what not to forget

Although being a rustic plant, the olive tree, especially in a pot, requires special attention when it is cold. Here is what to do to protect a potted olive tree during the winter, especially in regions where the climate is harsh.

If the olive tree manages to cope relatively well with drought, winter and negative temperatures hardly suit it. This is why, during the winter season, the potted olive tree needs to be protected as it should be.

What temperature can a potted olive tree tolerate?

If some gardeners assure that a potted olive tree is able to withstand temperatures of around -10°C, it is better not to try the experiment, especially with the youngest subjects. An olive tree, in a pot or in the ground, will thus be much more resistant to cold with age.. In any case, make sure that your potted olive tree is not exposed to a temperature dropping below 5°Cunder penalty of seeing it wither away.

How to keep an olive tree in a pot during the winter?

In winter, it is therefore better to bring the olive trees into pots as soon as the thermometer flirts with 5 degrees. Prefer a bright room, while choosing a location away from radiators or other heat sources and which is not exposed to direct sunlight. Also pay attention to entrances or other places subject to colder air currents, which olive trees do not like. The recommended temperature for keeping an olive tree in a pot during winter is around 10°C.unheated greenhouses or verandas are therefore ideal.

If the potted olive tree is too heavy and cannot be brought indoors, it is possible to leave the shrub outdoors. It must then be properly protected, by choosing if possible to place it against a wall exposed to the sun. A location that will protect it from cold winds, while allowing it to benefit from the heat stored by the walls.

When to put a winter veil on an olive tree?

At the end of autumn and before the arrival of the first periods of frost, consider mulch the base of your olive treeso as to protect its roots from the cold. You can also wrap the pot by wrapping a winter veil around it, while lifting it so that it is not in direct contact with the ground. A simple wooden board can do the trick.

In case of severe frosts, it is also necessary protect the branches of the olive treeagain using a winter veil. If it snows, also remember to gently shake the branches, so that they do not break under the weight. This will also prevent any excess humidity. About it, how often should you water a potted olive tree in winter?

Also read – Watering Houseplants in Winter: 10 Common Mistakes That Destroy Them

Water a potted olive tree when it’s cold: how much water?

In winter, watering of potted olive trees must be greatly reduced. Stagnant humidity being the main enemy of this ornamental shrub, much more than the cold, therefore reduce its watering without stopping it completely.

Water supplies must therefore be made taking into account precipitation if the subject is outdoors. Generally, watering every 15 days is sufficientensuring that the substrate is sufficiently drained to avoid excess water at the roots. Water which could also freeze in the event of negative temperatures, thus leading to the death of the olive tree. Remember to check the condition of the soil before watering: if it is still damp, wait before watering.

General tips for a beautiful potted olive tree

In addition to these tips for protect potted olive trees during winterothers allow you to take care of this shrub throughout the year.

Do olive trees lose their leaves in winter?

Olive trees are not supposed to lose their green foliage in winter. If their leaves fall during this season, it is a sign that something is not suitable for the shrub. If you brought it indoors, this may be due to a heated and too dry atmosphere, or a poorly lit location. This shrubby plant has difficulty withstanding a lack of light, as well as overheated air.. Outdoors, leaf loss is generally caused by excess humidity at the roots, or too long exposure to temperatures below 5°C, without winter protection. So, how can you prevent an olive tree from losing its leaves in winter or any other season? Some general advice is in order:

• In a pot, only prune an olive tree when necessarynamely in spring and only if the plant needs it. Pruning then consists of removing rebellious, unsightly, frozen or pockmarked branches, so as to harmonize the silhouette of the shrub. The pruning of an olive tree in a pot also aims tohollow out the center of the plant.
• Before any watering, whatever the season, check the condition of the soil thoroughly. If it is still damp, wait until it dries to add water to the shrub.
• In winter, protect the potted olive tree from the cold, ensuring that it does not get too hot either.
• In summer, although olive trees tolerate drought, their potted roots are more sensitive to it. Don’t forget to water the soil as soon as it becomes dry again.
• Also think about fertilize the earth from time to timewith an organic fertilizer rich in trace elements.
• Monitor the foliage of the olive tree, in order to treat the shrub as quickly as possible in the event of the appearance of diseases.

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