Graceful olive trees are a symbol of peace and harmony.
It's no wonder they have found their place in modern home interiors in Cyprus. The olive seems to have been specially created for those who love subdued greenery and color, and for those who appreciate muted natural elegance.
Requiring not too much attention to its maintenance, the olive tree embodies prosperity, bearing fruit and growing in conditions where most green companions may struggle and give up. Indoors, the tree willingly shares its delicate pleasant aroma and may even produce fruits. However, it's not the oil-rich fruits that make this stylish indoor plant valued, but rather its uniqueness and exclusivity as an interior decoration.
How to Choose an Olive Tree?
If you've decided to have an olive tree in your apartment in Cyprus, the first question that will arise is where to get it, how to choose it, and how to grow it at home. There are two ways to solve this task:
1. You can grow an olive tree from seeds. Their cost in the store is very affordable, even for the most frugal gardener. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest olive grove, which is abundant in Cyprus, and collect fresh green fruits directly from the tree. Seeds collected by hand need to be cleaned of the pulp. Crush the pulp beforehand with any object and soak the seeds in warm water for several hours. This is done to facilitate the separation of the seed from the pulp and to promote the free sprouting of the embryo. It's recommended to soak the fruits in a weak solution of alkali before sowing. Discard the olives that float – they are unsuitable as planting material. Note that the seed has two completely different ends, one sharp and the other rounded.
The next step is to make a hole at the rounded end of the seed. It's important not to completely cut off the tip, just make a slight incision. Then, the seeds need to be placed in warm water again for one day. After the seed kernels are dried, they should be planted in the soil to a depth of about 2 cm.
Interesting fact: the germination rate of seeds of Mediterranean plants does not exceed 50%. To avoid disappointment, take more seeds than needed.
The evergreen olive tree is a long-liver. Some specimens on Cyprus have lived for over 2,000 years. This means that it grows very slowly. Therefore, an olive tree can be your indoor companion for decades. However, it's worth understanding that it will take up to 3 months for the shoot to sprout from the olive seed, and it will take about 2-3 years to grow an olive tree from a seed to a fully developed young shoot. This decorative plant will bear fruit after about 10 years of your effort and patience.
2. For those who aim not so much for the hands-on growing of a plant as for decorating their living space with a stylish living tree, we recommend buying a sapling at a specialized botanical nursery. The cost of such a specimen is certainly higher than that of seeds, but the benefits of this method of obtaining an evergreen tree are also evident. You have the opportunity to choose an olive tree of a suitable size, verify its healthy condition, and consult with a specialist about the care features specific to this particular specimen. Additionally, a potted olive tree will immediately become a full-fledged decor element in your space and may yield its first fruits within a few months.
What an Olive Tree Looks Like in Interiors
A domestic evergreen olive tree will adorn almost any interior with its grace. It fits perfectly into the Mediterranean style, which is very popular in Cyprus. Combine it with woven baskets, natural fabrics, or wooden furniture. The tree will look great in rooms with a Scandinavian style against a gray-white color palette. There's hardly any interior design style where the olive would look out of place. It doesn't stand out with vibrant color and doesn't draw excessive attention to itself; rather, it elegantly complements the harmony of the interior space and fills it with a lively atmosphere.
How to Grow an Indoor Olive Tree
The centuries-long history of olive tree cultivation has endowed the plant with a strong immunity, so it can be said that any complications in its care are due to a violation of its conditions. By following relatively simple rules of watering, feeding, and transplanting, you can avoid most plant diseases.
For successful olive tree cultivation, remember a few key points:
- The soil for an olive tree should not be overly acidic. If you're not adept at creating suitable soil from compost, sand, loam, leaf mold, peat, and lime, then feel free to buy a ready-made mixture from specialized stores.
- Keep in mind that the olive's native climate is subtropical, so the plant, especially when young, requires sufficient light. However, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and insufficient watering can cause the tree's leaves to dry out and fall off. Maintaining a balance is crucial here.
- Despite the southern nature of olives, the room temperature shouldn't always be excessively hot. In the summer, the tree feels fine at around +20 degrees Celsius and higher, whereas in winter, during its dormant period, you can place it in a room where the temperature is around +10...+12 degrees Celsius. This change in conditions will promote the plant's rest, leading to more abundant spring blossoming.
