The olive tree is a Mediterranean plant, i.e. H. Apart from some wine-growing regions, it is simply too cold in Germany. For this reason, the real olive tree, as the plant is also called, should preferably be kept in a pot. To ensure it thrives there, it should be repotted every two to three years.
When and how should you repot an olive tree?
To properly repot an olive tree, choose the time towards the end of winter and follow these steps: Adjust pot size to root ball, inspect roots and remove damaged ones, place root ball in fresh, well-drained soil and water and fertilize vigorously.
When is the best time to repot?
When and how often you transplant your olive tree depends primarily on its growth rate. Young plants in particular, which usually grow faster, should therefore be repotted more often. The rule of thumb is: As soon as the crown of the tree is as big or even bigger than the pot, the plant should get a larger pot. Even if the root tips are already peeking out of the drainage hole, it's high time. The best time to repot is towards the end of winter, when the tree is gradually coming out of hibernation. With a larger pot and fresh soil he can now start the new growing season.
Do not choose pots that are too large
When choosing the next larger pot, you should make sure that its diameter is no more than a third larger than the crown of the tree. The roots of the olive tree are very vigorous and can grow up to seven meters deep and twelve meters wide in the wild. If the pot is too large, the olive tree will invest more energy in growing the roots and neglect the parts of the plant above the surface of the earth.
Repotting the olive tree properly
While repotting young olive trees is still quite easy, it becomes particularly difficult with older and therefore larger specimens. It is best to repot these lying down, i.e. H. You carefully lay the tree on its side and pull the old pot away from the root ball. When removing the pot, be careful not to damage the roots. Once the roots are exposed, inspect them carefully. Dead or damaged fine roots should be removed with a sharp knife, otherwise rot could occur. However, under no circumstances should you damage one of the thicker main roots, otherwise the corresponding above-ground part of the tree will also die.
Correcting the growth habit of the tree
Olive trees on balconies or terraces usually stand in one corner all summer long and therefore grow - always towards the sun - mainly in one direction, while the other side withers. You can avoid this by rotating the tree regularly. If it still grows crooked, you can correct the growth habit by cutting the roots. To do this, trim the underside of the root ball on the weaker growing side. However, you should not remove more than 10 percent of the root ball and especially not cut off the main roots.
Planting an olive tree correctly
Once you have prepared your olive tree accordingly, you can now plant it. Proceed as follows:
- Mix sand/gravel and commercial potting soil in a ratio of 1:3
- Fill the bottom layer of pebbles (€19.00 on Amazon) or pottery shards into the pot
- Now fill in the fresh potting soil until the pot is about a third full
- Place the root ball of your olive tree in the pot and carefully fill with soil
- Make sure to fill the voids between the roots
- Tamp the soil around the trunk
- Water your olive tree heavily and perhaps spray it all over with a mixture of water with some complete fertilizer
Tips & Tricks
Instead of mixing the soil for your olive tree yourself, you can also use conventional citrus soil. Citrus plants have similar needs to olive trees.
