A Bamboo Vase is a Joy to Behold

Bamboo vases are made in all sizes and shapes. Round or square, long or stout, tall or short - every floral need can be filled with a bamboo vase. There are even bamboo vases perfect for both dry and wet displays. Many are so gorgeous that you don't even need to put a floral arrangement in it to handsomely display your bamboo vase.

Bamboo vases are so varied, because bamboo itself is such a versatile raw material. It can be laminated, bent, woven and used naturally just as it grows. This versatility is why you can make so many things with it, like bamboo fly fishing rods, bamboo rugs, and bamboo knitting needles.

And just like other wood, bamboo is an organic, porous material. Long term use of water in a non-treated bamboo vase can crack and otherwise ruin the beauty and utility of the vase. Because of this, there are several things to consider when picking out the right bamboo vase for your arrangement:

1. If your arrangement is dry (no water used in the vase), you can use any bamboo vase that matches your style.
2. If your arrangement is wet (water is used to feed the fresh flowers), you have to select a bamboo vase that is treated for liquid.
3. You can tell a vase is treated for liquid if it is lined with a glass, metal or plastic removable lining. It may also be painted with a plastic paint or other plasticized substance like lacquer. Basically speaking you just don't want water to sit for extended periods on raw bamboo.
4. If your heavenly bamboo vase is not treated for liquid, but you still want to use it, place your own lining in it. You can use plastic glasses, metal pails, or other receptacles designed to hold liquid. Remember - these inner receptacles don't have to be pretty, they just have to hold water.

Just like other artistic vases such as ceramic and glass, you may want to use your bamboo vase as an accent piece or a centerpiece, just to show off its beauty. In fact, you can use groupings of vases to create texture and color accents in rooms. If you use it as a centerpiece, you can place it on a bamboo placemat for emphasis. In one of my rooms, I have a grouping of 5 tall, slender bamboo vases on a window sill. The window is decorated with a textured bamboo curtain. The texture of the curtain is very important to the room's style, but when the curtain is pulled open, the texture is supplied by the vases instead of the curtain.

You can see, with its versatility and beauty, you have infinite possibilities for arranging flowers and creating accents in your rooms with bamboo vases!