Bamboo Flooring Care
Minggu, 24 Januari 2010
Sabtu, 23 Januari 2010
Bamboo Picture Frames - How to Craft a Photo Frame from Bamboo
Crafting your own Bamboo Picture Frames is one of the most beautiful ways to show off your most prized possession, memories of those dearest to you or even a inspirational picture. The beauty of working with bamboo is you can do just about anything with it. The design possibilities are endless and most easily executed. The most common questions many have are how to cut bamboo and what to use when jointing bamboo. Here are some basics to get you started.
How to Cut Bamboo
For those serious about working with bamboo there are tools designed specifically for cutting all types of bamboo however most could do just as well with more conventional tools.
Wrap the area of the bamboo you intend to cut with masking tape. This will protect the bamboo from splintering as you cut it.
Using a razor blade, cutting saw with razor edges or handsaw with razor edges start by scoring the bamboo going a little deeper each time. Make cuts clean and take you time. Avoid all blades with wide-width teeth (anything less than 14 teeth per inch; this will definitely splinter the bamboo.
After cutting the bamboo you may want to sand the outer edges of your cut. A low-grade sanding paper or sanding block will work just fine.
Tip: If you mess up and cause the bamboo to become splintered apply a mild finish to seal it and use it anyway. Remember this is your bamboo picture frame; it can look however you want it to!
Jointing the Bamboo
There are actually many ways that you can joint the bamboo on your special handmade bamboo photo frame. If you are unsure then try this method of jointing bamboo that works like a charm almost every single time!
Silicone based glue:
If you are planning to glue your bamboo picture frame together and both sides will be smooth you should use silicone based glue (found at your local craft store). This provides a sturdy bond that will last a very long time.
Joint Dowels:
If you would like a more secure joint for your bamboo picture frame then joint dowels are definitely the way to go. The process is simple but will take the use of a drill, joint dowels, and extra-strength glue.
Drill holes (the size of your joint dowels) where you would like to connect the bamboo. Be sure that you only drill as large as your dowel to create a tight seal. You will do this on both pieces of bamboo needing to be combined.
Put a glob of extra strength glue in the drilled holes and place the dowel joints into them. Repeat this with the other side and press the pieces together tightly.
Tip: If you would like to give your bamboo picture frame that added flair take some leather or other binding and wrap the ends of your bamboo. This is an incredible way to tie in new colors, textures, and styles complimenting your theme.
Adding a Picture
There are many ways to go about doing this step. The simplest solutions include:
• Attach a picture to a firm piece of cardboard then tack the cardboard into place on the bamboo frame.
• Simply tape the picture using secure tape. Place it from the back so that tape is not visible in the front. (This would be best for someone wishing to change the picture often.)
Tip: If you would like to be really creative make bamboo picture frames but instead of placing pictures in them try arranging them in patterns on your wall. This could make for an extra special wall hanging.
How to Cut Bamboo
For those serious about working with bamboo there are tools designed specifically for cutting all types of bamboo however most could do just as well with more conventional tools.
Wrap the area of the bamboo you intend to cut with masking tape. This will protect the bamboo from splintering as you cut it.
Using a razor blade, cutting saw with razor edges or handsaw with razor edges start by scoring the bamboo going a little deeper each time. Make cuts clean and take you time. Avoid all blades with wide-width teeth (anything less than 14 teeth per inch; this will definitely splinter the bamboo.
After cutting the bamboo you may want to sand the outer edges of your cut. A low-grade sanding paper or sanding block will work just fine.
Tip: If you mess up and cause the bamboo to become splintered apply a mild finish to seal it and use it anyway. Remember this is your bamboo picture frame; it can look however you want it to!
Jointing the Bamboo
There are actually many ways that you can joint the bamboo on your special handmade bamboo photo frame. If you are unsure then try this method of jointing bamboo that works like a charm almost every single time!
Silicone based glue:
If you are planning to glue your bamboo picture frame together and both sides will be smooth you should use silicone based glue (found at your local craft store). This provides a sturdy bond that will last a very long time.
Joint Dowels:
If you would like a more secure joint for your bamboo picture frame then joint dowels are definitely the way to go. The process is simple but will take the use of a drill, joint dowels, and extra-strength glue.
Drill holes (the size of your joint dowels) where you would like to connect the bamboo. Be sure that you only drill as large as your dowel to create a tight seal. You will do this on both pieces of bamboo needing to be combined.
Put a glob of extra strength glue in the drilled holes and place the dowel joints into them. Repeat this with the other side and press the pieces together tightly.
Tip: If you would like to give your bamboo picture frame that added flair take some leather or other binding and wrap the ends of your bamboo. This is an incredible way to tie in new colors, textures, and styles complimenting your theme.
Adding a Picture
There are many ways to go about doing this step. The simplest solutions include:
• Attach a picture to a firm piece of cardboard then tack the cardboard into place on the bamboo frame.
• Simply tape the picture using secure tape. Place it from the back so that tape is not visible in the front. (This would be best for someone wishing to change the picture often.)
Tip: If you would like to be really creative make bamboo picture frames but instead of placing pictures in them try arranging them in patterns on your wall. This could make for an extra special wall hanging.
Bamboo Big Is Beautiful - Or Is A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?!
Purchasing Your Bamboo
It is important to purchase a young seedling or bamboo plant that is say 12 months old EVERY TIME. When purchasing a bamboo for your garden it is important not to become carried away with buying the biggest and best bamboo that you can find. This can be difficult however especially as the bamboo plant is ideal for screening and fencing large areas within your garden. It is necessary then to detach yourself from emmotion then to pay attention to the bamboo plant and how it has been cultivated.
BUYING A YOUNG BAMBOO - Bamboo plants need time to allow for growth and maturity, this is because of their complex rhizome and root structures, if the plant is rushed or potted on too early and not allowed to grow at its own pace then it may be of poor quality, it may well be prone to disease and ultimately die.
LARGE IS NOT ALWAYS BEST - It is easy to become carried away with how large your bamboo plant is but the most important part of the bamboo is not the amount of leaf foliage above the pot or the number of culms (remember quality not quantity), it is what is within the pot, that is the Bamboo's rhizomes and roots.
GREEN LEAVES ARE GOOD - A healthy bamboo will have healthy moist leaves and fresh culms which show new growth at its nodes. The culms should be undamaged and free from disease. Bamboo with pale or yellow leaves or a high percentage of old, woody culms should be avoided as this plant will probably have been split from an older bamboo through division.
LOOK AT THE RHIZOMES and the ROOTS - The pot must be in similar poportion to the amount of leaf foliage above the pot. Take a look at the roots within the pots as these should show a healthy white root and rhizome structure. If there are a large amount of white new roots, then there will be a good strong bamboo that will emerge, at this stage you will also be able to identify whether the bamboo plant has been container grown or containerized.
Take a look around the top of the bamboo container as there should also be visible signs of fresh new growth at the edge or around the top of the bamboo pot, which again indicates a good strong plant
CONTAINER or CONTAINERISED? There are various methods of growing bamboo for your garden, this can be from bamboo seed (which is hard to come by given the long flowering periods of bamboo), vegetative, division , tissue culture, however which ever method is used each has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Bamboos grown and potted on in containers is a bamboo plant that has been allowed to grow at its own pace and mature throughout its life, it is a bamboo that will have been potted on when it was ready for the next stage in its growing cycle. This will provide a healthy balanced bamboo plant, that when positioned in the garden will be healthy and able to adapt to the change in conditions easier than a containerised bamboo.
Let us then take a look at a containerised bamboo plant, this is one which has been split from a large stock plant through the splitting of the root and rhizome structure. If great care is not taken the rhizome and root system can be severed when the division took place, so whilst the bamboo may have fantastic foliage and be of a good size, checks must be taken as previously discussed.
Look at the culms/ canes - is there a mixture of young and old, with visible signs of new leaf growth? Leaves - these should be healthy, moist and green in colour Roots and Rhizomes - do these look white and healthy and have new growth, are they intact Pests and Diseases- look for visible signs of damage and establish if chemicals have been used when treating these (chemicals can damage the immune system) Gain as much information from the supplier as possible.
Green Bamboo: Strength in Flexibility
Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" would be familiar with the imagery of bamboo: flexible yet firm, delicate yet strong. These unique qualities make the bamboo fit snugly into ancient Chinese philosophy and endow the health benefits of the bamboo with an air of wisdom and grace.
