Soil for Olive tree

[jkd2572]

Jeremy, do you sift the bark you use?

Nope. I use it just like the stuff I sent you. If there is some crazy big piece I will take it out but that's about it. After I mix it looks like this.

 

[Bcrary3]

60% pine bark? I think that is far too much for an olive in your climate. What is your winter protection plan for this tree if I might ask??

Well what I plan on doing is putting it by a window near a heat vent (probably pull the table out 3-4 feet so it is not right against the glass).



And what I ended up with is some bark mulch (it is still fairly large, gonna throw it in the food processor to break it down a bit) for orchids. and a bit of red lava pebble (small, around 1/8th inch) and some crushed red granite with fines.

 

[Smoke]

Well what I plan on doing is putting it by a window near a heat vent (probably pull the table out 3-4 feet so it is not right against the glass).

This does not sound very pretty.

And what I ended up with is some bark mulch (it is still fairly large, gonna throw it in the food processor to break it down a bit) for orchids. and a bit of red lava pebble (small, around 1/8th inch) and some crushed red granite with fines

This on the other hand sounds very pretty.

 

[Bcrary3]

This does not sound very pretty.

Any better ideas for winter?

This on the other hand sounds very pretty.

With this bark mulch, would I want to remove the charcoal and the vermiculite or leave that in when I put it in the food processor? Also, would I want to add blood meal or bone meal or anything of the like to this mix?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Near a heat vent is the part that sounds dangerous. Even though olives like it warm and dry, near a heat vent is too dry. I kept mine next to the window and used a t5 fluorescent for supplimental light. They can be had relatively cheap and you can cram the rest of your "tropical" collection under there as it grows. A thermometer with a humidity gague is not a bad idea.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Just hit the mulch with the blender. And I would skip the organic fertilizer. Maybe pick up a bottle of dyna grow for fert.

 

[luckydevil728]

very little pine bark or organic matter, use mostly a sandy type mix ...turfice,small lava or pumice (dry stall) or decomposed granite,etc. and make sure you sift all the fines out.
growing an olive inside, even for the winter can be tricky..don't over water it.

 

[Bcrary3]

Alright, I will have to dig my t5 light out of the basement haha.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I've had this guy a few years now, I moved it to a small pot when I moved it in last fall since space was a premium. Next summer I hope to let it run a while in a larger pot.