Olive tree at home - all the secrets of successful cultivation

How to grow an olive tree at home and is it even possible? Last year I was visiting an old friend, she, of course, has more area of ​​the house than mine. What is only the insulated loggia, where a friend organized a winter garden. And the pride of her large and varied collection is a large olive tree. As soon as I saw him, I wanted to myself. And yesterday I received a parcel from a friend - a rooted stalk. What should I do with him now and how to look after him?

This plant will bring you a double benefit: it will decorate the interior with a thick, rounded crown and will delight you with useful fruits. Growing an olive tree at home is even easier than growing an olive tree. Moreover, more often than not, this is the only way to get yourself this universal culture. Olives have always been thermophilic, so in our latitudes they can not be planted everywhere, but only in the warmest regions. But on the other hand, you can always get a miniature olive plantation right in your own home, if it is light and warm. Of course, you cannot count on a rich harvest in this case, but a couple of glasses of delicious olives can be collected.

Characteristic features of culture

The olive tree belongs to the olive family and is also known as the European olive. Naturally, olives grow in the hot Mediterranean. And, like many tropical crops, they also do well as a tub plant. Moreover, they will be even more comfortable indoors, especially in winter, because minus 5 ° C will already end in disaster for the tree.

In nature, olive trees grow tall, but as a room culture, their height does not exceed 2 m. And even if you decide to form a tree, olives can also grow like a dense spreading bush. But they perfectly tolerate a haircut and are easy to shape. You can even make a bonsai from an olive tree, especially since the dense evergreen crown looks gorgeous from many small narrow leaves.

If the purpose of growing is to get a crop, buy two seedlings, a boy and a girl. Olives are bisexual and need cross-pollination.

Olive tree at home - what you need to grow it

For an olive to feel comfortable in a pot, it must be provided with warmth and light. The south side is the most suitable place, especially for young trees. Adult specimens can be placed by the eastern windows.

Indoor temperature depends on the season:

• in the warm period, the olive feels good at + 25 ° C, in addition, you can take the pot outside in the summer;
• in winter, the tree needs coolness (no higher than plus 12 ° C), especially for laying flower buds.

Air humidity is also important. When kept warm, it should be increased, and in winter - only if it is not possible to keep the olive cool.

How to care for a room olive

Olive tree care is not particularly difficult:

1. Water twice a week.
2. Spray frequently.
3. In the spring, feed 2 times a month with nitrogen fertilizer.
4. In the summer, add once potassium-phosphorus top dressing.
5. Shape the bush into the desired shape during spring pruning.
6. Once every 2 years, transplant the plant into a larger pot, preferably a clay pot, so that the roots breathe.

The olive tree propagates by cuttings or seeds.Cutting is more common because it allows you to get a new plant in a short time.

How to grow an olive tree at home from seed