History
In China, the highly revered bamboo reflects celestial unity in ancient art, such as ethereal paintings of misty mountains with bamboo leaves, delicate bamboo weavings and bamboo baskets.
The strength of bamboo is apparent when the fury of the atomic bomb unleashed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two only damaged bamboo marginally. It was also one of the first plants to reappear after the deadly war, thus occupying a special place in the hearts of the Japanese. Visitors to Japan will be charmed by the melodious sound of nature when a breeze rustles through bamboo-made wind chimes.
In Hawaii, where bamboo is known as "ohe", bamboo crafts have been elevated to an art, with intricate designs of delicate tapa stamps carved from split bamboo.
Before the invention of wheels, bamboo provided stout shafts for carrying baskets woven from bamboo fibres, hence revealing its wide spectrum of uses.
Ecology
Bamboo has strong survival skills. Like grass, it grows rapidly and is able to propagate by itself. Like wood, it is strong and can be found throughout the world. Although bamboo only needs minimal water to sustain itself, as little as 20 inches of rainfall for some species, most large bamboos grow quicker when exposed to full sunlight.
Growing profusely in poverty-ridden and resource-scare areas, bamboo is like a gift to humanity, giving the most of itself during its short lifespan of a few years.
The height of bamboo varies from 30cm dwarf plants to hovering timber bamboos of over 40m.
Bamboos are classified according to the type of roots. Runners, which belong mainly to tropical bamboos, spread exuberantly while clumpers, which belong to temperate bamboos, expand slowly from the original planting. There are also root systems that combine the two types.
Bamboo leaves come in a large variety. There are soft velvety leaves, leaves with saw-toothed edges and leaves with tiny wisps of hair-like adornments around the bases of the stems and culm (stem) sheaths.
Health Notes
Bamboo, a vital element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has a temperament that ranges from mild to cooling. So although specific health benefits differ according to the various parts and flavours of the bamboo, generally, bamboo is able to help detoxify, repel insects, eliminate heatiness, clear phlegm, curb vomiting, restore vitality and quench thirst. Small wonder then that the bamboo is the panda's favourite. In fact, with plenty of crude protein, bamboo is also used frequently as animal fodder.
Bel'Air's green bamboo essential oil is the result of comprehensive research. From the joints of bamboo stems, a beneficial essence known as bamboo sil is extracted. It contains abundant amounts of silice, which is a rich store of calcium. After aromatherapy with green bamboo essential oil, calcium would be replenished and bones would be strengthened. This innovative essential oil can also alleviate old age problems such as backache and rheumatism, as well as enhance calcium contents in children and teenagers, hence boosting their growth.
History
In China, the highly revered bamboo reflects celestial unity in ancient art, such as ethereal paintings of misty mountains with bamboo leaves, delicate bamboo weavings and bamboo baskets.
The strength of bamboo is apparent when the fury of the atomic bomb unleashed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two only damaged bamboo marginally. It was also one of the first plants to reappear after the deadly war, thus occupying a special place in the hearts of the Japanese. Visitors to Japan will be charmed by the melodious sound of nature when a breeze rustles through bamboo-made wind chimes.
In Hawaii, where bamboo is known as "ohe", bamboo crafts have been elevated to an art, with intricate designs of delicate tapa stamps carved from split bamboo.
Before the invention of wheels, bamboo provided stout shafts for carrying baskets woven from bamboo fibres, hence revealing its wide spectrum of uses.
Ecology
Bamboo has strong survival skills. Like grass, it grows rapidly and is able to propagate by itself. Like wood, it is strong and can be found throughout the world. Although bamboo only needs minimal water to sustain itself, as little as 20 inches of rainfall for some species, most large bamboos grow quicker when exposed to full sunlight.
Growing profusely in poverty-ridden and resource-scare areas, bamboo is like a gift to humanity, giving the most of itself during its short lifespan of a few years.
The height of bamboo varies from 30cm dwarf plants to hovering timber bamboos of over 40m.
Bamboos are classified according to the type of roots. Runners, which belong mainly to tropical bamboos, spread exuberantly while clumpers, which belong to temperate bamboos, expand slowly from the original planting. There are also root systems that combine the two types.
Bamboo leaves come in a large variety. There are soft velvety leaves, leaves with saw-toothed edges and leaves with tiny wisps of hair-like adornments around the bases of the stems and culm (stem) sheaths.
Health Notes
Bamboo, a vital element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has a temperament that ranges from mild to cooling. So although specific health benefits differ according to the various parts and flavours of the bamboo, generally, bamboo is able to help detoxify, repel insects, eliminate heatiness, clear phlegm, curb vomiting, restore vitality and quench thirst. Small wonder then that the bamboo is the panda's favourite. In fact, with plenty of crude protein, bamboo is also used frequently as animal fodder.
Bel'Air's green bamboo essential oil is the result of comprehensive research. From the joints of bamboo stems, a beneficial essence known as bamboo sil is extracted. It contains abundant amounts of silice, which is a rich store of calcium. After aromatherapy with green bamboo essential oil, calcium would be replenished and bones would be strengthened. This innovative essential oil can also alleviate old age problems such as backache and rheumatism, as well as enhance calcium contents in children and teenagers, hence boosting their growth.
Clumping Cold Hardy Bamboo Plants In America
Clumping bamboo is composed of over 500 species, and is less adaptable than the running bamboo species. The vast majority of clumping bamboo species grow in the tropical, and sub-tropical regions around the world, however, several species will grow in the southern United States, zones 7 – 10. Clumping bamboo, as the name suggests, grows into large grass-like clumps with the stalks growing tightly together, and expanding 360 degrees outwards, to reach a diameter of 10 – 15 feet.
Generally, clumping bamboo is thought to have smaller diameter poles than running bamboo, because the varieties growing in the U.S. have grown to diameters of no more than 2 ½ inches. This observation, however, is a misconception, because some of the largest bamboo in the world is found in the clumping bamboo cultivars, but those species are only found in the tropics or sub-tropical regions. Of the 500 plus species of clumping bamboo, the genus, Bambusa, is the most wildly grown in the lower United States. Clumping bamboo is also grown for many of the same products as running bamboo, and accounts for the majority of paper pulp production, actually taking place today mainly in India. The Bambusa family is comprised of many species, but a few of the more widely planted bamboo varieties in the U.S. are Bambusa multiplex varieties, commonly known as 'Hedge Bamboo.' The primary species are Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr', Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess', and Bambusa multiplex 'Weeping Willow' bamboo.
Bambusa multiplex "Alphonse Karr" bamboo grows variegated, bright yellow stalks with green pin-stripes. Alphonse Karr grows fast to 1 -2 inches in diameter, and poles up to 50 feet tall. Alphonse Karr striped bamboo was named in honor of the French botanist-novelist, of the nineteenth century, who admired this beautiful specimen plant of striped bamboo.
Bambusa multiplex "Golden Goddess" bamboo is the most popular hedge bamboo used in the U.S.. Golden Goddess bamboo has a solid bright yellow-gold stalk with beautifully contrasting small green leaves. The stalk grows fast to more than 2 inches in diameter and grows to a height of 40 feet. The contrast between golden stalks and green leaves is unparalleled, and the reason for its popularity. Golden Goddess bamboo is also popular, because it lends itself to pruning to the landscape height you desire to grow.
Bambusa multiplex "Weeping Willow" bamboo is fast growing in popularity across the south, for its graceful arching outer stalks, under which many Southerners relax on their patio furniture. Its stalks grow from ¾ – 1 ¾ inches in diameter, and to a fast height of approximately 35 feet. Weeping Willow bamboo has green stalks with a greenish-blue hue after aging, which gives it a fascinating emerald sheen. Weeping Willow bamboo grows so dense at maturity, that not even a rabbit could penetrate through its and thick clumps.
These clumping bamboo species are, like the running bamboo, not particular concerning soil type and the amount of sunlight required. Clumping bamboo trees are planted for use as tall hedges, privacy screens, windbreaks, or for their ornamental beauty. Clumping bamboo is primarily prized for its non-invasive characteristic, which allows this bamboo to be used as barriers between homes in densely populated urban communities.
