The silhouette of the Olive tree is something we are used to seeing in Mediterranean landscapes. It is a very beautiful plant, but what I like most about olea europaea is the complex symbolism that has been built around this tree and its fruits. While it has always been considered an outdoor plant, it is possible to grow it in pots successfully. With the help of this little indoor olive tree care guide, your little tree will be able to accompany you for decades.
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Interesting facts about the indoor olive tree
- It represents peace and triumph. The Romans sent an olive branch to offer peace to enemies. In fact, a white dove with an olive branch in its beak is the universal symbol of peace. When people won the Olympics, they were offered a wreath made of olive branches.
- It is said that having an olive tree or its branches at the front door protects and prevents bad energies from entering.
- They are very long-lived, resistant and renew after difficult seasons, so they are usually given as gifts to newlyweds and people who are starting a new home. There is an olive tree in Jerusalem called Al-Badawi that is about 4,000 years old.
- Planted in the ground they can reach a considerable height, up to 15 meters, but by containing their roots in a pot you will be able to control their size.
- The olive tree can bear fruit in a pot, as long as it has the ideal space and conditions to do so.
- The first years are decisive in the life of the olive tree. If they make it past this first stage, they will grow into hardy and almost immortal plants.
How to take care of your potted olive tree Light
andtemperature
Olive trees become happy and display their full splendour when exposed to full sun. They come from warm climates, so they require a lot of light and at least 6 hours receiving the caress of the sun. If you have a window located to the south, a terrace punished by the inclement rays of the sun where everything you put in scorches, that is the perfect place for your olive tree.
Your small olive tree can withstand frost as low as -12°C, so if temperatures drop even further in the area where you live, you can protect it indoors during that time. Remember: it doesn't matter if it's inside or outside, the important thing is that it gets plenty of sun if you want it to grow healthy and strong.
We
areused to seeing olive trees in dusty places and we know that they resist droughts very well because they are warriors, right? This is very true, but it applies only to full-grown, well-formed trees. The little olive tree you just adopted in its pretty pot is a young tree, which depends on you to grow healthy and strong, so during its first few years it requires frequent but moderate watering.
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This means that you are going to water your olive tree a couple of times a week, but with a moderate amount of water, without waterlogging it. The idea is that it has moisture but without it accumulating excessively in its roots, which tend to rot or attract the terrible fungi.
The amount and frequency of watering, as always, depends on the ambient temperature, humidity and substrate; so I recommend doing the finger test: insert your finger into the substrate. If the first 3 cm are dry, you should water. If not, wait a couple more days and check. Needless to say, watering will be more frequent in summer and more spaced out in winter.
The Olive
Tree is a grateful and humble tree, even though it has such a deep meaning. Any universal substrate can be used to grow your olive tree. Some people mix it with a little perlite, peat moss or sand to facilitate drainage and lighten its texture. You can put a little worm castings to improve the nutritional density of the substrate and don't forget to put some coarse gravel or pebbles at the bottom of the pot. You can fertilize in spring and summer, preferably with organic fertilizers.
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Pruning and Repotting
Ideally, you should repot your olive tree every 2 or 3 years, or when you see that the roots want to come out through the drainage holes. It's slow-growing, so it won't demand it from you very often. Much better if you do it in spring. Swap it out for a pot with an extra 5 to 10 cm in diameter and height. Remember not to manipulate the roots too much, to avoid mistreating it.
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Pruning a potted olive tree should be done with the regularity that its growth cycle requires. It should normally be done between autumn and winter, to stimulate its growth as soon as spring begins. Experts recommend that for the first 3 years you maintain the tree by cutting the lowest shoots, to clear the trunk a little and give it shape. This helps to mark your branching. After this time, it should be pruned paying attention to the main branches so that it grows with a solid structure. remove leaves that are in poor condition, those that grow in the opposite direction, or that become entangled with others.