Olive bonsai

mt006b1198 · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject: Olive bonsai

Hi everyone.

I have just bought a European Olive bonsai from ebay (will receive it on monday).

The only problem is that I have absolutely no idea on the sort of care that it needs. Will it need the same sort of care as my other trees?

Can anyone please advise? Laughing

Thanks

Shelley Very Happy

Stymie · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

It shouldn't need any shelter in Kent. The usual care procedure for outdoor trees is adequate. I have one which has been outside in the frost and snow since I got it some six years ago. It likes full exposure to the sun. Harry Tomlinson says that they should only be exposed to a minimum temperature of 7C but perhaps that depends on how they have been grown. Mine has been at least ten degrees colder but it has been outside all the time. Try to find out if yours has been coddled in the past. Like all my trees, this one has not had a lot of fertilization. It's still in an ordinary plastic plant pot and may be due for a bonsai pot next year. It would be nice to see your's in due course Shelley.

mt006b1198 · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

Hi Don.

Thanks for reply.

Will e-mail seller when I receive it and will keep you updated on info.

Will post a pic of it on here when it arrives.

Shelley Very Happy

Dick · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:09 am Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

I would hazard a guess and say that the olive tree ("olea" not "bucida") needs a Mediterranean type of growing condition.

Stymie · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

Mine is Oleo europea so I must be either lucky or have a tough specimen. I am completely honest about it being outside all the time.

jeremy_norbury · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

Outside is no problem.

Global warming; embrace it.

andycarter · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Olive bonsai

outside should be ok (unless never been out of a greenhouse before - email seller to find out what conditions it has been grown in). if it has been outside and you then bring it in to a centrally heated, darker home - they tend to drop lots of leaves. i have two, one sapling that lives on my study windowsill and has never been outside and a slightly larger one that up until this year was outside for the summer and inside over winter. however, dropped all its leaves when it came inside so this year it is going to be left outside. may protect it with some fleece depending on the weather

andy