Drought Tolerant Bamboo Species

Last year I started a forest restoration project in the Andes of southern Ecuador. Recently, this idea came to my mind to try to include bamboo into the project as it is very productive, improves the soil, increases structural diversity and attracts wildlife.

However, with only about 800 mm of precipitation and a more or less 6 months dry season, the region is pretty dry... and we are between 1.500 and 2.000 m above sea level. Additionally, I would allow only native bamboo species to be planted... at least a neotropical species!

Does anyone know a suitable species for these conditions? It doesn't have to be very productive under these conditions - the most important thing is that it survives by itself...

Thanks a lot for any help!

Bamboo Tiger Longhorn Beetle (Chlorophorus annularis) - A Super Pest?

Does anyone have experience with this bamboo pest? We have found the bug at all stages (pupae, larvae, adult) in our poles which were treated prior to installation in our house (3 week wash, dry then permethrin soak treatment method). Some of the infested poles are three years old already.  What is the life-cycle of this bug? Can it have already spread to other poles in the house, or were they already in the poles, survived treatment and are now emerging?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Chlorophorus annularis is a serious bamboo pest, it attacks both standing culms and stored bamboo poles. The adults lay eggs in cracks or cut ends, larvae tunnel and feed on the inner fibers, then pupate inside the pole. The full life cycle can run a few months to a year depending on climate, so yes, you can see all stages in the same pole.

If you’re seeing emergence years later, then the preservation treatment was probably not effective enough. It likely knocked the infestation back at first but wore out over time. Once adults emerge, they can re-infest untreated or lightly treated bamboo nearby.

Permethrin can be used to treat bamboo, but it's generally not the most effective method for long-term preservation against insects and fungi. While permethrin is effective against some pests, other treatments like borax-boric acid solutions are often preferred for bamboo due to better penetration and long-term protection.

For existing infestations indoors, you’d need to treat or replace infested poles. If the spread is ongoing, consider targeted treatment by injecting Timbor in all of the bamboo internodes.

Nisus Tim-BOR Professional Insecticidal Dust, Water-Soluble Borate Powder, Wood Preservative and Fungicide for Termites, Carpenter Ants, Wood Decay, 1.5 lbs

Growing Guadua Bamboo in Spain

Hello, I am Valentina Rujeles, a student of a Master's degree in sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. At this moment I am doing my final thesis of the master and I am doing it on Guadua, a kind of bamboo. While researching and getting to know other people who grow bamboo I came across you and what a wonderful thing you do.

My TFM is on the CO2 sequestration of guadua and the possibility of planting it in Catalonia but I have not found much information that you could perhaps provide me with as there is little literature on the same. The first thing is - up to what absolute minimum or maximum temperature does Guadua stop growing and at what temperature does it die? Also what extreme climates (not tropical or subtropical) can it be planted. I am studying the hypothesis of planting it in the Llobregat delta. Thank you very much.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Hello Valentina, it is reported that Guadua dies when exposed to -2°C for 5 consecutive days. Guadua also needs a humid environment, preferable all year long. I do not know of any successful Guadua plantations in Europe up to this day. You can find more information in this article about the climate requirements for Guadua Bamboo.

Bamboo Treatment Tank Maintenance

I'm trying to maintain the concentration of a Borax/Boric acid in our bamboo treatment tank. We add additional salts as we top up with water due to the level drop, which must be part due to absorption and part due to incomplete drainage of the poles back into the tank, but after some years and many batches I'm concerned that the solution may not be at optimum strength.

I have not found using a hydrometer or measuring ppm to be effective, I guess due to sugars etc leaching from the bamboo. Do you have any advice? A rule of thumb calculation? A suitable measurement device? Or should we just continue to go by drop in fluid level?

Additionally our tank is black and smelly although we circulate the solution through a bag filter and occasionally add iodine. Do you have methods of keeping the solution cleaner?