All of the previously mentioned running and clumping bamboo are of Asian origins, however, there are two native American bamboo varieties as well. Arundinaria gigantea, also known as "canebreaks" or "switchcane" that once covered vast areas from Virginia down to Florida, and West to Texas. This American native bamboo was once so densely populated, that it provided an effective refuge and exit for runaway slaves from the South headed North to join the Union Army. Arundinaria gigantea was an excellent forage crop for early settlers. It's demise came from uncontrolled grazing; removal processes that accompany logging, the growing lumber industry, and wild fires. Native American bamboo rarely grows greater in diameter than 1 inch, and 25 feet tall, with very large leaves on fast growing poles. American native bamboo is technically a running bamboo, but not nearly as aggressive, growing very densely and spreading very slowly, so that little clues remain that was once a vast under story of native American bamboo.
Generally, clumping bamboo is thought to have smaller diameter poles than running bamboo, because the varieties growing in the U.S. have grown to diameters of no more than 2 ½ inches. This observation, however, is a misconception, because some of the largest bamboo in the world is found in the clumping bamboo cultivars, but those species are only found in the tropics or sub-tropical regions. Of the 500 plus species of clumping bamboo, the genus, Bambusa, is the most wildly grown in the lower United States. Clumping bamboo is also grown for many of the same products as running bamboo, and accounts for the majority of paper pulp production, actually taking place today mainly in India. The Bambusa family is comprised of many species, but a few of the more widely planted bamboo varieties in the U.S. are Bambusa multiplex varieties, commonly known as 'Hedge Bamboo.' The primary species are Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr', Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess', and Bambusa multiplex 'Weeping Willow' bamboo.
Bambusa multiplex "Alphonse Karr" bamboo grows variegated, bright yellow stalks with green pin-stripes. Alphonse Karr grows fast to 1 -2 inches in diameter, and poles up to 50 feet tall. Alphonse Karr striped bamboo was named in honor of the French botanist-novelist, of the nineteenth century, who admired this beautiful specimen plant of striped bamboo.
Bambusa multiplex "Golden Goddess" bamboo is the most popular hedge bamboo used in the U.S.. Golden Goddess bamboo has a solid bright yellow-gold stalk with beautifully contrasting small green leaves. The stalk grows fast to more than 2 inches in diameter and grows to a height of 40 feet. The contrast between golden stalks and green leaves is unparalleled, and the reason for its popularity. Golden Goddess bamboo is also popular, because it lends itself to pruning to the landscape height you desire to grow.
Bambusa multiplex "Weeping Willow" bamboo is fast growing in popularity across the south, for its graceful arching outer stalks, under which many Southerners relax on their patio furniture. Its stalks grow from ¾ – 1 ¾ inches in diameter, and to a fast height of approximately 35 feet. Weeping Willow bamboo has green stalks with a greenish-blue hue after aging, which gives it a fascinating emerald sheen. Weeping Willow bamboo grows so dense at maturity, that not even a rabbit could penetrate through its and thick clumps.
These clumping bamboo species are, like the running bamboo, not particular concerning soil type and the amount of sunlight required. Clumping bamboo trees are planted for use as tall hedges, privacy screens, windbreaks, or for their ornamental beauty. Clumping bamboo is primarily prized for its non-invasive characteristic, which allows this bamboo to be used as barriers between homes in densely populated urban communities.
All of the previously mentioned running and clumping bamboo are of Asian origins, however, there are two native American bamboo varieties as well. Arundinaria gigantea, also known as "canebreaks" or "switchcane" that once covered vast areas from Virginia down to Florida, and West to Texas. This American native bamboo was once so densely populated, that it provided an effective refuge and exit for runaway slaves from the South headed North to join the Union Army. Arundinaria gigantea was an excellent forage crop for early settlers. It's demise came from uncontrolled grazing; removal processes that accompany logging, the growing lumber industry, and wild fires. Native American bamboo rarely grows greater in diameter than 1 inch, and 25 feet tall, with very large leaves on fast growing poles. American native bamboo is technically a running bamboo, but not nearly as aggressive, growing very densely and spreading very slowly, so that little clues remain that was once a vast under story of native American bamboo.
Bamboo For Landscape Gardens Only? This is a Complex Plant!
The Culm
The bamboo culm is also known as the stem or stalk, which generally tends to be a tall woody shoot that emerges from the Rhizome bud, this young shoot quickly grows and reaches its full height with 100 days. The height that the Culm reaches in its first year will be its final height. However the Bamboo plant will continue to develop thicker and taller culms. The Culm (stem) tends to be cylindrical in shape, which tapers towards the top. The place on the stem where a leafy branch or bud arises, marked by a prominent line is known as the Node. As older leaves drop there is a constant regeneration and young leaves are produced, these branches and leaves continue to increase in number each year, generally the bamboo culm will continue to develop branches until the culm reaches about 7 years old. After this stage the culm should be thinned out of the grove.
The Rhizome
The rhizome is the underground stems of the bamboo plant, it is the Rhizomes which produce the culms. The rhizome is bulbous in its appearance with each individual segment of the rhizome tapering towards its end to form a “neck” which connects to its other segments. The rhizome has roots that emerge from its nodes, and it is these roots that forage for food and nutrients from the soil. These nutrients are stored by the rhizomes and used in the plant’s periods of dormancy for new growth.
There are two types of Rhizome Systems, Pachymorph (sympodial or clump forming) and Leptomorph (monopodial or running type). However intermediate forms of Rhizomes can be formed, these are known as Amphipodial Rhizomes.The culms which form from the monopodial rhizome tend to be uniform and similar to the next whereas the culms of a sympodial or clump forming tend to have culms with successively increase in order.Monopodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Bashania, Ferrocalamus, Indosasa, Pleioblastus, Phyllostachys, SinobambusaSympodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Ampelocalamus, Bambusa, Cephalostachyum, Chimonocalamus, Dendrocalamopsis, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Fargesia Gaoligongshania, Gigantochloa, Melocalamus, Neosinocalamus, , Pseudostachyum Racemobambos, Schizostachyum, Teinostachyum, Thamnocalamus, Thyrsostachys YushaniaAmphipodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Chimonobambusa, Indocalamus, Qiongzhuea Bamboo Buds
Buds emerge on alternate sides of the culm and rhizomes of the bamboo (Like the Culm the rhizome also has nodes and internodes which are covered by sheaths).
Buds are key points from where new axes emerge and from where an entirely new plant can be formed. Culm buds are located slightly above the nodes Nodes are where the rhizome, culm and branches of the bamboo plant are segmented by solid growth points.
Rhizome buds are seen adjacent to the nodes in the portion between two successive nodes, known as the internode, it is the buds of the rhizome that are responsible for producing the culms (stems).
Nodes and InternodesNodes are growth points from where new branches develop, the rhizome, culm and branches of the bamboo plant are all segmented by its nodes.
The portion between two nodes is called an internode.
The length between two nodes varies from species to species and these internodes are usually hollow and are covered by sheaths in the early stages of growth, however as the plant grows these sheaths fall off and become a mulch that is ideal for providing vital nutrients for the growing plant.
The internodes play an important part in transporting water and nutrients upwards, this is done by sophisticated vertically arranged cells located within the internodes. Distinctively then, the cells within the nodes are positioned horizontally thus enabling transverse movement of water and nutrients along its branches,
RootsRoots play an important part in soil anchorage and are essential for the survival of the bamboo as the roots’ role is to transplant water and nutrients to other parts of the bamboo plant. Because the roots of the bamboo are shallow they grow best in moisture retentive soil and benefit from mulches of organic materials, however as long as the bamboo’s leaves and sheathes are not removed from the base of the bamboo once they fall to the ground, then these act as a natural fertilizer which should be more than adequate for continued fertilization of the bamboo.
Given the right conditions a bamboo will grow to its full height in just a few years. The roots grow from the nodes of the rhizome and of the underground portions of the culms. The root system is a shallow but prolific lateral spreader. The roots are not segmented by nodes or protected by sheaths. However, in some species the roots can emerge at the nodes from where branches lead off and these are useful in propagating a new bamboo plant.
BranchesA bamboo culm only begins to develop branches when it has reached full or almost full height. Branches form from the buds on the culm and are arranged alternately along its length. The branchy system of the bamboo differs from type to type however the main structure of each is the same. The branch consists of :
1. one main branch (a little like that of a tree trunk but obviously smaller in size) and
2. a secondary branch that emerges from its basal portion.
Both the main and secondary branches may in turn bear branchlets. The base of a branch may develop a rhizomatous swelling and root primordium, which are useful in vegetative propagation through branch cuttings, this can be induced by chopping the culm tops and removing the newly emerging culms from the clump.
