european olive

I found a pre bonsai olive in tenn.. I never had one so need help to keep it alive !!! watering pruning repotting..the tree is a little more than pencil thick 14 in high..it is in a nursery pot 8 in wide 7 in deep now.. also how fast do they grow ??? Thanks take care john

they are sloooooooooooowwwwwwwww.... you will have to let it grow a bit. They like full to half sun, but reach the full sun gradually, need winter protection in a vase, specially if that small, as soil they like a sandy, well drained soil. Dont water it too often but when you do water it well, less in winter, if in winter it ends indoor best if the room temperature doesnt go above 15C. Thats for the plant in a vase, others will tell you about the more bonsai specific stuff.

Snoo,, Thank you for your reply.. I have to keep it inside for winter.. thanks for the watering advice.. john

If they are healthy, in the summer they will grow fast! Mine grew a lot this past year. I think that it likes being watered, but it must be a well draining soil. I found that it sulks if I don't water it often, but grows if I give it sufficient watering. I keep mine outside in full sun in the summer, and inside in a sunny spot with extra lighting in the winter.

And , yes indoors for the winter. I have kept mine with the tropicals and it had grown pretty well even during the winter, but this year I am going to give it some dormancy in the shed for a month or two starting before the first hard freeze. I'm hoping to stimulate flowering.

If the roots stay damp it will die a slow agonizing death from verticillium. Otherwise they are not difficult. Very coarse soil; dry out between waterings, like a Ficus. Outdoors in full blazing sun all summer. Avoid frost since that will kill the leaves but not the tree. Since it is a Mediterranean subtropical I give it a cool rest in the fall in my sunporch. I believe you have a cold greenhouse for that. Then it goes under fluorescent lights for the winter. You can't wire old branches; they will crack. It is one of the few bonsai species that will thicken the trunk in a pot. Keep pinching to get small leaves & ramification. Since leaf growth is opposite, you have to keep cutting off one growth from two, like a maple.
Iris

John,

it tends to throw out long shoots rapidly. No special care, but it will rest for two or three months, with no new shoots.
From seed, since 83 or 84 or 85, too lazy to look at the passport. Originally from South Africa.
After all these years it still does not like to be tightly pruned.
Now how does that mess with your mind - chuckle.
Later.
Khaimraj

* 2 years ago I got 5 more to grow, just pencils presently.

Thank You All for your replys,, I have the tree inside already,,we have frost cold temps now.. i guess i should leave it in this nursery pot but the soil does not look very good.. pruning in spring i guess.. like i said trukk is not that big but does have a good trunk line.. thank you all take care john

You had better wait until spring to repot, but be sure to let it dry out between waterings.
Iris

Thank You Mrs Iris,, I will wait and watch the watering.. I hope this one does good and growes.. I have seen some nice olives on here.. take care john

Olives are best repotted in the heat of summer. We do ours in June, july and August. If you've repotted now try giving bottom heat.

Thanks BOB,, I did not repot.. I will wait till next year in late spring.. thank you john