The bamboo plant can be a beautiful addition to your home. It has decorative uses, but it also provides benefits to your home.
Below are 5 benefits to having a bamboo plant in your home:
- Decorative uses
- Health benefits
- Feng shui and luck
- Building and construction
- Bamboo in your diet
What Is the Best Way to Use Bamboo for Decorative Purposes?
The two primary types of indoor bamboo for planting that are often used for ornamental purposes are not bamboo at all!
However, because both Lucky bamboo and Lotus bamboo are very bamboo-like in appearance (and name!), we will address them here in this article.
While both types can be used in pots, people often put them in vases of water with pebbles or rocks to create appealing tabletop displays.
Lucky bamboo:
- Is more interesting in that it can, of course, be twisted and curled around into different shapes and patterns.
- It grows toward the sunlight. Keep this in mind when you train your plant.
You can even bonsai some species of bamboo, with a slower-growing bamboo species being best for this purpose.
It is popular among bonsai lovers and works well to create mini forests.
It is best to use those varieties that are clumping, rather than running.
In What Ways Can Bamboo Benefit My Health?
Many people believe that bamboo is useful for air quality improvement in the home.
Not everyone agrees, but it is a common belief that bamboo can absorb or, at the very least, neutralize toxins.
In fact, bamboo can be rated as one of the top plants to help cleanse the air.
Bamboo charcoal is possible to use to absorb unwanted fragrances in your home.
To make your own bamboo charcoal is very simple. All you need to do is take a chunk of bamboo, wrap it in aluminum foil, put it on a gas stove, and heat it.
Additionally, bamboo charcoal can be found in other products, such as a soap and toothpaste.
There is also a general belief that plants can help improve mental health.
Think about it: If you are surrounded by a lot of bamboo plants in your house, you will likely have a calm and relaxing place. Possibly, the green from the bamboo plants can help people have a better focusing ability, which theoretically causes a better productivity rate.
Can Bamboo Really Bring Me Luck?
The plant known as ‘Lucky bamboo’ is deeply integrated with the practice of Feng Shui.
The plant is considered lucky because its structure is hollow, which is helpful for moving positive energy.
The number of stalks indicates the quality of luck you want to attract into your house.
The best direction to place the plant is in the East or Southeast direction of your house.
The elements that you combine with your Lucky bamboo plant rocks and the water itself all have meaning and relate to the abundance and prosperity that will be bought to the house.
The Lucky bamboo plant will usually be tied with a red ribbon, with a metal coin tied to the end of the ribbon.
This ensures that all 5 elements are related to the Lucky bamboo plant, and, they are:
- wood
- fire
- earth
- water
- metal
Can I Build with Bamboo?
Bamboo has gained acceptance as a building material worldwide.
It is strong, light, and sustainable to the environment.
There are 4 major species which are typically specified for construction projects.
These are:
- Genus Guadua
- Genus Dendrocalamus
- Genus Bambusa
- Genus Phyllostachys
If you are into DIY, there are loads of things you can make with bamboo.
From easy decorative ideas like wind chimes and picture frames, to larger projects like chairs and maybe even an outdoor gazebo.
Once you have treated your bamboo properly, it should last for many years.
Bamboo can also be used for the construction of entire houses.
Bamboo housing is very normal in areas such as south-east Asia and in Latin America.
If you are feeling creative: If you don’t want your whole house made out of bamboo, you can always go for bamboo flooring. Many of the floor products you can get today come from China or elsewhere in Asia.
Can I Eat Bamboo?
Perhaps you have seen, or even eaten bamboo shoots, out of a can you bought from the grocery store.
Did you know that you can grow your own bamboo shoots?
Bamboo shoots are the young stalks of the bamboo plant that are just under the ground, and they are harvested just before they poke up out of the ground.
They can cut out with a sharp knife.
Perhaps you also did not know you can make tea from bamboo leaves. It is quite simple and has many health benefits:
- Some of which support healthy hair, skin and nails.
- Bamboo is also packed with antioxidants.
If you suffer from indigestion, gas, or bloating, give bamboo tea a shot.
Here’s a quick process:
- If you have fresh bamboo leaves, cut them up into small pieces and fry them in a pan.
- Then, boil the leaves in some water and let them steep for a minute.
- It’s now ready to pour into a teapot for you to enjoy.
The tea is mildly sweet in flavor and can be consumed hot or cold.
Conclusion
As you’re probably aware, the bamboo plant is incredibly versatile and unique in the benefits it can offer your home.
From an aesthetically pleasing Feng shui decor experience to the more practical health benefits of bamboo tea, you’ll see that there is something for effn.