LeavesSound and movement provided by the leaves and culms of the bamboo offer sound and movement to the garden. Most bamboos produce many leaves, although there is some variety in the shapes between the different bamboo types. Some bamboos have variegated leaves whilst others have green leaves, some have very small leaves whilst others have large leaves, the variety is endless!
Both the bamboos branches and leaves, given the correct conditions, continue to increase each year and there is a constant regeneration of young leaves from a healthy bamboo. As previously stated the fallen leaves and sheaths provide a good source of nutrition for the growing bamboo and should not be cleared away from the base of the plant.
The taller bamboos have a tree like appearance and are ideal for screening and hedges, the smaller ones are ideal as architectural plants, ground cover or for containers.
Some good screening bamboos are Phyllostachys Edulis or Phylllostachy bisetti, some other good hedging bamboos are Fargesia Nitida and Fargesia murielae.
The leaves of the bamboo are important in the process of Photosynthesis and they also play an important role in protecting the bamboo against frost and rain.
The bamboo culm is also known as the stem or stalk, which generally tends to be a tall woody shoot that emerges from the Rhizome bud, this young shoot quickly grows and reaches its full height with 100 days. The height that the Culm reaches in its first year will be its final height. However the Bamboo plant will continue to develop thicker and taller culms. The Culm (stem) tends to be cylindrical in shape, which tapers towards the top. The place on the stem where a leafy branch or bud arises, marked by a prominent line is known as the Node. As older leaves drop there is a constant regeneration and young leaves are produced, these branches and leaves continue to increase in number each year, generally the bamboo culm will continue to develop branches until the culm reaches about 7 years old. After this stage the culm should be thinned out of the grove.
The Rhizome
The rhizome is the underground stems of the bamboo plant, it is the Rhizomes which produce the culms. The rhizome is bulbous in its appearance with each individual segment of the rhizome tapering towards its end to form a “neck” which connects to its other segments. The rhizome has roots that emerge from its nodes, and it is these roots that forage for food and nutrients from the soil. These nutrients are stored by the rhizomes and used in the plant’s periods of dormancy for new growth.
There are two types of Rhizome Systems, Pachymorph (sympodial or clump forming) and Leptomorph (monopodial or running type). However intermediate forms of Rhizomes can be formed, these are known as Amphipodial Rhizomes.The culms which form from the monopodial rhizome tend to be uniform and similar to the next whereas the culms of a sympodial or clump forming tend to have culms with successively increase in order.Monopodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Bashania, Ferrocalamus, Indosasa, Pleioblastus, Phyllostachys, SinobambusaSympodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Ampelocalamus, Bambusa, Cephalostachyum, Chimonocalamus, Dendrocalamopsis, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Fargesia Gaoligongshania, Gigantochloa, Melocalamus, Neosinocalamus, , Pseudostachyum Racemobambos, Schizostachyum, Teinostachyum, Thamnocalamus, Thyrsostachys YushaniaAmphipodial Bamboos tend to be from the following species: Chimonobambusa, Indocalamus, Qiongzhuea Bamboo Buds
Buds emerge on alternate sides of the culm and rhizomes of the bamboo (Like the Culm the rhizome also has nodes and internodes which are covered by sheaths).
Buds are key points from where new axes emerge and from where an entirely new plant can be formed. Culm buds are located slightly above the nodes Nodes are where the rhizome, culm and branches of the bamboo plant are segmented by solid growth points.
Rhizome buds are seen adjacent to the nodes in the portion between two successive nodes, known as the internode, it is the buds of the rhizome that are responsible for producing the culms (stems).
Nodes and InternodesNodes are growth points from where new branches develop, the rhizome, culm and branches of the bamboo plant are all segmented by its nodes.
The portion between two nodes is called an internode.
The length between two nodes varies from species to species and these internodes are usually hollow and are covered by sheaths in the early stages of growth, however as the plant grows these sheaths fall off and become a mulch that is ideal for providing vital nutrients for the growing plant.
The internodes play an important part in transporting water and nutrients upwards, this is done by sophisticated vertically arranged cells located within the internodes. Distinctively then, the cells within the nodes are positioned horizontally thus enabling transverse movement of water and nutrients along its branches,
RootsRoots play an important part in soil anchorage and are essential for the survival of the bamboo as the roots’ role is to transplant water and nutrients to other parts of the bamboo plant. Because the roots of the bamboo are shallow they grow best in moisture retentive soil and benefit from mulches of organic materials, however as long as the bamboo’s leaves and sheathes are not removed from the base of the bamboo once they fall to the ground, then these act as a natural fertilizer which should be more than adequate for continued fertilization of the bamboo.
Given the right conditions a bamboo will grow to its full height in just a few years. The roots grow from the nodes of the rhizome and of the underground portions of the culms. The root system is a shallow but prolific lateral spreader. The roots are not segmented by nodes or protected by sheaths. However, in some species the roots can emerge at the nodes from where branches lead off and these are useful in propagating a new bamboo plant.
BranchesA bamboo culm only begins to develop branches when it has reached full or almost full height. Branches form from the buds on the culm and are arranged alternately along its length. The branchy system of the bamboo differs from type to type however the main structure of each is the same. The branch consists of :
1. one main branch (a little like that of a tree trunk but obviously smaller in size) and
2. a secondary branch that emerges from its basal portion.
Both the main and secondary branches may in turn bear branchlets. The base of a branch may develop a rhizomatous swelling and root primordium, which are useful in vegetative propagation through branch cuttings, this can be induced by chopping the culm tops and removing the newly emerging culms from the clump.
LeavesSound and movement provided by the leaves and culms of the bamboo offer sound and movement to the garden. Most bamboos produce many leaves, although there is some variety in the shapes between the different bamboo types. Some bamboos have variegated leaves whilst others have green leaves, some have very small leaves whilst others have large leaves, the variety is endless!
Both the bamboos branches and leaves, given the correct conditions, continue to increase each year and there is a constant regeneration of young leaves from a healthy bamboo. As previously stated the fallen leaves and sheaths provide a good source of nutrition for the growing bamboo and should not be cleared away from the base of the plant.
The taller bamboos have a tree like appearance and are ideal for screening and hedges, the smaller ones are ideal as architectural plants, ground cover or for containers.
Some good screening bamboos are Phyllostachys Edulis or Phylllostachy bisetti, some other good hedging bamboos are Fargesia Nitida and Fargesia murielae.
The leaves of the bamboo are important in the process of Photosynthesis and they also play an important role in protecting the bamboo against frost and rain.
Bamboo Window Blinds - For Style, Elegance and Ease
Window blinds made of bamboo were traditionally in use for
centuries in Japan and other parts of Asia. Now days, these
bamboo window binds have seen a revival and have become
increasingly popular in rest of the world too.
The inspiration behind these classical bamboo window blinds is
the desire to make our houses look more natural.
Bamboo window blinds are fast becoming a trend because bamboo is
environment friendly, grows fast and is ready for use in a short
duration of five to six years.
Bamboo window blinds come in a number of styles. They are
colorful, natural and full of texture. Raw materials used in
making bamboo window blinds are bamboo, grasses and reeds.
Bamboo window blinds are made from the fibrous part of the
bamboo wood. This makes it much more easier to derive wood for
the blinds without causing any harm to the bamboo plant.
Why Bamboo Window Blinds?
* Bamboo window blinds are natural, beautiful, easy and flexible to design.
* Are conventional, stylish and elegant.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to maintain.
* Bamboo window blinds can easily be adjusted to let the amount of light that you want.
* Bamboo window blinds are very good at keeping light out.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to clean.
* Bamboo window blinds are durable and dense.
* Bamboo window blinds are environment friendly.
* Bamboo window blinds contract and expand comparatively less than blinds made of hardwood.
* Bamboo window blinds offer good ventilation.
* Bamboo window blinds have a knotty pattern.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to blend with any decor.
* Bamboo window blinds offer diversity in appearance.
* Bamboo window blinds offer high quality at a comparatively lower cost.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to install.
* Bamboo window blinds require low maintenance as compared to other blinds.
* Bamboo window blinds are a good insulator.
Versatile, graceful and durable bamboo window blinds
Bamboo window blinds are simply fun to use because of their versatility. They have a flair and grace of their own and come with different lifting abilities.
Do not go by the appearance of these bamboo blinds. They may look delicate but on the contrary are very resistant and durable. When treated with chemicals, bamboo window blinds become moisture and insect proof.
