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.

Biomass Production of Dendrocalamus asper vs Guadua angustifolia

I'm curious to know which bamboo produces more biomass in a per hectare basis: Dendrocalamus asper or Guadua angustifolia?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

To be honest, I can't compare because I only have scientific studies for Guadua angustifolia. A Guadua plantation with a planting density of 5m x 5m (400 plants) can produce 862 tons biomass per hectare in 7 years (from the time of planting until year 7). In other words, an average biomass production of 123 ton per hectare per year.

Theoretically Dendrocalamus asper (being a very dense clumping bamboo) could produce even more biomass per hectare when the planting density is very high. But in practical terms, it would be impossible to manage a Dendrocalamus plantation if all bamboos are planted so close together. Guadua is an "open clumper" so there is always space between the stems which makes it much easier to sustainably harvest the stems and manage the plantation.

A lot of different variables have to be considered when talking about biomass production, but since Guadua angustifolia is a giant tropical bamboo, I think it would be safe to say that it is one of the largest biomass producing species in the world (both among bamboo species or any other high yielding crop).