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Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43715

  • Clicio
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Well, I have these three bonsai in training, and they have thorns.
Bouganvillea, Kumquat, and Brazilian Rain Tree.
They are really difficult to wire and fine pruning is almost a self-torture.
So goes the question: IF I cut off all thorns on these species, will they stress? Can I just prune down all spines and prickles?

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Last edit: Post by Clicio.

Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43717

  • leroycoutts
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Same question for my Bougainville as well.. thorns are quite nasty

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Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43719

  • crent89
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i have a few bougainvilleas. i was told and have read that cutting off the thorns are not a problem and i do so when pruning and haven't noticed any affects. but dont hold me to it. on the other hand i know other species such as firethorn bush you do not want to remove the thorns because where there is a thorn is where a new branch grows. so i leave the thorns and suffer through the pain lol. i will try and search the article about the boug thorns and post the link.
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Last edit: Post by crent89.

Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43722

  • Ivan Mann
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I have some gloves with heavy rubberized palms and fingers for handling roses and thorny weeds. I don't know how well they would work for small twigs and such. They are a little stiff, but the thorns don't penetrate.

I think they were in the electrician section of the large hardware store here.
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Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43729

  • Felidae
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I’m listening, cause I’ll get some spikey ones also...

/Maybe I can use my Venom Defender gloves with the ones we cannot dethorn... :D /

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Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43734

  • Clicio
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Regarding the BRTs, I found out the answer.
It seems you can cut off the spikes safely, watch:

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Last edit: Post by Clicio.

Thorns, Prickles and Spines - What to do? 5 years 7 months ago #43749

  • m5eaygeoff
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If you cut the spines off then it will reduce the flowering I am told. Seems to be the case as I left thee on my Hawthorns and Pyracantha and they flowered where previously they did not. I put up with them now,
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