Elegant and stylish as they are, these bamboo window blinds come in different colors and styles. A number of bamboo window treatments available in the market, further help in giving blinds a distinct style and effect. They can be used in any room and setting with the same remarkable effect.
With proper lighting, bamboo window blinds have a glow and aura of their own. They are very good for exclusive and artistic upholstery decoration. They can be custom made to suit individual requirements. Infact bamboo window blinds are the flavor these days. They are being used with impunity for decoration in hotels, resorts, offices and homes alike.
You can find a variety of bamboo window blinds online. Companies like American, Hunter Douglas, Graber and Kirsch offer bamboo window blinds in different styles and colours online. There are discounts on offer as well as the facility to compare prices. With so much to offer, these bamboo window blinds are a must to give our rooms a sophisticated and chic look.
centuries in Japan and other parts of Asia. Now days, these
bamboo window binds have seen a revival and have become
increasingly popular in rest of the world too.
The inspiration behind these classical bamboo window blinds is
the desire to make our houses look more natural.
Bamboo window blinds are fast becoming a trend because bamboo is
environment friendly, grows fast and is ready for use in a short
duration of five to six years.
Bamboo window blinds come in a number of styles. They are
colorful, natural and full of texture. Raw materials used in
making bamboo window blinds are bamboo, grasses and reeds.
Bamboo window blinds are made from the fibrous part of the
bamboo wood. This makes it much more easier to derive wood for
the blinds without causing any harm to the bamboo plant.
Why Bamboo Window Blinds?
* Bamboo window blinds are natural, beautiful, easy and flexible to design.
* Are conventional, stylish and elegant.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to maintain.
* Bamboo window blinds can easily be adjusted to let the amount of light that you want.
* Bamboo window blinds are very good at keeping light out.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to clean.
* Bamboo window blinds are durable and dense.
* Bamboo window blinds are environment friendly.
* Bamboo window blinds contract and expand comparatively less than blinds made of hardwood.
* Bamboo window blinds offer good ventilation.
* Bamboo window blinds have a knotty pattern.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to blend with any decor.
* Bamboo window blinds offer diversity in appearance.
* Bamboo window blinds offer high quality at a comparatively lower cost.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to install.
* Bamboo window blinds require low maintenance as compared to other blinds.
* Bamboo window blinds are a good insulator.
Versatile, graceful and durable bamboo window blinds
Bamboo window blinds are simply fun to use because of their versatility. They have a flair and grace of their own and come with different lifting abilities.
Do not go by the appearance of these bamboo blinds. They may look delicate but on the contrary are very resistant and durable. When treated with chemicals, bamboo window blinds become moisture and insect proof.
Elegant and stylish as they are, these bamboo window blinds come in different colors and styles. A number of bamboo window treatments available in the market, further help in giving blinds a distinct style and effect. They can be used in any room and setting with the same remarkable effect.
With proper lighting, bamboo window blinds have a glow and aura of their own. They are very good for exclusive and artistic upholstery decoration. They can be custom made to suit individual requirements. Infact bamboo window blinds are the flavor these days. They are being used with impunity for decoration in hotels, resorts, offices and homes alike.
You can find a variety of bamboo window blinds online. Companies like American, Hunter Douglas, Graber and Kirsch offer bamboo window blinds in different styles and colours online. There are discounts on offer as well as the facility to compare prices. With so much to offer, these bamboo window blinds are a must to give our rooms a sophisticated and chic look.
Bamboo - Increasing Demand
One of the most enduring images of India's freedom struggle is that of Mahatma Gandhi setting out on the Salt March in 1930, on a 140 kilometre trek from Ahmedabad to Dandi. All he had by the way of support were the multitudes behind him, and the bamboo stave by his side.
The bamboo in his hands, today more than ever before, is one of the newest hopes for a sustainable future. Found in almost every kind of climate and region, from cold mountains to tropical forests and marsh lands, the bamboo is the fastest growing plant on our planet. Environmentalists believe that if bamboo were used in a major way in afforestation programs the world over, there would be a significant reduction in global warming. Here are some of its other benefits to humans and their environments --
It is one of the cheapest renewable sources of building material available to man.
At the same time, it provides rural communities with a sustainable livelihood.
It is one of the fastest growing components of forests, and thus plays an important role in the development of animal habitats.
It costs neither a lot of energy nor money, to cultivate.
Bamboo has been an important part of art, music, tradition and ceremonies through out the Asian continent.
Varieties
There are approximately 91 general and about 1000 species of bamboo around the globe. These vary in height from about one foot plants to giant bamboos that grow over 100 feet. Broadly speaking, Bamboo is divided into 2 main classifications - Running Bamboo and Clumping Bamboo.
Running Bamboo - This type of Bamboo travels under the soil using creeping rhizomes and emerges out of the ground at a distance from the original source. This variety is normally found in temperate climate countries like China and Japan. It is very effective in binding the soil together as the rhizome intersection is extensive and strong. Each joint of the Running bamboo stem has a single bud, which in many cases grow to become a new bamboo clump.
Clumping Bamboo - In this variety, the clump and the rhizome are a single entity, in which the upper portion of the rhizome has buds. The bud then grow into a new rhizome which turns upwards and emerges, from the ground, as a second clump close to the original. This variety can also be grown from cuttings. They are normally found more in tropical and semi tropical climates.
Growing Bamboos
Bamboos need plenty of water in a well drained, fertile soil to grow optimally. This is why they are most commonly found on river banks or the edges of swamps, never directly touching the water. During the dry season, bamboo clumps lie dormant, spreading through shoots sprouting from their base once it rains.
The bamboo is an extremely sturdy plant and is naturally quite resistant to pests though the occasional Running Bamboo plant is prone to the Bamboo Mites which make a small but distinctive web on the plant.
Some bamboo varieties may also be grown indoors.
Precautions During Bamboo Cultivation
Large bamboo produces large woody underground rhizomes that could damage paving, buildings or drainage systems if planted too close to these or other structures.
The roots which grow from the rhizomes of clumping bamboo are long and fibrous like those of palms or large clumping grasses. These are useful in stabilising the soil and preventing erosion, but may also create problems. Being flexible and fibrous rather than hard and woody, these roots will grow into and along slotted drainage pipes or any cracks in metal or ceramic pipes.
Bamboo rhizomes grow underground to emerge quite a distance away from the mother plant. So if planted in a wet, well drained and rich soil, bamboo can quickly spread and strangle other trees and plants in the area.
Once established as a grove, it is difficult to completely remove bamboo without digging up the entire network of underground rhizomes. If bamboo must be removed, an alternative to digging it up is to cut down the culms, and then repeatedly mow down new shoots as they arise, until the root system exhausts its energy supply and dies. If any leaves are allowed to photosynthesize the bamboo survives and will keep spreading.
Traditional Uses
The bamboo is a highly useful plant, a renewable resource with multiple uses. It has played a crucial role in the life of people all across south and south east Asia. Here are some of them --
Bamboo pulp is used for making paper
It may be burnt as fuel
Bamboo is known not only for the aesthetic beauty it imparts to its surroundings, but also for its tensile strength. Research has shown that during structural engineering tests, bamboo has a much higher tensile strength than many alloys of steel and a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete. Which is why, for long, it has been a standard material in construction.
Its leaves are a good fodder for animals and fish.
Bamboo is used to make simple bowls, glasses etc by the simple expedient of cutting it from above and below a node.
It is used to make musical instruments. The flutes of Benares are a good example of this.
Many canes of bamboo lashed together, are still used as rafts and boats across the world.
In 1854, Henricg Globel, a German watchmaker made the first true light bulb. He used a carbonised bamboo filament inside a glass bulb. In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison too used bamboo splits as filaments, working with bamboo obtained from Japan. The bamboo filament tended to last about forty hours before burning out.
Bamboo is an important ingredient in many world cuisines. Its shoots are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world and are consumed in a variety of ways. They are sometimes pickled and used as a condiment, or used with other vegetables in a stir fry. Bamboo sap is also used to make a sweet wine while its leaves are used as wrappers for steaming food. The inner hollow in the bamboo stalks are also used to cook rice and boil soup. Bamboo along with other ingredients is used for making pancakes as well.
Bamboo plays an important role in the Chinese medicine system as well as in Ayurveda. Its roots are used to treat kidney problems and bamboo secretions are considered helpful in alleviating symptoms of asthma. Its sap is said to reduce fever and roots and leaves have properties that have been used to treat cancer. The Chinese also use bamboo to treat many infections. Bamboo skin prevents bacterial growth due to its antioxidant properties.
