18 year old olive

[Cee]

I purchased an olive bonsai. any advice on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[Random User]

I'll repeat what was said ti me a little while ago... look to the upper RHS of the screen and there is a search there... type in olive and you'll find all kinds of links.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

better advise can be had if you put a location into your profile.

For example if you were in San Diego or Athens, Greece, I would tell you to put it outside and keep it watered.

If you are in Chicago I would tell you to bring it inside, to protect it from cold below 29 F, and never let it get cold enough to freeze the roots.

So location is everything.

 

[JudyB]

Also pictures of the tree in question would be helpful. Location is critical...

 

[Cee]

Modesto,ca is where the tree is located weather is 74 highs and lows are 55

 

[JudyB]

Depending on how cold your winters are, you may be able to leave it outside. It also depends on what type of olive it is. Olives can take some cool temperatures as long as they are not in wet and cool conditions. They don't like to be wet and cold. How cold does it get where you are?

 

[Cee]

It will dip down too the low 30s

 

[JudyB]

Personally I would not chance it if it's European Olive. Sounds too cold to me.

 

[Txhorticulture]

They are definitely frost hardy in the ground below 30. but if it didn't harden off and there is late fresh growth Temps that low will damage it. I'm not sure about in a bonsai pot. in this part of texas they can grow fine for 5, 6, 7, years in the landscape and then a bad winter can knock it back significantly or even kill it. I have a small tree I'm growing out in a container I won't protect it unless we get in the 20s

 

[leatherback]

I have seen one olive drop all leaves and some branches with 2 nights of frost. It was however not dried out, so probably having wet feet may have been partial cause. My olives now are kept frost-free.