We are in the Philippines, using primarily "Butong" Dendrocalamus asper for construction. We have a 1M X 1M X 11M tank in which we soak 20 to 25 10mtr poles, 2 weeks per batch. The tank is covered. We have a starting solution of Borax: Boric acid 75KG:50Kg in 7.8cu.m water.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cooling Effect of Bamboo - Microclimate Protector

In my research of various bamboos, I came across some accounts of Moso bamboo working as a natural swamp cooler, carrying moisture into its canopy and dropping it down to have a pronounced cooling effect on the understory. Logically, I would think any bamboo that covers a wide enough area consistently would have this effect. Could I expect this effect from Guadua bamboo as well, once fully established? And, if the understory is cooled, what are your thoughts on using the newly formed microclimate to farm perennial shade plants (such as coffee) in environments that would otherwise be a little too hot for them?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Yes Guadua, and all giant bamboos for that matter, have a cooling effect. At our farm I have noticed a 8 degree Celsius drop once you stand under a bamboo canopy compared to full sun exposure. There is also a wide variety of understory plants growing in natural Guadua forests.

Although Moso is a runner and Guadua is officially a clumper, their growing habits are somewhat similar. Guadua has long-necked pachymorph rihzomes, which means culms could grow as far as 2.5 meters apart. Since there is quite some space between the culms, and diffuse light can still enter the forest floor, many tropical plant species grow vigorously in such environment.

In the coffee zone of Colombia, native Guadua and coffee plants grow side by side. If you plan on establishing this combination from scratch I would suggest to plant a row of Guadua a few rows of coffee, again a row of Guadua, etc. This will facilitate maintenance and harvest. Between a row of Guadua and coffee plants you should keep at least 5 meters of space.

Growing Bamboo in Europe

I am considering growing Bamboo in Ireland. Does anyone have any experience of growing Bamboo in a temperate climate that is approx 15 to 25 degrees celsius in summer and relatively mild winters of 5 to 12 degrees. There may be short colder spells where night temperatures up to 0/-2.

A farmer did a trial here in 2014 with the support of a university which I will to get some information on. My plot is small 2 acres and would only be a small scale trial. If it is possible my main questions are what variety is most suitable and would the invasiveness of Bamboo cause me major problems.

Any advice appreciated.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

In Central European countries the most cultivated bamboos are found in the genera Phyllostachys and Fargesia. Both genera are temperate bamboos but Phyllostachys species are invasive runners whereas Fargesia species are non-invasive clumpers.

The species choice depends on the end use of the bamboo. For example, are you aiming to produce timber or ornamental plants? Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) has successfully been introduced in several Eastern European countries, and has many uses. Fargesias are often sold as screening / hedge bamboo.

Phyllostachys can become invasive, so rhizome barriers may have to be put in place to prevent issues with the neighbors.

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos

By Bell, Michael

My Bamboo Furniture is being Attacked by Beetles

I have a serious problem with my bamboo furniture being attacked by beetles. I would be very appreciative if anyone can give me a solution…

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Drill small holes in the bamboo near the nodes and inject an insecticide (Timbor). You can drill the holes under the arm rests or other hidden places so that it won't affect the aesthetic qualities of the furniture.

Harvesting Bamboo for Biomass

For biomass purpose, when can the bamboo be harvested according to the biomass content and can an entire area be harvested and how long do I have to wait to harvest it again? Do you have the data age-biomass content and moisture content?

How to Straighten Bamboo While Drying?

I intend to use bamboo as a 7 ft pole to hold a banner at the top. I will be holding it while riding a horse. How do I ensure that I get it dried straight and sturdy enough to hold approximately 10 pounds at the top of the pole?

How Long do I Need to Dry Bamboo to Prevent Rooting?

I live in North Carolina, USA. My neighbor is cutting down a large stand of bamboo. I would like to use some pieces to make garden trellises, but I don’t want the pieces to root. The pieces are 3 inches in diameter and about 15 feet long. How long do I need to dry them outside?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Once the bamboo has lost its original green or glossy yellow color and turned into a pale beige, they won't root anymore. If you lay the bamboo outside in the sun for about a month they should be dry enough.