Modern Uses of Bamboo
Though one has stepped into the modern world today with changing lifestyles and choices, bamboo is still used in the same way across large parts of the world as it was used in the past. In fact it is rightly believed by many that no other plant has had the impact that bamboo has had on so many cultures over such an extended period of time. But now, with the help of technology, scores of new uses have been found for the age old bamboo. Here are some --
Bamboo furniture
Bamboo flooring
Bamboo blinds
Bamboo is a very comfortable eco fibre which is naturally anti-microbial. Due to the presence of micro pores, the fabric absorb three times more moisture than cotton, making it very comfortable to wear in the hot summer.
Did You Know?
Bamboo can grow about 4 feet in under 24 hours.
A Bamboo plant can be continuously re-harvested every 3 years, without causing any negative impact on the soil and the environment.
The dense roots of the bamboo plant are so deep into the soil and remain firmly intact that they prevent soil erosion in a very effective manner.
It retains twice as much water in the underground watershed.
It consumes nitrogen and thus remove pollution.
Bamboo plant produces 35% more oxygen than any other tree species. Bamboo also protects against ultraviolet rays.
Soft bamboo shoots, stems, and leaves are the major food source of the endangered Giant Panda of China.
The plant marketed as "lucky bamboo" is actually an entirely unrelated species, Dracaena sanderiana.
Bamboo is the only living thing that survived the Hiroshima atomic blast. It also provided the initial re- greening of that place.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo is, strangely enough, not a bamboo at all. It is a resilient member of the lily family that grows in the dark, tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and Africa. Lucky Bamboo has long been associated with the Eastern practice of Feng Shui - or the bringing of natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance within the environment. It is believed to be an ideal example of the thriving wood and water element, with the addition of a red ribbon sometimes tied around the stalks - which is believed to "fire" the positive flow of energy or chi in the room.
The bamboo in his hands, today more than ever before, is one of the newest hopes for a sustainable future. Found in almost every kind of climate and region, from cold mountains to tropical forests and marsh lands, the bamboo is the fastest growing plant on our planet. Environmentalists believe that if bamboo were used in a major way in afforestation programs the world over, there would be a significant reduction in global warming. Here are some of its other benefits to humans and their environments --
It is one of the cheapest renewable sources of building material available to man.
At the same time, it provides rural communities with a sustainable livelihood.
It is one of the fastest growing components of forests, and thus plays an important role in the development of animal habitats.
It costs neither a lot of energy nor money, to cultivate.
Bamboo has been an important part of art, music, tradition and ceremonies through out the Asian continent.
Varieties
There are approximately 91 general and about 1000 species of bamboo around the globe. These vary in height from about one foot plants to giant bamboos that grow over 100 feet. Broadly speaking, Bamboo is divided into 2 main classifications - Running Bamboo and Clumping Bamboo.
Running Bamboo - This type of Bamboo travels under the soil using creeping rhizomes and emerges out of the ground at a distance from the original source. This variety is normally found in temperate climate countries like China and Japan. It is very effective in binding the soil together as the rhizome intersection is extensive and strong. Each joint of the Running bamboo stem has a single bud, which in many cases grow to become a new bamboo clump.
Clumping Bamboo - In this variety, the clump and the rhizome are a single entity, in which the upper portion of the rhizome has buds. The bud then grow into a new rhizome which turns upwards and emerges, from the ground, as a second clump close to the original. This variety can also be grown from cuttings. They are normally found more in tropical and semi tropical climates.
Growing Bamboos
Bamboos need plenty of water in a well drained, fertile soil to grow optimally. This is why they are most commonly found on river banks or the edges of swamps, never directly touching the water. During the dry season, bamboo clumps lie dormant, spreading through shoots sprouting from their base once it rains.
The bamboo is an extremely sturdy plant and is naturally quite resistant to pests though the occasional Running Bamboo plant is prone to the Bamboo Mites which make a small but distinctive web on the plant.
Some bamboo varieties may also be grown indoors.
Precautions During Bamboo Cultivation
Large bamboo produces large woody underground rhizomes that could damage paving, buildings or drainage systems if planted too close to these or other structures.
The roots which grow from the rhizomes of clumping bamboo are long and fibrous like those of palms or large clumping grasses. These are useful in stabilising the soil and preventing erosion, but may also create problems. Being flexible and fibrous rather than hard and woody, these roots will grow into and along slotted drainage pipes or any cracks in metal or ceramic pipes.
Bamboo rhizomes grow underground to emerge quite a distance away from the mother plant. So if planted in a wet, well drained and rich soil, bamboo can quickly spread and strangle other trees and plants in the area.
Once established as a grove, it is difficult to completely remove bamboo without digging up the entire network of underground rhizomes. If bamboo must be removed, an alternative to digging it up is to cut down the culms, and then repeatedly mow down new shoots as they arise, until the root system exhausts its energy supply and dies. If any leaves are allowed to photosynthesize the bamboo survives and will keep spreading.
Traditional Uses
The bamboo is a highly useful plant, a renewable resource with multiple uses. It has played a crucial role in the life of people all across south and south east Asia. Here are some of them --
Bamboo pulp is used for making paper
It may be burnt as fuel
Bamboo is known not only for the aesthetic beauty it imparts to its surroundings, but also for its tensile strength. Research has shown that during structural engineering tests, bamboo has a much higher tensile strength than many alloys of steel and a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete. Which is why, for long, it has been a standard material in construction.
Its leaves are a good fodder for animals and fish.
Bamboo is used to make simple bowls, glasses etc by the simple expedient of cutting it from above and below a node.
It is used to make musical instruments. The flutes of Benares are a good example of this.
Many canes of bamboo lashed together, are still used as rafts and boats across the world.
In 1854, Henricg Globel, a German watchmaker made the first true light bulb. He used a carbonised bamboo filament inside a glass bulb. In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison too used bamboo splits as filaments, working with bamboo obtained from Japan. The bamboo filament tended to last about forty hours before burning out.
Bamboo is an important ingredient in many world cuisines. Its shoots are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world and are consumed in a variety of ways. They are sometimes pickled and used as a condiment, or used with other vegetables in a stir fry. Bamboo sap is also used to make a sweet wine while its leaves are used as wrappers for steaming food. The inner hollow in the bamboo stalks are also used to cook rice and boil soup. Bamboo along with other ingredients is used for making pancakes as well.
Bamboo plays an important role in the Chinese medicine system as well as in Ayurveda. Its roots are used to treat kidney problems and bamboo secretions are considered helpful in alleviating symptoms of asthma. Its sap is said to reduce fever and roots and leaves have properties that have been used to treat cancer. The Chinese also use bamboo to treat many infections. Bamboo skin prevents bacterial growth due to its antioxidant properties.
Modern Uses of Bamboo
Though one has stepped into the modern world today with changing lifestyles and choices, bamboo is still used in the same way across large parts of the world as it was used in the past. In fact it is rightly believed by many that no other plant has had the impact that bamboo has had on so many cultures over such an extended period of time. But now, with the help of technology, scores of new uses have been found for the age old bamboo. Here are some --
Bamboo furniture
Bamboo flooring
Bamboo blinds
Bamboo is a very comfortable eco fibre which is naturally anti-microbial. Due to the presence of micro pores, the fabric absorb three times more moisture than cotton, making it very comfortable to wear in the hot summer.
Did You Know?
Bamboo can grow about 4 feet in under 24 hours.
A Bamboo plant can be continuously re-harvested every 3 years, without causing any negative impact on the soil and the environment.
The dense roots of the bamboo plant are so deep into the soil and remain firmly intact that they prevent soil erosion in a very effective manner.
It retains twice as much water in the underground watershed.
It consumes nitrogen and thus remove pollution.
Bamboo plant produces 35% more oxygen than any other tree species. Bamboo also protects against ultraviolet rays.
Soft bamboo shoots, stems, and leaves are the major food source of the endangered Giant Panda of China.
The plant marketed as "lucky bamboo" is actually an entirely unrelated species, Dracaena sanderiana.
Bamboo is the only living thing that survived the Hiroshima atomic blast. It also provided the initial re- greening of that place.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo is, strangely enough, not a bamboo at all. It is a resilient member of the lily family that grows in the dark, tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and Africa. Lucky Bamboo has long been associated with the Eastern practice of Feng Shui - or the bringing of natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance within the environment. It is believed to be an ideal example of the thriving wood and water element, with the addition of a red ribbon sometimes tied around the stalks - which is believed to "fire" the positive flow of energy or chi in the room.
