Texas Ebony Pruning

[PastryBaker]

My Texas Ebonies are growing like weeds.
I know many prune tropicals in summer, but my summer is between 105-116F. Should I trim them back while it is this hot and the growth has not hardened? Or wait til it starts to cool down a bit. I don't want to add more stress to the trees in this heat. They are under 70% shade cloth.
Thanks

 

[Russ1]

Prune them while they are growing. My Greenhouse has been over 100 to 116 and I have root pruned and repotted and done serious pruning on My Brazilian Rain Trees. Check out the images in What did you do today, somewhere around July 10th. I think it was 104 when I re-potted them.

 

[rockm]

Texas ebony is native to south Texas and is pretty familiar with heat (Zone 8-10). I’d echo the sentiment if the tree is growing you can prune it pretty safely

 

[PastryBaker]

Texas ebony is native to south Texas and is pretty familiar with heat (Zone 8-10). I’d echo the sentiment if the tree is growing you can prune it pretty safely

Thank you

 

[PastryBaker]

Prune them while they are growing. My Greenhouse has been over 100 to 116 and I have root pruned and repotted and done serious pruning on My Brazilian Rain Trees. Check out the images in What did you do today, somewhere around July 10th. I think it was 104 when I re-potted them.

I will look. I did want to do some serious pruning, but was afraid of that also. I know people who repot and prune bougainvilleas when it is super hot.

 

[Russ1]

Actually at least with BRTs removing foliage helps the tree because it has less foliage to lose moisture, less stress, tried it both ways when repotting some small trees this Summer.
I had a TEXAS Ebony before I fell in love with BRTs, it did not grow as well as the BRTs so I sold it, but that was early on in my Bonsai journey.

 

[PastryBaker]

Actually at least with BRTs removing foliage helps the tree because it has less foliage to lose moisture, less stress, tried it both ways when repotting some small trees this Summer.
I had a TEXAS Ebony before I fell in love with BRTs, it did not grow as well as the BRTs so I sold it, but that was early on in my Bonsai journey.

I bought Ebonies because they love heat and do well in my climate.

 

[rockm]

Texas ebony is not really a "tropical" It is a desert plant adapted to extremely dry conditions. It grows when there's water available.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Texas ebony is a survivor. Mine would go deciduous on me in SoCal - dropping all its leaves - but would be fine the next spring. Here in NC I treat it like a true tropical and bring it indoors for a couple of months during winter.

Personally, I have Texas ebony, Brazilian rain tree, and Brazilian ironwood, and they are very similiar. Brazilian ironwood looks (to me) identical to Texas ebony (even the blooms) but everything is just about 25% smaller (leaves, blooms, etc). All of them prefer to be worked in the heat of the summer... and go dormant during the winter even if you bring them indoors.

 

[PastryBaker]

Texas ebony is not really a "tropical" It is a desert plant adapted to extremely dry conditions. It grows when there's water available.

I always wondered if they were considered tropicals,,,thanks.

 

[PastryBaker]

Texas ebony is a survivor. Mine would go deciduous on me in SoCal - dropping all its leaves - but would be fine the next spring. Here in NC I treat it like a true tropical and bring it indoors for a couple of months during winter.

Personally, I have Texas ebony, Brazilian rain tree, and Brazilian ironwood, and they are very similiar. Brazilian ironwood looks (to me) identical to Texas ebony (even the blooms) but everything is just about 25% smaller (leaves, blooms, etc). All of them prefer to be worked in the heat of the summer... and go dormant during the winter even if you bring them indoors.

I remember you helping last year with my Ebonies. They are strong. I may get a BRT. Just trying to decide. More trees with spines and compound leaves.,,,hmmm.
Already have three ebonies and a black olive.

 

[rockm]

I always wondered if they were considered tropicals,,,thanks.

If you’ve never been to South Texas or the RGV (Rio Grande Valley) think African Savannah environment.

 

[Russ1]

More trees with spines

Just cut the Spines.. my BRTs have them but very few. I Just cut them in half or almost completely remove them.