Among the many plants on earth, types of bamboo plant are one of the most numerous. There are tens of genera and thousands of species registered in taxonomy. Not surprisingly, they grow in almost all countries, while each has different physical characteristics according to the region.
Aside from how many types of bamboo are there, this plant is also popular because of the benefits. People have used it as materials in the construction, furniture, and tools since a long time ago. It is due to its heavy-duty structure, easy processing, and easy access.
Over time, its use has grown also for aesthetics apart from functional purposes. Recently, some popular bamboo species have become a growing material for ornamental plants. How are these plants sundries, and how are they used in today’s era? Here is the full explanation.
The Main Types of Bamboo Plant
Aside from the plant’s way of life, experts carry out the bamboo species identification by the rhizome structure. Some research on how it grows has led to the conclusion that there are two categories, namely clumping and running. The two are then categorized into several species.
Clumping Bamboo Types
These types of bamboo plants have pachymorph or sympodial part on their rhizome structure. It means that every root grows to form a single culm. Their vegetation is limited compared to the running one. Here are some of them:
Fargesia Bamboo
Fargesia is known as an ornamental plant originating from China. These types of bamboo plants grow mostly in the Vietnam and eastern Himalayas. This plant generally has a small shape, so it is suitable for decoration.
Guadua Bamboo
These are clumping variant that belongs to the Neotropical genus. Guaduas are the types of bamboo plant with many benefits. We can find them in various parts of the world, especially Uruguay, Trinidad, Mexico, and Amazon.
The species are mostly medium in size and are found at elevations less than 1500 m. They are a crucial plant for several animals, such as Amazon rats.
Ecuadorian and Colombian use them as the building material because of its heavy-duty nature. Besides, the existence of these types of bamboo plants is also quite vital as an absorber of carbon dioxide around it.
Giant Bamboo
They are one of the types of bamboo plant with the largest number of species in the world. It is grayish-green in color and can grow up to 98 feet tall. Growth is very fast because it can grow as long as 40 cm in a day.
The Giant grows a lot on the banks of rivers of various countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, India, and others.
Chilean Bamboo
Chilean, also known as Chusquea Culeou, is a type of bamboo plant that originated in South America. This plant is quite high resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures. It can grow to 26 feet tall and can survive up to 60 years.
The growth of this variant is slow when compared to others. They hold a significant role in forest dynamics and die after releasing seeds.
China Gold
China Gold has physical characteristics, including exquisite culms combined with chocolate stripes. These types of bamboo plant have a height of 4-6 meters and can withstand temperatures of minus 5 degrees Celsius.
They are a decorative plant that is not too big. Another main characteristic of their dependency on the water so that the gardener must make sure the soil is moist.
Due to its beautiful appearance, many people make it as one of the garden sweeteners. However, you must be diligent in taking care of it because China Gold is very susceptible to attack by mealy bugs.
Alphonse Karr
In general, the Alphonse Karr has yellow or gold culms that look very sweet with green stripes. The older it is, the darker the color of the parts will be but in no way diminishes its beauty. These types of bamboo plant are approximately 2-4 meters in height.
They are a kind of decorative plant that is very malleable. By making regular cuts, you can keep them at the desired size. Therefore, this plant is suitable for land that is not too broad. Moreover, Alphonse Karr can withstand various types of weather, wind, and seawater.
Gracillis
Gracillis is known as a tall plant, so it is widely used as privacy screens. In some conditions, these types of bamboo plant can grow too fast and must get proper handling. This variant is known to love water so that the soil must always be in moist conditions.
Buddha Belly (Bambusa ventricosa)
These types of bamboo plant are also known by the scientific name Bambusa ventricosa. Most of these plants are located in Asia, China, Vietnam, and Melanesia. This plant growth is fast and is widely used as an ornamental plant.
Buddha Belly can grow both outdoors and indoors. These are popular types for bonsai because its growth can be adjusted so that it is not too big. However, they will grow normally in the wild or garden.
