Can Olive Trees Be Bonsai
Such trees can be used to create attractive bonsai trees.
Can olive trees be bonsai. How to take proper care of your indoor bonsai tree. The olive tree really makes for a beautiful bonsai specimen and g rowing and taking care of olive bonsai trees is not too much different from any other bonsai species. Bonsai is the reproduction of natural tree forms in miniature. The black olive is a delicate tree and almost grows into a bonsai by itself.
Excellent olive bonsai subjects can be made from olea europa also known as the mediterranean olive. After strong pruning of a bonsai the olive tree willingly sprout out of the old wood. Olives have very hard wood. The european olive produces flowers on its second year s branch growth.
The olive tree s small stature naturally aged bark and the gnarled and twisted appearance of their trunk and branches make it very conducive for bonsai. This bonsai with the right care will produce comparable sized edible olives during the early fall. Olives are not prone to many diseases but there are a few that can cause defoliation and drying leaves. It can withstand temperatures slightly below 0 c 32 f but must be protected from stronger frost.
The tree is a slow growing hardy tree that develops a dense trunk and a natural pyramidal shape. Although some of these aren t considered traditional bonsai. Olive trees with dry falling leaves may be suffering from water issues or a disease. Olive trees are not commonly considered as a bonsai type however it is possible to create bonsai from olive trees and they look just as spectacular as the thousand year old ones.
In the united states good examples are most often found in california. The climate there is much like that of the native climate for this tree. The olive bonsai tree s soft and pliable wood makes it ideal for shaping and pruning. Other bonsai candidates include fukien tea trees ehretia buxifolia black olive trees bucida buceras l and apricot trees prunus.
Putting a tree in a bonsai pot does not make it a bonsai tree. This makes them well suited for a bonsai with large areas of dead wood. The olive bonsai needs a place with full sun which also helps to reduce the size of the leaves. It is best to place the olive tree in a cold greenhouse which is kept frost free.
It is very salt tolerant and is a good choice for bonsai lovers who live by the sea. Olives will resent being trapped in a small pot and assuming you are in the process of developing material towards the end goal of creating a bonsai tree save the little pots for later much later.