Olive tree

[Gustavo Martins]

You can chop as low as you want. With the trunk you chop off, stick it in some sand. I bet it will root!

Ok thanks. I'm going to repot it first so I can assess the roots first and then decide where to chop.

And yes, I'm planning to chop the remaining of tree in 2-3 other bits and stick them in a pot. I was thinking in pumice as it keeps a bit more of moisture in.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Uh Uh....perlite

As per above, I was thinking in using pumice...

 

[Gustavo Martins]

I would say that is a grafting mark..?

I'm not sure, but it does not look as such to me. I think this is where a lot of side branches were cut back and which have created the swelling of the trunk in this area.. You can still see some bits of the branches that have been cut back. I will try to get a better picture when I get home so you can tell me.

 

[leatherback]

I will try to get a better picture when I get home so you can tell me.

Nah, I won't be able to
Just.. Look at mine, I posted before. Large leaves on top. Tiny leaves in the bottom. I am fairly certain that one was grafted too, without a clear scar. Maybe someone can comment on grafting olives, whether it is possible to do with hardly a visible scar. Maybe wild and cultivar are so close that the bark is exactly the same, as is growth speed? (Although.. they grow from cuttings easily, so maybe it is just the way they regrow if bonsai techniques are applied? Dunno!).

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Earlier this year:
View attachment 125732

@leatherback Was looking at the picture of yours and was wondering: Did you do that cut/scar on the tree yourself? I kind of like it.

 

[leatherback]

Did you do that cut/scar on the tree yourself? I kind of like it.

Yes I did. And thx

 

[Gustavo Martins]

I should have probably done this in separate years but... considering that is an olive which everyone says is a weed I took a risk and, last weekend, trunk-chopped and repotted (with some root trimming). I went mad, the really chopped it down low. Also removed those large roots that were growing down. Repotted the tree in akadama, pumice and a bit of pine bark (roughly 2:3:1). Also, put a layer of Leca at the bottom to help with drainage.

Before
Olea europea I by Gustavo Martins, no Flickr

After (top view)
Olea europea IV by Gustavo Martins, no Flickr

side view
Olea europea III by Gustavo Martins, no Flickr

other side view
Olea europea II by Gustavo Martins, no Flickr

The remaining of the trunk above the chop I cut 4 reasonably fat bits and put them to grow (2 in 100% scoria, 1 in 100% pumice and 1 in 100% soil). Will see which one does better. The top of the tree is currently in a bucket with water and will plant it somewhere around my house.

Olea europea V by Gustavo Martins, no Flickr

 

[Gustavo Martins]

dunno why the pictures were turned side-ways...

 

[ConorDash]

The pics are all ok from here .
I'm surprised such large hardwood cuttings will root so easily.
I guess they may pack a good amount of energy in all that cambium.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

The pics are all ok from here .
I'm surprised such large hardwood cuttings will root so easily.
I guess they may pack a good amount of energy in all that cambium.

yeah the pics sorted themselves. I still don't why they showed side-ways when I posted them...

It's hard to imagine that roots will grow yes. I also doubt that. But I read that olives do root easily from leg-sized cuttings... Let's see what comes out. As of today, there is still nothing visible but I suppose it is still too early...

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Nearly a month has passed since the trunk chop and repot and no buds are yet visible. Should I be concerned?

 

[leatherback]

absolutely not.
At one point you will wake up and realize the trunk is bathed in tiny buds. THat is.. Unless you worked it too hard. Cannot tell. I would not have done the chop & rootwork in one go. But it took a long time for mine to really do something. Give it anoter few weeks.

 

[my nellie]

Olives and Phillyreas as well, may sit for long sulking, doing nothing.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Thanks. I will wait a bit longer. In fact, I have no other option but to wait...

absolutely not.
At one point you will wake up and realize the trunk is bathed in tiny buds. THat is.. Unless you worked it too hard. Cannot tell. I would not have done the chop & rootwork in one go. But it took a long time for mine to really do something. Give it anoter few weeks.

I did the chop and footwork all at the same time because it seemed strong and because everyone says that olives are like tanks...

 

[Gustavo Martins]

It's leafing out

There's 2 or 3 leafs all from the same spot. Should I pick one and remove the others?

Part of the rootless trunk that I put on pumice is also leafing and putting some roots. The others (on scoria and potting soil) have no growth seen at the moment

 

[leatherback]

Good things come to those that can wait!

I think I would let the growth extend a bit first. You only have those 2 sprouts? First let it get some traction on the growth.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

So far I only have those. Funny though, The rootless bit planted on pumice has sprouts in two different areas.

Ok I will wait a bit and then remove the one that looks weaker

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Update

Growing strong but only from a single spot. Had 5 shoots coming from there but cut one back which was competing with the leader. I hope it buds back from other places as well...

 

[Gustavo Martins]

And this is the one of those trunk bits that was on pumice. Made a transplant today as where it was it could not grow.

Those on scoria are starting to put roots but have not put leaves yet. Scoria is drier so maybe that's why. The one on potting soil is yet to put roots and is no looking that good.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

I am kind of disappointed that I only got branches on one side on both of these. I find the second olive better but I am struggling to see any tree in these. Any ideas, styling-wise?

Olive #1


Olive#2