Running Types of Bamboo Plant
The running bamboos display leptomorph or monopodial components in rhizomes, with the underground stems are independent. They fit with all climates and grow very fast in a short time. Here are some variants you need to know.
Arrow Bamboo
The scientific name for these types of bamboo plant is Pseudosasa japonica. Many samurai in Japan used its cane to make weapons so that it became known as Arrow-kind. This plant can withstand cold air up to -17.7 degrees Celsius. However, he can also receive a lot of sunlight.
Dwarf Green Stripe Bamboo
This plant, which is also known as Pleioblastus, comes from East Asia and is commonly found in Japan and China. In general, their leaves that have green stripes with fine hairs underneath identify these types of bamboo plant.
Dwarf Green Stripe can withstand extreme temperatures and is known to be highly resistant. Therefore, many people use them as construction materials.
Black Bamboo
Black bamboo, also known as Phyllostachys, is a plant originating from China. However, he also thrives in various other areas such as America, Australia, and Europe. They can reach 100 feet tall.
There is something unique with these types of bamboo plant, namely the part called the sulcus. Prominent grooves come from the stem and help this plant grow crazy through the underground rhizomes. This variant is very popular as a furniture material.
River Cane Bamboo
This perennial plant grows in wet areas. In general, these types of bamboo have the round cane, hollow stem, and a height of up to 33 feet. In the wild, river cane usually grows side by side with other plants such as oak, pines, cypress, wax myrtle, blueberries, and others.
Red Margin
Some of the main characteristics of these types of bamboo plant are their height that can reach 60 feet and a maximum diameter of 3 inches. Plants that have the impression of red color are classified as growing very fast so that many people use it as a privacy screen.
Golden Goddess
These types of bamboo plant are very suitable as decorative plants because of their non-invasive nature. In the wild, it can grow to 10 feet, but you can adjust it to stay under 8 feet in size. This plant, which is quite popular in Asia, requires a lot of water and sunlight.
Giant Japanese Timber
Despite using the name ‘Japanese’, these types of bamboo plant originated in China. The reason is that they are remarkable in the Land of the Sun. This plant is known to have a glossy and smooth cane and popular as timber.
Choosing Bamboo Plant for Different Purposes
Among the many types of bamboo plant, each has characteristics that cannot be the same. Therefore, people also use it for various purposes. Some examples of their use in everyday life are as follows.
Types of Bamboo for Construction
Since ancient times, the use of bamboo as a construction material has been popular. Country houses, especially those in the Asian region, rely heavily on this material to build various parts. Compared to other materials, bamboo has the following advantages:
- Fireproof – Bamboo contains water and silicic acid that is high enough to withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Celsius.
- Stronger than steel – The fibers of bamboos run axially, giving them high tensile strength.
- The elasticity – This plant is very elastic and can withstand strong earth vibrations. Therefore, bamboo is much safer for earthquake-prone areas.
- Safe for health – Instead of using factory materials such as asbestos or cement, bamboo is much safer because it is free of chemicals.
- Easy and cheap – Bamboo is a plant that grows very fast, so you will have no trouble getting it. Compared to other materials, it comes in a very affordable price.
- Light – Bamboo has a very light texture making it easy to use. Construction work will be much faster than using wood or stone.
Due to some of the reasons above, many people have started using this plant for various construction jobs. However, you still have to be selective when choosing materials.
Among the types of bamboo plant, the best one is Guadua. This genus consists of at least 20 species, all of which are massive timber. They can reach 100 feet tall with diameter up to 6 inches.
Types of Bamboo for Landscaping
All types of bamboo plant can grow fast and reach three feet in just a day. It makes gardeners reluctant to plant them in the yard. Without patience, they will grow wild, making the surrounding area dark and filled with unwanted animals.
Nonetheless, you can make it as a yard decorator. If you choose the right types of bamboo plant, combined with good handling, these plants will create a beautiful and pleasant atmosphere to enjoy.
What is the Best Types of Bamboo Plant for Garden?
Some names of bamboo plants that are suitable for landscaping needs include Alphonse Karr that has the gold-colored stem and green lines. The Golden Goddess can also be an option because it can grow up to 50 feet, thus providing the perfect privacy screen.
