As a bamboo lover myself, I must admit that this article is written based on how much I love this wonderful natural material that can do wonders. So here we go! Here are 5 things you MUST know about bamboo.
1) Bamboo is grass.
Bambusoideae, the scientific name for Bamboo, is a type of grass. Don’t feel bad if you ever refer to bamboo as a type of tree. It is widely available not just in China, India, and across almost all continents except for Europe and Antarctica.
2) Bamboo grows super fast.
Be amazed! A new shoot of some species can grow almost more than 1metre a day! The technique used to grow bamboo is simply by filling up with water at their soil base. Bamboo shoots are really strong. They can grow and come up through concrete sidewalks and metal slabs. They grow so rapidly and often outgrow the area in which they were planted!
3) One of the World’s most sustainable source of wood.
Bamboo claimed to hold the title of being the most sustainable building material on earth. Its ability to grow more than a metre a day is undeniable the fastest growing plant on earth!
Compared to other commonly used hardwood that can take 25 to 40 years to reach a stage where they can be used, bamboo takes as short as 1 to 5 years to grow before it is ready to be harvested. Do you know that Bamboo regrows without even replanting? Now you know!
4) Chemical-Free Planting
Bamboo requires zero pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers to grow. Many plants require tonnes of chemicals to grow on a commercial scale, and lucky for bamboo, they require none. Bamboo is naturally resistant to pests and has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. They simply need just water and sunshine!
5) Bamboo Scent
Bamboo, besides being used as a building material and even food for pandas, another unique use is bamboo oil. Bamboo oil can be extracted from the bamboo plant. It is a lightweight and non-greasy substance that carries a fresh and lightweight scent. Some of the amazing benefits of bamboo essential oil are nourishing the skin and hair, deodorizing the surroundings, and even fights aging!
One more amazing fact is that Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen and stores 4 times more carbon than trees!