We have a huge clump of bamboo and I had thought of thinning it out and using some of the cuttings as garden canes. Does anyone know the best way to dry them?
Fresh cut bamboo is treated with fire to bring out the resins and harden it. The easiest way to do this is by running a blowtorch over the stalk, the resin comes to the surface then you rub it with a cloth. The heat pushes out moisture and the resin hardens the surface.
Some people choose to soak the canes in denatured alcohol for 2-3 days to speed up the drying process but that is optional.
The drying/seasoning takes from 6 months to 2 years depending on the species & thickness of bamboo. Good air circulation is essential. Ideally it needs to be kept somewhere shaded from direct sunlight and standing up vertically.
If it is allowed to dry slowly in a well ventilated area in the shade standing up then only a very small percentage of the canes will split.
Thank you for the reply Baccy Man, I will give it a go.