Starting a new olive tree is often successfully achieved using the method of taking and rooting cuttings from an existing tree. This technique bypasses the longer and less predictable process of growing from seed.
What You Need
To propagate an olive tree from cuttings, you will need a few basic supplies:
- Healthy olive tree to take cuttings from
- Sharp pruning shears or knife
- Small pots or trays
- Well-draining potting mix (a mix of peat moss and perlite or sand works well)
- Rooting hormone (often referred to as "greasing powder" in some contexts)
- Pencil or stick to make holes
- Plastic bag or dome (optional, for humidity)
Taking and Preparing the Cutting
- Select the Cutting: Choose a healthy, semi-hardwood cutting about 6-8 inches long from the current season's growth. The ideal cutting will have a few leaves.
- Prepare the Base: Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. You may also make a small cut or scrape the bark at the very bottom tip to expose the cambium layer, which helps with root formation.
- Apply Rooting Hormone: Dip the prepared base of the cutting into rooting hormone powder. This powder contains auxins, hormones that stimulate root growth.
Planting the Cutting
This is where the crucial step mentioned in the reference comes in.
According to the video snippet: "I do that so that I don't remove the uh greasing powder when I push it into the hole. And then all I do is I pop it into that hole. And just gently push around."
Based on this, the process for planting the cutting is:
- Prepare the Pot: Fill a small pot or tray with your well-draining potting mix. Water the mix lightly so it is moist but not waterlogged.
- Make a Hole: Using a pencil or stick, make a narrow hole in the center of the potting mix. This hole should be deep enough to accommodate the portion of the cutting where leaves were removed and where the rooting hormone was applied. Making a hole first prevents the rooting hormone powder from being scraped off the cutting as you insert it.
- Insert the Cutting: Carefully insert the base of the cutting, coated in the rooting hormone ("greasing powder"), into the pre-made hole.
- Secure the Cutting: Gently firm the soil around the base of the cutting to ensure good contact between the cutting and the potting mix.
After Planting
Place the potted cutting in a warm location with bright, indirect light. To maintain humidity, you can cover the pot with a plastic bag or place it under a propagation dome. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering. Rooting can take several weeks to several months. You can gently tug on the cutting after some time; resistance indicates that roots have begun to form.
Growing an olive tree from a cutting requires patience, but it's a rewarding way to propagate new trees directly from a parent plant with desirable characteristics.