Fast Growing Cold Hardy Bamboo In America
Running Bamboo is the most widely grown, fast growing type of bamboo plant in the world, and is comprised of over 700 species. The most widely used and possibly the 'King' of the running bamboo in the Phyllostachys genus, which is comprised of approximately 80 species. The most fast growing, popular bamboo species are Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo or Fishing Pole Bamboo); Phyllostachys bambusoides (Giant Timber Bamboo); Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo); Phyllostachys nigra 'henonis' (Blue Bamboo); Phyllostachys pubescens (Moso Bamboo); and Phyllostachys sulphurea (Robert Young Bamboo). Golden Bamboo or fishing pole bamboo plants, as they are called in the south, have a light-green to golden colored stalk, that grow fast to ½ – 2 inches in diameter, and up to a 30 feet tall with similar colored leaves and poles. Golden Bamboo was the first of the Phyllostachys bamboo cultivars to be introduced into the United States, in 1882. In Alabama, where bamboo was to be primarily used as a fast growing windbreak, it was planted by southern tobacco farmers. The poles from the golden bamboo have probably landed more fish in the southeastern U.S. than any other means of fishing, hence the name, fishing pole bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea. Giant Timber bamboo has dark green to golden stalks that grow large to 100 feet tall, and up to 6 inch poles in diameter with green foliage.
A popular known grown bamboo is Japanese timber bamboo, Phyllostachys bambusoides, because of its introduction from Japan in the 1910's. This giant timber bamboo was expected to be a huge commercial success by the U.S.D.A. for its use in erosion and construction, and for its nutritious edible shoots. The possible uses as a renewable U.S. Forest bamboo tree product has never been exploited, due to the resistance and opposition of the powerful U.S. Lumber Industry, and lobby, which had its investments planted into the vast non-renewable pine and oak forests that once existed in the lower half of North America.
Black bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra, is fast growing with a shiny, green stalk, that changes into a dark-purple or black color over the period of approximately 18 months. The black bamboo culms (stalks) are 1 - 2 inches in diameter and grow to reach a pole height of 30 feet with the beautiful contrast of green leaves. Black bamboo has for centuries, and still today, been considered in China and Japan to be the "Crown Jewel" of the bamboo world. Emperors and aristocrats alike adorn their private gardens with this choice black bamboo species. Black bamboo is highly regarded for cabinet work and a must for the coffins of wealthy oriental families, a symbol of beauty and success. Black bamboo typically brings the highest dollar to buy at garden centers for its unparalleled ornamental beauty.
Blue Bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon', also known as the Henon Bamboo, or Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon'. Henon Bamboo, however, is larger than black bamboo, with pole stalks reaching 3 ½ inches in diameter and a height of over 50 feet. The Blue Henon bamboo stalk is light-green in color, but after time builds up a hazy layer of silicon on the surface, that gives a grayish-blue appearance. The Blue Henon bamboo color is contrasted by its green leaves. Known as Blue bamboo, due to this silicon build-up, blue Henon bamboo is like its relative, black bamboo, rare and highly prized. Blue Henon bamboo is typically grown for its ornamental value only.
Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is the most valued commercially used bamboo species in the world with millions of acres in use. Moso bamboo pole stalks are considered among the biggest and most beautiful, growing to a diameter from 3 – 7 inches and towering to 80 feet with clusters of relatively small green leaves. The possible uses of Moso bamboo seems endless, ranging from food, construction material, paper, irrigation, medicine, musical instruments, beer, even diesel fuel. Yes, if the "powers that be" would allow, this bamboo might be used to change the economy of the world and the lives of billions. Moso bamboo is considered to be of infinite beauty, growing huge, arching culms swaying in the wind, growing with masses of tiny leaves to gives the image of giant pale-green ostrich plumes. This beautiful visual effect has recently caught the admiring attention of millions of viewers in Hollywood productions, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Last Samurai, and other films from bamboo plants growing in the forests of China. The rare, highly sought after abnormal forms of Moso bamboo with pot-bellies on internodes in tight clusters; Sometimes slanting nodes, or even in zig-zag deformities are interesting. These Moso bamboo poles are called 'Tortoise-shell' bamboo, and are highly prized to buy and grow for their use in expensive handcrafts or furniture. Moso bamboo, as all species, is a renewable resource, and the new moso bamboo plants regenerate from the roots after cutting. Therefore, if grown as a source for paper products, Moso bamboo could rival the lumber industry in power today, and would be more compatible to our environment.
Robert Young Bamboo, Phyllostachys sulphurea, is also a very large bamboo, with golden stalks of green pin-stripes topped with dense green leaves. The pole stalks grow from 2 – 6 inches in diameter and grow up to 50 feet tall. Robert Young Bamboo is named after its discover and is predominantly used as an ornamental variety only.
The running bamboo species spread by underground rhizomes that extend into a 360 degree growth pattern, and can grow indefinitely. The roots are, however, shallow (only 1 ½ – 2 feet deep) and may be largely controlled by root barriers made of thick gauge plastic or concrete units. Hotels and private patios around the world, plant and grow these prized ornamental bamboo in terracotta or cement planters. This bamboo growing method does restrict the bamboo plant's ability to reach its potential maximum large size. Running bamboo species are widely planted for fast growing erosion control, privacy screens, and wind breaks, and the bamboo can be trimmed to the desired height. Bamboo in general is not particular concerning soil type, although a neutral soil (pH = 7) is preferred. Bamboo can also tolerate full sun or partial shade conditions. Despite misconceptions, bamboo culms (stalks) emerge largely in the spring with a consistent diameter that each individual pole stalk will always have. Each year, as the bamboo root mass grows larger and stronger, larger and larger culms will emerge until it grows to that particular species' maximum diameter.
Bamboo Flooring: The Grass is Green
Flooring professionals are always looking to source flooring to their commercial and residential clients that will stand as being both visually attractive as well as long-lasting. Homeowners are looking for these benefits too, but many people are becoming more and more aware of the issues of renewability and the protection of the environment. This awareness has caused many people to seek alternate sources of flooring materials that will still serve the needs of look and practicality, but with the added benefit of sustainability of natural resources. One of the most popular choices for these reasons remains to be bamboo flooring. Bamboo is noted for hardness, beauty, variety, and its “green” friendly nature. But, how exactly is it made, how many types are there, and just what makes it so renewable anyway?
Bamboo Is A Type of Grass
A common error some make about bamboo is that it is a type of hardwood. Not to be confused with common associations of many species of grass, bamboo is actually a type of grass which matures into a material that can rival the hardness of maple! Being well adapted to the environment in which bamboo commonly grows, each bamboo plant thrives in areas of fair to poor soil quality, and still remains to be one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Controlled harvesting of the bamboo plant has very little impact on each individual stalk, which will continue to grow long after harvesting. This is what makes bamboo such a renewable source of flooring material, and why it is often associated with environmentally minded choices for flooring. The fact that it is such a uniquely attractive flooring option makes bamboo flooring an extremely beneficial choice for your own interior environment!
How Bamboo Flooring is Made
Once the bamboo has been harvested, the outer layer of green “skin” is removed and each stalk is cut into lengthwise strips or “fillets”. These curved fillets of bamboo are milled along their outer edges in order to flatten them. The excess elements of this process will go into another type of bamboo flooring that is called “strand-woven bamboo flooring” – more on that later. The flattened strips of bamboo are then kiln dried in order to remove the natural moisture in the bamboo, and are then boiled. The bamboo fillets are now ready to be glued together to make a solid, dependable surface that is more than suitable for flooring. The bamboo undergoes one final compression stage, which makes it that much more durable and ready to ship. Tongue and groove elements are added in order to make an installation as easy as possible. It should be mentioned that the outcome of this manufacturing process is dependent on which kind of bamboo flooring is being made. There are several types of bamboo flooring, both in terms of cut and of color, and some differences in how they are processed.