Drying Bamboo Below 15% Moisture Content

I am working on a project which would require the bamboo to dry to below a 15% moisture content. How long would this take in your estimation? Any ideas on low cost/low energy ways to speed up drying?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Bamboo is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture until it reaches equilibrium with the surrounding environment's moisture content (MC). When exposed to changes in humidity, bamboo naturally shrinks and swells. Depending on your location, especially in tropical climates, the MC of bamboo rarely drops below 15%, with dried bamboo typically stabilizing between 16-18%. It is important to clarify whether you intend to dry whole bamboo poles or slats. Slats can be oven-dried, but poles should be air-dried to minimize the risk of cracking.

Flame Curing of Bamboo Poles

I'm flame curing my bamboo poles. Do I have to remove the nodes inside?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

No you do not need to perforate or remove the nodes but you should drill small holes just above the nodes (from the outside of the poles) so the hot steam can escape. Otherwise the bamboo poles may explode when applying heat.

Mold Issues When Drying Split Bamboo

This is James Khan from Northern Bangladesh, Asia. We are working with Bamboo for few years and we do natural sun drying in dry/cold season (Oct to April) for our split bamboo. But we are facing issues of mold/fungal attack during drying and even production during monsoon. So we suspect that our natural drying under direct sun did not season the materials well and moisture locked inside.

May I get your kind suggestion to drying split bamboo? Direct sun drying/ indirect sun drying/process/ techniques etc. Thanks.

Shrinkage of Oven Dried Bamboo

What % of shrinkage does bamboo have while drying over fire or in an oven?

Bamboo Drying Method in Colombia

What is the drying method being adopted in Colombia with tubes running into bamboo? Thanks in advance!

---

⭐ Best Answer:

That's a technique called "el Pulpo" (invented by Jörg Stamm). All nodes are perforated inside the bamboo in order to preserve them in large tanks with boron salts. Afterwards hot air is forced through the poles which rapidly reduces the moisture content.

How to Dry Dendrocalamus asper for Making a Beehive?

I have some bamboo hives of the sting-less bee Tetragonisca angustula. I now started researching D. Asper to build homes for this species and others of the sting-less bees.

Some of my work can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvkI-WfS5332s4we892mtgg

My question is which is the best method to dry the bamboo? Some people use torches to apply heat, etc.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Just put the bamboo to dry in the sun (rotate every day to avoid cracking). Flame torching is most suited for small diameter green bamboo, not so much for large diameter bamboo. Sun drying will take about 2 weeks for small sections, but do make sure to use mature Dendrocalamus asper otherwise it will crack easily.

Does Dendrocalamus asper Grow Well in Florida?

I've read D. asper does well in Florida. I'm looking for something to completely overwhelm (thick and tall) a lot I have in Lake Placid Florida (zone 9b). Something invasive and aggressive that does not easily die. My soil is sandy and often moist. Something so dense it would be hard to penetrate. Anything that grows well and fast from seeds? If not Dendrocalamus asper, how about Bambusa vulgaris?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Bambusa vulgaris would be the better choice, much faster spread. I take it you have neighbor issues? You are in luck that I have the starts you will need as well. I am in Fort Pierce Florida. No charge, but you will need a saw.

Encyclopedia or Database to Identify Bamboo Species

Is there a bamboo encyclopedia or database that has significant amount of information? Trying to identify some bamboo that I have, because I'm not exactly trusting the information where I got the bamboo from. Would like to compare data.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Yes there is: Plants of the World Online - KEW

This is the most complete database with all currently known bamboo species. Unfortunately they don’t show a lot of images of the bamboo. Here on our website we do publish photos and descriptions of the most popular bamboo species so you might have more luck browsing our page.

Do Tonkin Canes Need any Treatment if Used for Ski Poles?

I'm making alpine ski poles of tonkin bamboo. Do tonkin canes really need any treatment if they will be used for ski poles? Once they are "converted" into ski poles they will either be stored indoors (usually in a dry place together with the skis) or outdoors in cold and dry conditions on high altitude. Low humidity and not many insects, so do the bamboo then really need any treatment? Looking forward to a reply! Thank you very much!

Treatment for Rain Gutters Made from Bamboo

What kind of treatment would you recommend for rain gutters made from bamboo? Let’s assume you want to collect that rain water for your crops, so no toxic chemicals. For this application, is doing nothing equivalent to using boric acid borax?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

The better solution is to simply build the attaching system to allow easy replacement of the gutter. Thye should last a year or two here in FL.