Growing Olive Bonsai

People who are into bonsai should try cultivating an olive bonsai as it is one of the more exotic plant varieties available to bonsai growers. The olive is a member of the evergreen family and traces its roots to countries near the Mediterranean Sea. Most notable olive tree bearing countries are Greece, Spain, Italy, Lebanon and Syria with a few growths elsewhere in Africa and Asia.

The exotic nature of the olive bonsai tree is due to its flower bearing capabilities combined with its fruit which is a common ingredient in many dishes all over the world. The flowers of the bonsai tree typically come out in the summer and are shortly followed by green olives that are indispensable to the concoction of green olive martinis, every girl’s favorite drink after a long, hard day at work.

The olive bonsai is also one of the few bonsai varieties that can be grown to any bonsai variety depending on the whim of the gardener. Perhaps the only type not possible for the olive tree is the broom-style bonsai but even that can be remedied if necessary. In general, olives make a fine bonsai whether you grow it as a formal upright, an informal upright, a literati, raft, cascade, semi-cascade, slanting or even in a group arrangement.

Caring for an olive bonsai begins with propagation which is best done by layering or cutting the parts of existing plants to slowly trim it down to the desired size. Another method is to grow the tree from seeds but this requires considerable skill and has a lower rate of success because you will also need to grow the trees as you propagate it and trim it down. Still, if you feel that you have the requisite skills to grow an olive bonsai from scratch, there are many olive bonsai seedlings available in nurseries, online stores, and even for sale by fellow bonsai growers.

Olives are also known to be a little difficult to prune but it’s also a function of skill as much as anything else. If done improperly, pruning in olives results to a dense, rough, congested and choking growth on the part where the cutting was done. Expert growers recommend waiting for spring before doing the pruning on olives and for wiring or other growth restriction methods to begin within a period of 2 to 3 years once the plant has grown a significant root system. Wiring is ideally done during the fall or spring, but spring is the preferred timing for expert bonsai growers.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of an olive bonsai is that it is not as sensitive to watering as other plants. In fact, it has very good resistance to drought and water shortages. Watering should only be done in specific periods when the plant is already dry; it is not necessary to constantly wet an olive tree’s soil as it is more than capable of sucking in the moisture due to its extensive root system. Watering should also be done as a function of the type of soil used. Growers will need to figure out their own watering cycles or research from the internet suitable and proven schedules for watering based on the type of soil used.

In the same way, full exposure to the sun is required but protection from harsh winter conditions is also a must for an olive bonsai as it does not take too well to cold weather. Every two to three years, make it a point to re-pot the plant and during this time, trimming of the root network and leaves down to 2/3rd of its original growth is necessary to enhance new growth. Fertilizer application is suitable during spring and fall seasons and should generally be banned during the winter due to dehydration and over-burning.

Growing an olive bonsai can be a fulfilling and satisfying experience if done correctly. Give it a shot and it’s a sure bet you will come to love your olive bonsai and will only want to add more tree to your new found hobby.