Technical Data Sheet - Oliveira

Common Name: Olive Tree

Scientific Name: Olea europea

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

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

There is a wild variety, the Wild Olea, also highly valued in Bonsai for its small leaf size and stiff trunk that allows making Jin and Shari (deadwood); 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 thoroughly until plenty of water flows out of the drainage holes to evenly moisten the soil, always from the top never by immersion, using a fine-rosette watering can.

For watering tips, see 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 avoid root rot).

There is no benefit to misting the leaves; only do this on days when fertilizing and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but ensure the leaves dry before night to avoid fungi.

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

Detailed information on how to combine these products with the rest of our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan,  please see the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

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

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

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

Transplanting: With Leafy Bonsai Soil in February. We should prune heavily and partially defoliate if necessary.

Details about transplanting, post-transplant care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found in the transplanting technical sheet. 

Wiring: Can be done throughout the year.

Guidelines on wiring can be found in the wiring technical sheet.