29-year-old Olive Bonsai

Common Name: Olive Tree

Scientific Name: Olea europea

Characterization: Originating from the Mediterranean area (Portugal/Greece/Spain/Italy), it belongs to the Oleaceae family.

Medium-sized tree with slow growth, evergreen and oval leaves with gray-green tones.

There is a wild variety, the Wild Olea, also highly appreciated in Bonsai for its small leaf size and rigidity of the trunk which allows for Jin and Shari (deadwood) techniques; this variety does not bear fruit.

Location: Outdoors, where it receives 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight per day (ideally in the morning or late afternoon), protected from strong winds and frost.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water flows out of the drainage holes, to evenly moisten the soil, always from above never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.

For watering tips, consult the watering technical sheet.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between waterings (to check if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

If there is a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent root rot).

There is no benefit in misting the leaves; only do this on days when fertilizing and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but make sure the leaves dry by nightfall to avoid fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October, with a basic plan consisting of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.

Detailed information on how to combine these products with others from our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, consult the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

Pruning: Pruning should be done by allowing the plant to grow 5 to 6 pairs of leaves, then cutting it back to the original shape. Unfortunately, this method usually removes the flower buds.

After winter, we can give a formative pruning and let the branches expand a bit so flowers appear, only then cutting above them.

For pruning tips, consult the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Repotting: With Leafy Bonsai Soil in February. Heavy pruning and partial defoliation should be done if necessary.

Details about repotting, post-repotting care and specific strengthening products you can use are available in the repotting technical sheet.

Wiring: Can be done throughout the year.

Instructions about wiring can be found in the wiring technical sheet.