The bamboo plant is a grass species with a hard hollow stem that stays green throughout the year. There are hundreds to thousands of bamboo species that grow in different places around the world. Additionally, bamboo is a useful multi-purpose product. But what kind of plant species is bamboo actually? Below follows a brief explanation about the biology of the bamboo plant, bamboo leaves, and the difference between bamboo and cotton.
Bamboo plant
Bamboo plants have various characteristics that characterize them as bamboo plants. All bamboo species have hard, woody hollow stems and are classified as evergreen grasses. Bamboo also has only one growing season. This means that no matter what happens, bamboo stands upright all year round and stays green, so the old stems - also known as old culms - don't need to be cut. Unlike ferns, for example, which lose their leaves in winter and whose stems need to be cut off after winter.
Bamboo is flexible
Furthermore, bamboo is flexible compared to other plant species. This is beneficial when bamboo is used as fencing in the garden, for example. But also in building constructions, the flexibility of bamboo is an advantage: in both cases, the flexibility ensures that the bamboo will last longer. It's not for nothing that in daily life people sometimes refer to the proverbial saying 'to be as flexible as bamboo'.
Bamboo species
There are different types of bamboo plants that can be divided into two categories: running and non-running bamboo plants. The running bamboo plant - also called sympodial bamboo - grows vertically and has multiple underground runners spread over a large piece of land. Due to the vertically spreading rhizomes, it's possible that an entire bamboo forest has grown from just one underground bamboo rhizome.
The non-running bamboo plant - also known as monopodial bamboo - on the other hand, grows horizontally deeper into the ground and concentrates in one spot. The rhizomes grow into new culms and emerge from the ground not far from the old stems. Because this bamboo species concentrates in one spot, this bamboo plant is suitable as a houseplant or for the garden or balcony. In this case, the bamboo plant can serve as a space divider, to create height, or to cover a wall. Finally, these two categories of bamboo plants can be divided into thousands of different bamboo species.
In May, most bamboo species are in full growth. This can be recognized by the young shoots - also called bamboo shoots - that emerge from the ground everywhere. It's important that during this growing season, the bamboo plant receives extra water during prolonged drought. In some cases, these bamboo shoots are edible, and spring is also the right time to harvest. Read more about how fast bamboo grows.
Bamboo leaves
Spring is also the time when new leaves emerge and the old leaves are gently pushed away. The bamboo plant has an annual leaf change, providing natural privacy in all seasons of the year. In the optimal climate, bamboo should never be without leaves. Read more about pruning bamboo.
Bamboo leaf cycle
The bamboo leaves grow at the end of the bamboo stems and have a unique life cycle. The new leaf - also called foliage - emerges in spring as a small bamboo shoot behind the existing leaf. The small sprout grows to the length of a leaf and carefully unrolls. At the end of this process, the existing foliage is shed by the plant. The change occurs gradually and may go unnoticed unless carefully monitored.
The leaf undergoes natural aging during the annual leaf cycle. Soil conditions, species, and weather can cause the leaf to show slightly different color variations. Leaves at the end of their cycles become more susceptible to bacteria, fungus, and even scale insect infections. These are natural phenomena and mechanisms that typically aren't transferred to the new foliage.
Once the old foliage has fallen, it's wise to leave the leaves on the ground. The leaves have several useful functions to fulfill in the bamboo forests. The leaves contain a lot of silica, and bamboo derives its strength from silica. Bamboo leaves are like a natural fertilizer that helps the plant's growth in future years. The decomposition of the leaves and release of nutrients usually occurs within a year after the foliage falls. The foliage is also useful in suppressing competing root growth in the soil.
Bamboo leaves in use
Bamboo leaves are used in various ways because they are rich in fibers, proteins, and silica. Therefore, bamboo can be used in tea, beer, medicinal products, aromatherapy, and essential oils. Because bamboo leaves are rich in protein, they can also be used as animal feed. Current consumer products including paper and textiles mainly focus on bamboo culms. As a result, the leaves are sometimes overlooked, while they can actually be beneficially used in various ways.
What's better: bamboo or cotton?
Bamboo is increasingly being used as a substitute material. Not only is bamboo used as a substitute material for wood and plastic, but bamboo can also be made into textile. Bamboo textile is often referred to as more sustainable and therefore better than cotton production. This is partially true, but not entirely. In the last few paragraphs, we'll address this: what's more sustainable, cotton or bamboo?
Cotton production
Cotton is the most well-known type of textile and can be found in everyone's wardrobe. Cotton production often uses pesticides or artificial fertilizers to grow, making the plant stronger. However, this causes the chemicals to break down, resulting in weak material that's easily damaged. A solution for this is producing organic cotton. Due to the absence of harmful chemicals, clothing or other textiles made from organic cotton therefore last longer without tears or holes. Additionally, cotton is easy to maintain because the fabric doesn't require special washing practices.
In cotton production, the cotton goes through a machine that separates the fibers from the seeds and other residues, so they can be spun into yarn. This yarn can then be woven or prepared into fabric. After production, the final product is prepared for the next customer by bleaching/dyeing/printing/etc.
Bamboo production
Bamboo, on the other hand, is a regenerating plant, meaning it doesn't need to be replanted every year to produce. The bamboo plant also uses only one-third of the water that the cotton plant uses, and it can grow in various types of climate. The plant also has thicker and stronger fibers, making it a durable fabric. A bamboo fiber can absorb a lot of moisture, requiring less dye to color. On top of that, it's also an anti-allergic fabric and very soft. Bamboo textile also has antimicrobial properties, preventing unpleasant odors and helping to reduce bacteria that get into clothing.
Chemical production
Ultimately, there are two ways to process bamboo textile: chemically and mechanically. When chemicals are used, the bamboo is cooked and then bleached multiple times. The bamboo fibers for making bamboo textile products are often processed chemically. This involves "cooking" the bamboo using strong chemical agents such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide, combined with multiple phases of bleaching. It is then hardened with a sulfuric acid solution, after which a fiber can be made. Moreover, the chemical agents are not recycled and are therefore often discharged into the water.
Mechanical production
When the bamboo plant is processed mechanically, the stems are crushed and using naturally dissolving enzymes, a pulpy mass is created. After this, all intact fibers are combed from the remaining "slurry" and spun into yarn. This same process is also used for linen, flax, and hemp. Bamboi has a similar production process, where instead of spinning yarn, paper is pressed. The bamboo is washed in sodium hydroxide, but this is a natural substance and 100% biodegradable. It's important to note that the production process of Bamboi bamboo toilet paper is different from the chemical production process of bamboo textile.
In short, bamboo is a versatile plant that can be used for various purposes. The bamboo plant stays green throughout the year and is very flexible. The leaves grow from the stems of the bamboo plant, bringing multiple health benefits and can also serve as animal feed due to their high protein content. Finally, bamboo production differs greatly from cotton production. Provided that bamboo production is carried out mechanically, which is the case with Bamboi toilet paper, it can be concluded that bamboo production is more sustainable than cotton production.
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