Some China-based variants and the black-kind can also be the best types of bamboo plant to grow in your garden. These plants are generally easy to arrange so that they do not even invade your yard.
Some Advantages of Growing Bamboo
Growing some types of bamboo plant for landscaping is not dangerous or harmful. You will get various benefits that do not exist in other ornamental plants. Some of the advantages of cultivating your own are as follows.
- No fertilizer is needed. Bamboo also requires a little amount of water.
- Many beautiful types of bamboo plant can enhance your landscape.
- They can grow anywhere, without depending too much on climate, weather, and season.
- The plants are easy to grow.
- They can do self-renewing and damage repairing.
- They are easy to arrange. You can cut and design it to grow to the height and width you want.
- They can withstand the wind. The elastic yet strong nature of bamboo will provide temporary protection from storms. Bamboo also has no branches so that the house is safe from breaking.
How to Grow Bamboo Well
The development of bamboo plants that are too fast may worry many people. However, there are some tricks to keep them growing beautifully and regularly. The following are the steps for planting it.
- Prepare a barrier from polyethylene plastic. You can fit in the size with the bamboo plant. It will work much like a bottomless pot.
- Make a hole in the location where the plants will grow. The size must also be following the barrier.
- Insert the barrier into the trench, ensuring it is in the right position.
- Once installed neatly, arrange the hard clay on the trench base neatly. Make sure the bottom is completely covered.
- Pile the hard clay with fertile soil so that it reaches a safe limit for planting.
- If the media is ready, you can start planting the bamboo plant at that location. Do not fail to pay attention of it every day.
In this way, you can grow various types of bamboo plant in your yard calmly. Do not forget to take care as much as possible so that they become beautiful and fertile.
Types of Bamboo Plants Indoor
All types of bamboo plant will grow like crazy in the wild. Unfortunately, maybe that will not happen in indoor circumstances. Most of them will experience stress that leads to imperfect growth.
It is a result of a lack of planting medium and too little sunlight intensity. However, growing indoor bamboo is not impossible. You can make this plant a beautiful room decoration with a few tricks. Here are the steps.
Choose the Types of Bamboo Plant
Before planting, you need to know the best types of bamboo plant that are suitable for indoors. You can cultivate not just any variant in a pot. Some recommendations are Red Margin and Buddha Belly.
Red Margin is a type of bamboo plant that does not depend too much on sunlight. The availability of plenty of water is the main requirement for this plant to thrive. If their intake is sufficient, they can grow to more than 9 meters tall even when planted in pots.
Meanwhile, Buddha Belly is also a type of bamboo plant that requires more water than others do. This plant is small and is indeed pot-based. With the appropriate care, they will become an attractive decoration in your room.
Prepare the Right Pot
To plant indoor bamboo, you need a pot whose top is wider than the bottom. The size should not be too small, at least the distance of the plant to the side of the container reaches 5-6 cm.
Also, make sure the drain holes are large enough for water to flow smoothly. Some types of bamboo plant need good drainage to keep growing well.
Start to Plant
After that, you can start planting the bamboo in the soil inside the pot. Need not to bury it too deep because this plant roots are relatively small. Just ensure that they are in a sturdy location.
Bamboo Indoor Care
After finishing planting, the next task is to look after and care for it. As mentioned above, the indoor types of bamboo plant require sufficient water. Some tips on caring for it are as follows.
- Make sure the temperature remains stable, approximately 21 degrees Celsius.
- Provide water intake as needed. You have to study the nature of bamboo to provide the right nutrients.
- Use a spray bottle when watering to make the planting media remain naturally moist.
- Apply fertilizer at least once a year.
- Move or separate the bamboo if it gets too dense.
Those are some explanations about how to care for bamboo in the room. This plant care is not too troublesome. However, you must still study the properties of the types of bamboo plant that you are planting to provide proper handling.
Those are some guidelines regarding the types of bamboo plant and the various details behind it. Before deciding to plant, of course, you must first study its properties so that you can do the right treatment.
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