Horizontal or Vertical Bamboo Flooring
During the gluing process, the bamboo can either be bound with the narrow edges facing up, which results in a thin, channel pattern in the bamboo flooring, or so that the broader surface of the bamboo is bound facing upward, making for a surface that is more akin to traditional hardwood patterns. These styles of bamboo flooring are known as vertical and horizontal bamboo flooring respectively. There are visual benefits for each one, depending on your personal taste, but both remain to be decorative choices. The horizontal style is striking for its “knuckle” or “node” patterns, that is, the pattern naturally occurring in the bamboo that are the equivalent of “growth rings” in many hardwood species. The vertical style is a unique surface that remains unmatched by any other natural flooring material, characterized by decorative, narrow channels caused by the binding of the bamboo strips. Both of these styles are available in natural or carbonized colors.
Natural and Carbonized Bamboo Flooring
Along with choices in style you may wish to consider in bamboo flooring, there is also the question of color. Bamboo flooring is available in two colors – natural and carbonized. The color is determined at the boiling process. Natural bamboo appears in a creamy blonde color that is known to add a touch of brightness to an interior. Carbonized bamboo is characterized by its smoky, caramel hue which is the result of a longer boiling process which causes the remaining starches in the bamboo to caramelize. It should be noted that by the end of the respective boiling processes, the natural remains to be the slightly harder bamboo flooring. The carbonization process which defines carbonized bamboo reduces the bamboo’s hardness by about 30%. It must also be noted that even though this is true, both colors of bamboo flooring can still be classified as being as hard as some hardwood species.
Strand-Woven Bamboo Flooring
In the continuing spirit of a “green” flooring option, strand-woven bamboo flooring is the product of a process that leaves very little wasted. The excess material left over from the filleting process which goes into making natural and carbonized bamboo flooring are intertwined, compressed, and bound. The binding agent is a safe, UV resistant and scratch-resistant resin which also makes the bamboo even more resistant to moisture. The process of compression results in a very hard, very durable type of bamboo flooring typified by grain patterns that are more like those of a hardwood floor. The strand-woven bamboo is then cut into planks and is ready to be shipped – no further compression is needed in this case, unlike regularly manufactured bamboo flooring.
Bamboo: A Renewable Resource Renews Your Interior!
One of the key elements that makes bamboo flooring so attractive is that it is an environmentally responsible choice. As you have read, the harvesting of the individual bamboo plant does no harm to it, and it remains to be one of the fast-growing plants in the world. Also, there is very little wastage of materials during the manufacturing process, making bamboo a truly renewable and sustainable source of flooring materials.
Bamboo flooring can in turn renew any interior for attractiveness as well as practicality. Bamboo flooring is unique in appearance, and is easy to clean. As such, you will gain both the time it would take to maintain many other types of flooring, as well as the many compliments you’ll receive from visitors!
Bamboo Flooring Dos and Don’ts
Do:
Don’t:
Kamis, 21 Januari 2010
Senin, 18 Januari 2010
Engineered Bamboo Floors
Engineered Bamboo Floors
Solid and engineered bamboo flooring look the same, but what's the difference? See how solid and engineered bamboo flooring are constructed.
Selasa, 12 Januari 2010
Bamboo Flooring Sale
Many people believe that just because they buy discount bamboo flooring, they are not able to get quality flooring options. However, this notion is completely untrue. Many times, discount stores put bamboo flooring on discounts to make rooms for new styles, designs and patterns. But, bamboo flooring that is on sale is of equally finer quality that of flooring options that is kept as fresh stock. Also, it is a common practice to put old fashion flooring accessories on sale just to make space for newer styles, designs and patterns that are coming in.
Senin, 11 Januari 2010
Yanchi Bamboo Flooring
Yanchi Bamboo Flooring
Yanchi Bamboo Flooring
Yanchi Bamboo Flooring
Yanchi Bamboo Flooring
Installing Bamboo Floor
Bamboo flooring is a great choice for nearly any home. This material is very similar to the hardwood floors that many people have come to love with a great many other benefits as well. This type of wood is cheap, easy to install, and has many other positive benefits as well. The great look that it will add to your home will be appreciated by nearly everyone who walks through your doors. This material is strong enough to be used in any room of your home, including your kitchen.
Bamboo flooring comes in three basic forms, each with its own type of installation procedure. Floating flooring is the easiest type of flooring to install. This type of flooring "floats" on top of a cushioned layer that rests on the actual base of your floor. In this way you have padding as well as a strong surface on top. These units simply snap together and can be cut beforehand to fit the specific shape of your floor. For many "do-it-yourself" type of people, this is the best way to go. The cost is low and it makes it easy to re-install flooring in the future if the flooring becomes worn out or redecoration occurs.
This is probably the biggest drawback to floating floors - they don't last as long. Laminated and hardwood are much longer lasting. Hardwood has a classic feel, but is very quick to be stained or dented, especially when it comes to bamboo, which is an especially soft wood. Laminated flooring provides the greatest strength and can last up to fifteen years.
Whatever the model, aside from hardwood, most bamboo snaps together in sheets that are cut to the floor. This requires that all previous flooring is stripped away beforehand and that the floor is accurately measured. This information can be taken to a qualified flooring company, who can then cut the material to the exact size of your floor. Laminated flooring includes padding so it is the simplest to install with a higher costs before square foot. After installing the flooring, homeowners often install a special edge material where the floor meets the wall to give each room a smooth look.
One small point to keep in mind when selecting floors for a home - if the color of the bamboo is darker than its natural look, then it is weaker in strength and more susceptible to damage over time. Aside from this, all floors should last the same and provide the same great benefits to your home's look.
Bamboo flooring comes in three basic forms, each with its own type of installation procedure. Floating flooring is the easiest type of flooring to install. This type of flooring "floats" on top of a cushioned layer that rests on the actual base of your floor. In this way you have padding as well as a strong surface on top. These units simply snap together and can be cut beforehand to fit the specific shape of your floor. For many "do-it-yourself" type of people, this is the best way to go. The cost is low and it makes it easy to re-install flooring in the future if the flooring becomes worn out or redecoration occurs.
This is probably the biggest drawback to floating floors - they don't last as long. Laminated and hardwood are much longer lasting. Hardwood has a classic feel, but is very quick to be stained or dented, especially when it comes to bamboo, which is an especially soft wood. Laminated flooring provides the greatest strength and can last up to fifteen years.
Whatever the model, aside from hardwood, most bamboo snaps together in sheets that are cut to the floor. This requires that all previous flooring is stripped away beforehand and that the floor is accurately measured. This information can be taken to a qualified flooring company, who can then cut the material to the exact size of your floor. Laminated flooring includes padding so it is the simplest to install with a higher costs before square foot. After installing the flooring, homeowners often install a special edge material where the floor meets the wall to give each room a smooth look.
One small point to keep in mind when selecting floors for a home - if the color of the bamboo is darker than its natural look, then it is weaker in strength and more susceptible to damage over time. Aside from this, all floors should last the same and provide the same great benefits to your home's look.
How to Install Bamboo Flooring
Not just food for pandas or the stuff of cheap picnic mats, bamboo is now being processed with modern techniques into beautiful “hardwood” flooring that beats standard wood floors in durability, hardness, and dimensional stability.
An added bonus to these beautiful floors is the knowledge that bamboo, unlike wood, grows quickly and abundantly, reaching maturity in five years or less. Red oak and maple, by comparison, can take decades to mature and then have to be replanted. Clear-cutting of forests also has a negative environmental impact and threatens the planet’s biodiversity.
After harvesting, cutting, processing, and finishing, bamboo flooring installation is not much different from standard hardwood floor installation. The important steps in installation occur before putting in the bamboo floor. First, make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer who is willing to back up their product with a warranty.
The next step in bamboo flooring installation is making sure the subfloor is dry, clean, and level. Dirty subfloors will not bond well with the adhesive, and subfloors that are not dry will eventually cause rot. If not level, the bamboo flooring will squeak when walked on. If you are competent in home repair and good with your hands, you may be able to complete the bamboo flooring installation on your own. In some cases, with certain types of bamboo flooring, a professional will be needed.
Bamboo flooring may be glued down using a moisture barrier flooring adhesive. After applying the adhesive to the subfloor with a trowel, the bamboo flooring planks should be immediately placed. You may also install bamboo flooring using a nail gun over plywood or particleboard. Once starter rows are secure, subsequent planks should be nailed directly above the tongue at a 45-degree angle to face.
After installing the bamboo flooring, you will care for it in a similar way to hardwood floors; frequent dusting/sweeping, occasionally mopping, and use of wood cleaners. With regular care, bamboo flooring will add a stylish, beautiful component to your home for many years to come.
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
Cleaning Bamboo Floors
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