HELP with Black Olive

steeleslee627

Hi All;

I am brand new to the forum and relatively new to bonsai. Although I have been interested in bonsai for years I have just recently started "tickling" my itch.

I have acquired two black olive bonsai and they have done so well. However, I noticed yesterday that the leaves on both are turning brown and curling up. If you touch the leaves they fall off... Im growing very concerned about them and am looking for advice and assistance as to what might be causing the problem and how to solve it.

I live in Central Florida and the previous owner lives near here. The trees were flourishing under his care... Any ideas

Looking forward to hearing from you all...

Lee

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kcpoole

Hi lee and welcome

How long have you had the trees, and are you using the same or similar watering schedule as the previous owner?

Are the trees in a similar environment? ie similar outlook and amount of sunlight?

The trees need to be watered when the soil starts to dry out to stop the roots from staying wet, and watering often enough so they do not dry out completely.

Ken

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lagunamadre

kcpoole has some good advice. My black olives will drop leaves if they get too wet, or too dry. The fast draining soil is supposed to prevent them from getting too wet, so maybe it isn't getting enough water. I keep mine in full sun and a bit on the damp side. The key to watering is WHEN not HOW MUCH. The answer to how much is always completely. If when you water, the water just sits on the surface, the soil has built up surface tension, and will not absorb. Spray the surface and come back in 5 minutes, and see if the soil absorbs water better. Then water completely. Good luck, Larry

steeleslee627

Good Morning!
Sorry for the delay in getting back with the two of you. Ive had the "bug" that is going around in Florida and its about had me down.

I have had the trees for about three weeks now. I purchased them at an auction and I do not know the previous owner's set up for the trees.

I do have them set up on my patio, facing west, so as to ensure a few hours of direct (filtered) sunlight. The soil is staying damp but not wet and certainly not dry. I have been reading a lot of material that says watering these trees is sometimes tricky.

The leaves are almost totally dried up and falling off. I have checked the bark and the extended tips of limbs and neither of these places are "dried" out. They are quite green and flexible... not brittle at all.

Someone suggested the trees could just be stressed from being moved around and winding up in a new environment. I just dont want the little guys to die.

As I said before, I am brand new to bonsai although I have been interested for years now. I have tried to educate myself as much as possible before diving in.

Anyway... anyone with any advice please butt in as I need to know all I can about the potential problems with these little guys.

Hope all is well...

Lee

Forest Reef

Black Olives sulk if they're not happy with the watering and sometimes for light or temperature changes. I've had one defoliate completely, sulk a few months, and leaf out nicely. That was the 1st season I had it, and I wasn't as careful about abrupt care changes (read: moving it seasonally).

My black olive tree is currently happily green in its indoor winter quarters under a big skylight (less than ideal conditions, but what I have available for this somewhat finicky tropical) - my climate is quite a bit cooler than yours, so you'll have to ask locally on wintering issues (if any) where you live. As long as your bark "scratches green" - it's fine. Let the tree be, watering only when needed, and it will leaf out in its own good time.

In case - "scratches green" = scratch a small spot of wood lightly with your fingernail - there should be a green layer right under the bark. Green & moist is good. Brown or black and dry is bad.

Good luck with your tree.

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