Those who love trees with thorns...question for you

[Cadillactaste]

So...I know more than bougainvilleas have thorns. My step mom asked me to winter her vine I bought her for Mothers Day. (It's thorns would make great nightmares they are HUGE) Which had me thinking...those with trees with thorns...do you prune them off prior to wiring them out? Or...wear gloves and grow thick skin?

 

[florida_bonsai]

For my brazilian raintrees I remove the thorns as soon as they harden off. My bougie doesn't appear to have thorns; so haven't had to deal with them there...yet haha

 

[Poink88]

I remove the thorns that will be left after I prune. The ones beyond the 3rd or so node are usually left alone since the branch itself will be removed anyway.

It is a hassle while walking around them though. Like my BRTs that I am growing out have 3 feet branches and can snag me while watering (my space is tight and they block my path now). Before they go in their winter place (my garage) they will all be pruned back hard.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Dario...pruning prior to wintering won't cause them to try and back bud? Just curious about that...and if so how does wintering effect new growth?

 

[Poink88]

Dario...pruning prior to wintering won't cause them to try and back bud? Just curious about that...and if so how does wintering effect new growth?

BRT die back a bit so I leave a stub past the node. My garage never dip below 60*F and have lighting so the (real tropical) plants grow throughout winter. I even prune some trees twice before spring actually.

 

[fredtruck]

The only thorns that really bothered me were those on a pyracantha I had. I leave quince thorns alone.

 

[jkd2572]

I have thorns on brt and Texas ebony. I cut them off as soon as I see them. They are a pain to deal with. Even just cutting the tips off of them can help a lot.

 

[Atrox]

TX Ebony

I have been working on several TEs, some for 6 years or more. On mine the new branches change direction a bit at each thorn so I leave 'em at least 'till I see what I want down the road

 

[Poink88]

I have been working on several TEs, some for 6 years or more. On mine the new branches change direction a bit at each thorn so I leave 'em at least 'till I see what I want down the road

The TE branch zig-zag w/ or w/o the thorns from what I can tell. Little buggers come in pairs in TE as well. The worst thorn I've seen is still with Cat's Claw though. They are small but terrible!

 

[Neli]

I guess I have developed thick skin...at first I used to cut them off...but got tired and Now I remove thorns from my hands for a week after I wire them...
My chojubai has no thorns...my bougie too, but I have some nasty acacias, with thorns thinner than needles that break inside my fingers...and they are just too many to remove...so I am used now...but some how I get better at dealing with the thorns.

 

[Poink88]

I guess I have developed thick skin...at first I used to cut them off...but got tired and Now I remove thorns from my hands for a week after I wire them...
My chojubai has no thorns...my bougie too, but I have some nasty acacias, with thorns thinner than needles that break inside my fingers...and they are just too many to remove...so I am used now...but some how I get better at dealing with the thorns.

Nasty! Almost sound like cactus "hair" thorns. Best way I know to remove them is by duct tape.

 

[Neli]

You will not manage with duct tape...they are very hard...and brittle, and just the tip maybe 3mm breaks into the flesh...there was a time when my massage guy was removing thorns from my bum and back of legs...just from passing near them they get in the skin.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You will not manage with duct tape...they are very hard...and brittle, and just the tip maybe 3mm breaks into the flesh...there was a time when my massage guy was removing thorns from my bum and back of legs...just from passing near them they get in the skin.

Oh my! You must love them to put up with the pain.

 

[A Random User]

Agree with Neli...
Don't see a problem with thorns.

 

[Neli]

Oh my! You must love them to put up with the pain.

No one has managed a bonsai from Acacia alba...that I know of...so being a stubborn person I like to experiment with them.

 

[Cadillactaste]

No one has managed a bonsai from Acacia alba...that I know of...so being a stubborn person I like to experiment with them.

Would love to see it.

 

[GrimLore]

"If" a plant has thorns I leave them be, I have no trees with thorns and I always treat shrubs as shrubs no matter what "my" plans are for the plant. I have a friend who just clips the tips off to make things easier but I have not found it to be that much of a problem as of today.

Grimmy

 

[Neli]

Would love to see it.

A bit over a year in development before and after.
Alba has white branches and the tiniest of leaves. Shorter internodes, and flefible branches...
This is styled in adrican flat top style and the tree is 20cm high.