Potted olive tree care

The potted olive tree is easy to care for

Image - Wikimedia / Forest & Kim Starr

When you want to have a potted tree, it is very important to choose one that does not need a lot of space to grow, and that is not too tall. But sometimes it is difficult to find the right one. In those cases, one opts for one that grows at a slow pace and / or that tolerates pruning well, such as the olive tree.

The potted olive tree is a very, very interesting plant, since it can produce a large quantity of olives with total normality. In addition, it looks great on terraces, patios or balconies exposed to the star king. Let's know how to take care of it 🙂.

Where should the potted olive tree be placed?

The potted olive tree blooms without problems

The olive tree is an evergreen tree (that is, it remains evergreen) that leaves the leaves falling little by little throughout the year as new ones come out. In its natural habitat, that is, in the open fields and bushes of the Mediterranean Region, it can reach a maximum height of up to 15 meters, but in cultivation it rarely exceeds (or is allowed to exceed) 4-5 meters.

Therefore, If you are going to grow it in a pot, the ideal is to place it outside, and as we said at the beginning, in full sun. It is not a tree to have in shady corners, as it needs light to grow and produce its fruits.

Can you have an olive tree indoors?

It is not recommended, since the light that comes in from the outside is usually not enough. Likewise, it must be borne in mind that resistant to frost down to -12ºC, so that it can be grown outside all year round.

If it is colder in your area, protect it in an unheated greenhouse or with an anti-frost cloth (for sale here).

How often is a potted olive tree watered?

Watering any pot-grown plant is one of the most important tasks to perform, if not the most. The substrate loses its moisture quickly, especially in midsummer, so you have to check that it does not dry out completely. The olive tree is a plant that resists drought, but if it is grown in a container it will depend on you to stay hydrated.

Bearing this in mind, it must be borne in mind that during the summer season it will be watered more than in winter. The frequency will depend on the weather, but in general It is advisable to water an average of twice a week in summer, and once a week the rest of the year.

Do not put a plate under it, as any stagnant water in it will rot the roots. Nor is it advisable to spray / sprinkle its leaves with water, especially if the sun shines on them at that time as they could burn.

Universal substrate for potted olive trees: is it a good option?

One of the most commercialized substrates is universal. It is the one that we find in any nursery, garden store, and even in hypermarkets. It is inexpensive, but despite its name, the truth is that it is not recommended to use according to which plants, either because its pH is not suitable for them or because it is not able to filter the water quickly enough.

However, for our protagonist it's pretty good. It is a substrate normally made with peat moss, coconut fiber, compost, perlite, and / or some other type of compost. Its pH is 7 in general, although you can find it 6,5-7, so it will only be used in plants that want neutral or alkaline substrates such as olive trees.

Of course, the composition varies a bit from one brand to another. But even if only the amount of perlite changes, for example, this small difference can end up being decisive for an olive tree to live or end up dying. Because of this, from my own experience and If you live in the Mediterranean region I recommend using brands like Flower's (on sale here) or that of Fertiberia.

Without detracting from the rest (such as Compo's or private label ones), they are the ones that have given me the best results, since no matter how much they dry, they do not become blocks of earth that have trouble absorbing the water later. Now if you can't get any other brand, mix it with 30% perlite. Y if you live in an area where it usually rains frequently, certainly substrates such as Compo (on sale here) they can be very useful to you.

What is the best compost for the potted olive tree?

No plant would survive on water alone. When growing a potted olive tree must be paid from spring to late summer, and even until autumn if the weather is mild and / or frosts occur but are weak. But, with what type of compost?

As we are talking about a tree that produces edible fruits, we advise to pay it with fertilizers of organic origin, and in liquid format when being cultivated in a pot. For example, guano (for sale here) or seaweed extract are a good option, as long as the instructions specified on the package are followed.

Potted olive tree pruning: when and how?

Pruning shears for plants

A potted olive tree does not grow as much as if it were in the ground, but still It should be pruned to keep it low, with the help of pruning shears and a handsaw or handsaw to cut thick branches. For pinching, that is, to trim the younger branches a bit, you can use common scissors, such as kitchen or even craft scissors.

What is there to cut or trim? Basically the following:

  • Cut diseased, weak and broken branches.
  • Cut those that remain taking into account the shape you want to give the glass. For example, if you want it to have a rounded crown, you will have to remove the branches that protrude.
  • Trim those that are lengthening a bit, allowing 4-6 pairs of leaves to grow and removing 2-4.
Important: disinfect tools before and after use to prevent infection.
Olive
Related article:
How to prune an olive tree

What is the best time to transplant a potted olive tree?

The change will be made every 2 or 3 years, in spring, and only if the roots are coming out of the drainage holes or if it has already filled the entire container and has stopped growing. The step by step to follow is as follows:

  1. First, a pot with holes in its base will be chosen (it does not matter if it is made of plastic or clay) that measures about 5-7 centimeters in diameter and depth than the previous one.
  2. Then, it is filled a little with universal substrate.
  3. Afterwards, the olive tree is extracted from its 'old' pot, being careful not to manipulate its roots too much.
  4. Next, it is introduced into the new pot, ensuring that it remains centered. If you see that it is too high or too low, remove or add more substrate.
  5. Finally, finish filling with universal substrate and water.

Olive tree pests and diseases

The olive tree is quite resistant; however, it can be affected by insects such as mealybugs, olive tree borer o spider mites. All of them are well treated with insecticides suitable for organic farming, such as diatomaceous earth (for sale No products found.) or potassium soap (for sale here).

In addition, in case of excess humidity, the fungi could spoil it. These are treated with fungicides.

Where to buy?

The potted olive tree must be kept outside

Get it young from here.

And that's all. We hope you enjoy your potted olive tree a lot 🙂.


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