Plant seeds, Bonsai - Olive

TROPICA Bonsai Olive Tree – Olea europea 20 Seeds

The TROPICA Bonsai Olive Tree allows you to grow the traditional Olea europea as an indoor bonsai. The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants known to humankind and has been used for around 6000 years.

This Mediterranean woody plant can be trained as a shrub or tree, grows very slowly and is known for its remarkable robustness. As it ages, the trunk becomes increasingly gnarled, giving the olive tree its distinctive and characterful bonsai appearance.

Mediterranean Indoor Bonsai with a Long Cultural History

The Olive Tree bonsai is ideal for anyone who loves Mediterranean plants, long-lived trees and expressive bonsai forms. Some olive trees can live for several hundred years. This longevity, combined with the rugged trunk structure, makes Olea europea a popular bonsai species.

The olive tree likely originates from the eastern Mediterranean region. Today, it strongly shapes the landscapes of Italy, Spain and Portugal and is closely connected with Mediterranean culture.

Sowing and Germination

The Olea europea seeds can be started indoors all year round. Because the seeds are extremely hard, they should be lightly roughened with a fine file or sandpaper before sowing. After that, soak them in room-temperature water for about 24 hours so they can absorb moisture more easily.

After soaking, sow the seeds about 1 cm deep in moist seed-starting soil. Keep the substrate evenly moist and place it in a very warm location. Germination usually takes 4 to 12 weeks.

Location and Care

Like many Mediterranean plants, the olive tree prefers a warm, very bright to full-sun location. In summer, it can also be placed outdoors. Older plants can tolerate a few degrees below freezing for short periods, but stronger frost may damage young shoots. These can be cut back in spring, after which the olive tree will resprout.

Water generously during the summer months, while allowing the soil to dry out slightly between watering. In winter, water only sparingly. From April to October, except in August, fertilize every 3 weeks with liquid bonsai fertilizer.

Due to its slow and somewhat sparse growth, pruning can be a little more demanding. New leaves should ideally be shaped into a rounded crown to encourage a balanced bonsai form.

Technical Details

• Brand / Manufacturer: TROPICA
• Product name: Bonsai Olive Tree
• Botanical name: Olea europea
• Indoor / Outdoor: indoor bonsai
• Content: 20 seeds
• Plant type: bonsai seeds / Mediterranean woody plant
• Origin: likely eastern Mediterranean region
• Growth: very slow-growing, robust, shrub-like or tree-like
• Special feature: gnarled trunk with age, distinctive bonsai character
• Cultural history: known for approx. 6000 years
• Sowing: possible indoors all year round
• Pretreatment: lightly roughen seeds with file or sandpaper
• Pre-soaking: approx. 24 hours in room-temperature water
• Sowing depth: approx. 1 cm
• Substrate: moist seed-starting soil
• Germination time: approx. 4 to 12 weeks
• Germination conditions: keep evenly moist and very warm
• Location: warm, very bright to full sun
• Summer location: can also be placed outdoors
• Watering: generous in summer, allow soil to dry slightly between watering; sparse in winter
• Fertilization: April to October every 3 weeks with liquid bonsai fertilizer, no fertilizer in August
• Pruning: shape new leaves into a rounded crown

Scope of delivery

• 1 x TROPICA Bonsai Olive Tree seed pack
  • 20 x Olea europea seeds

Warnings & Care Information

• Seeds are not suitable for consumption.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Use clean containers and suitable seed-starting substrate.
• Keep the substrate evenly moist and avoid waterlogging.
• Roughen seeds before sowing to improve water absorption.
• Gradually acclimatize young plants to full sun and outdoor conditions.
• Protect young plants from frost, as young shoots may freeze back.
• Germination and growth may vary depending on temperature, moisture, substrate and seed storage.