- Indoor olive trees are highly resistant to drought, but this doesn't mean they should be excessively dried out. Generous watering twice a week to the full depth of the pot is essential, as is occasional misting. However, remember that excessive humidity can negatively affect the root system. This could even lead to the plant's demise. Therefore, it's a reason to establish good drainage in the cultivation container.
- In spring, the olive tree needs fertilization; the plant requires proper and timely feeding. Therefore, mineral fertilizers, organics, and spraying with amber acid will all be beneficial.
- Monitor the plant's appearance. An indoor olive tree requires regular pruning. Once a year, remove weak branches or those growing into the bush using pruning shears. Shape the olive tree's crown according to your taste and style.
Caring for a Flowering Plant
The graceful olive tree blooms with yellowish-white flowers. The olive flowers are small and gathered in clusters, similar to lilacs or jasmine. They blossom once a year in Cyprus. The fragrance is delicate and refined. A domestic olive tree can be adorned with flowers for several months.
During the flowering period, the olive tree is somewhat sensitive to watering. Despite the fact that its blossoms can tolerate irrigation and even rain, overmoistening the soil during this time can lead to disease or even the death of the tree. Water this indoor plant only when the top layer of soil has dried out, and not as generously as in other periods.
Furthermore, a flowering indoor olive tree requires light. Therefore, if it's cloudy outside and natural light is insufficient, you need to provide artificial lighting for the olive plant.
Also, don't forget to assist the tree in cross-pollinating its flowers daily. In nature, this is accomplished by the wind, but in indoor conditions, the plant can't manage this process on its own. Don't hesitate to help by gently shaking the branches. Keep in mind that the quality and yield of your plant during this time depend on the thoroughness and correctness of your care for the olive tree.
Important Conditions for a Successful Harvest
Of course, cultivating a domestic olive tree isn't primarily for the purpose of gathering a large harvest. However, having fruits has multiple benefits: firstly, it beautifies the tree itself, and secondly, it pleases the owner as a sign that their efforts and care for the plant are not in vain.
A dwarf olive tree can produce about 600 grams of fruit in a successful season. This is around 20 olives. A full-grown tree can yield about 2-3 kg of fruit. To grow a fruit-bearing olive tree, you need to adhere to certain nuances. Remember that the timing of the first fruiting directly depends on the method by which you grew the tree.
Furthermore, there are olive tree varieties that regardless of the cultivation method yield their first harvest after as much as 10 years. Make sure to clarify all the properties of the planting material before purchasing it, so as not to be disappointed in the plant and the results of its care.
A crucial condition for fruiting is the correct temperature regime for the tree. If the plant lives year-round at a constant room temperature above 20 degrees Celsius, expecting lush flowering and, consequently, a bountiful harvest is not advised. The olive tree is dioecious, meaning it requires the presence of both male and female cells to produce fruit. In nature, plant pollination is performed by the wind. In indoor conditions, you'll have to help in this process using makeshift tools like a brush or gently shaking the flowering branches. By adhering to these small yet significant nuances, the olive tree will surely respond with gratitude and delight you with its first fruits.
Where to Place It?
Many people choose large plants to liven up dark corners of a room, but olive trees must simply absorb sunlight. Make sure you have a spot in your home where direct sunlight reaches for at least six hours a day. If you're fortunate enough to have a coveted window facing south, that's the most suitable place for an olive tree. However, it's important to place your olive tree far enough from the glass – intensified sunlight can scorch its leaves.
Planting the Tree in a Pot
Every element of interior decor is meant to primarily delight us with its appearance. No matter how useful an item may be, if it doesn't match the interior style or contradicts the room's ambiance, it will catch the eye as something out of place. Planting a tree in a suitable pot is not just a necessary procedure for a gardener but also a decorative component that gives your effort a sense of completion and beautiful presentation.
The first container for planting the sapling should be sufficiently large, at least sixty centimeters deep. Remember that when choosing a container, you need to consider having an adequate number of special drainage holes at the bottom to prevent soil overmoistening.
Additionally, it's not recommended to opt for plastic pots. Pay attention to natural clay materials. They allow the soil and root system to breathe, ensuring that the olive tree not only looks beautiful but also remains healthy. An interior item like an olive tree in a pot that matches the room's decor will not go unnoticed by guests and will characterize the owner as someone with not only a refined taste in style but also a caring and diligent individual.
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