicine.
Talking green, Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent amount of trees, and it purifies the air. Bamboo plant is the fastest growing woody plant on earth and is naturally pest-free. There are over 1600 species, with some known to grow over one meter a day. They can tolerate extreme precipitation from 30- 250 inches of rain to droughts.
Bamboo plants provide 11) excellent shade, an 12) acoustical barrier and a13) wind break. It makes wonderful musical instruments, such as wind chimes, and flutes and even produces music in the air itself. It is used in textiles for everything from towels and underwear to men sweaters.
Now, can you see why I am fascinated by this plant and feel it has been long underestimated and unrecognized even by me, who truly appreciates it?
17 Comments
Thanks for a very useful article. Incidentally, I've just planted some bamboo plants in the front garden of our new home. They should be the non-spreading type, so hopefully they won't start taking over.
ReplyDeleteinteresting..i used to admire bamboo plants.
ReplyDeleteI love bamboo! At my childhood home in Southern California, we grew bamboo along the back fence. And, I remember crafting flutes and wind chimes out of it. Here in my desert garden, I grow "Heavenly Bamboo" a miniature variety.
ReplyDeleteWe had bamboo at a house we lived in a few years ago, I love it but it did spread very fast.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for the non-spreading kind to add to my backyard. I had no idea it had so many uses, thanks for the info.
I don't believe we can grow bamboo in Michigan, but I have long liked the plant and been amazed by it's strength and versatility.
ReplyDeleteoh to have some of my own! I have always wanted a bamboo plant in my collection...here they are indoor plants and they are hard to get. I can only get the lucky bamboo...and that is not what I want.
ReplyDeletegreat post today!!! thanks for linking in!
I have always shied away from bamboo because of its invasivness. Your post however is so full of info and interesting I would love to try it.
ReplyDeleteThe adversity of the Bamboo plant! Who know? I sure didn't. thanks for that. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteCool post. Here some gardeners grow a variety that is not invasive and is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi! Timely post for us; we planted a small stand of bamboo a couple of months ago, and it has already taken hold and tossed up another shoot. We have it in a bare and rocky corner of the yard where nothing else will grow, and if it spreads, all the better!
ReplyDeleteCass
I have what's called "Indian Bamboo" growing along my driveway next to the brook. It's a scourge in gardens here in Nova Scotia so I mostly pull it out. But I do keep some at the bottom of the driveway for privacy.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for the education!
ReplyDeletevery interesting. I heard they are making bamboo flooring now too. I know I love my 'wooden' spoons made of bamboo. They are so much easier to care for since I can toss them in the dishwasher.
ReplyDeletevery interesting post about bamboo plant, I love bamboo, I also love it is vegetable, the bamboo shoot.
ReplyDeleteI have seen bamboo flooring, and furniture pieces too! Great info and post, sis!
ReplyDeleteI love bamboo. There is an entire area devoted to bamboo in the gardens and I always admire it. Thanks for the info on it as well.
ReplyDeleteThis plant needs indirect light, but keep it out of direct sun. You may be over-fertilizing your plant. I'd stop fertilizing it and see if it improves. Then, use a diluted fertilizer only every other month--it doesn't take much.
ReplyDeleteHave a thought? Please leave a comment here, and I will return as soon as possible. Thanks - If you have a minute, why not check-out the sibbling of Self Sagacity.com Blogger Broadcast. Extra Links = Spam = Delete.