Anyone got an olive tree(olea)

[debbiem]

We bought an olive tree a few weeks back, well an olive plant which hopefully will be a tree, about a foot high and about 9inches wide. The lady in the Garden Centre told us not to water it so we didn't. i started to think after a week or two that surely we should give it a bit of water, as it was indoors, especially when I spotted one in Wilkinson's which shed most of its leaves at the slightest touch. And so we started to water it sparingly but alas too sparingly I think as all the bottom leaves fell off ours too, but the top two thirds seems robust enough. It's now outside. Is this normal anyway for olive bushes or has it dried out just that bit too much? I put two prunings from it in pots and they seem to be doing well incidentally with no water and a bit of plastic covering only.

[plocket]

Hia Mrs B! Yes I've got an olive - had it for years now ;D

How long was it inside for? If it was inside at the GC and then in your home I would have thought it was too warm and therefore thirsty. Even though they are from the Med, Olives are fairly thirsty plants but don't want to be in soggy soil. Put it in a sheltered sunny spot outside, and if it's going to be a cold night bring it inside to somewhere cool - a shed or a garage should be ok as long as you put it in the light again during the day. If it's been inside for a long time you don't want to shock it too much with cold temperatures.

I would also stand the pot on feet which will help protect it from ground frost, and when you water it excess water can drain away.

When the plant looks a bit more healthy I would then consider potting it up to a bigger container and when doing so would use good quality compost like John Innes No.3. Occasionally feed it with fertilizer because it will soon drain the goodness from the soil.

I hope this helps you!

[debbiem]

Thanks Plocket it helps perfectly! It was in a covered area in the Garden Centre but not completely indoors and I think when we put it on our kitchen windowsill it moved home from home temperature-wise. It's outside now but in a sheltered spot with a lot of other plants in pots which gets dappled sunshine at the moment but they all seem to thrive in this spot so it's all looking good slugs permitting! (They wouldn't eat it would they?!!!!!)
Thanks again!

[plocket]

I've never had a slug problem where my Olive is concerned. They munch lots of other things in the garden though! Hopefully it will settle down now it's in it's new home. Do let me know how it gets on and I'll help if I can and if I need to - not that I'm an olive expert ;D

[debbiem]

Thanks, will do!
Can't believe the two cuttings though. They are just two of the prunings to keep the main bush in shape. I just trimmed them and stuck them in compost and, fingers crossed, they seem to have taken. Or is it lulling me into a false sense of security....time will tell....

[plocket]

I've no idea about the cuttings - I've never tried them myself. Don't be too disappointed if they ultimately don't take though. And keep looking after the main plant! ;D