Olive tree sick?????

Forum for discussion of Evergreen bonsai – Buxus, Cotoneaster, Olive etc.
Post Reply
pureheart
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 505
Joined: April 16th, 2012, 1:50 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Northwest
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Olive tree sick?????

Post by pureheart »

Please help, look at the leaves of my tree , is it sick? What to do?

Image
Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Olive tree sick?????

Post by shibui »

The leaves don't look healthy so I guess there is a problem. I have not seen those symptoms first hand but have checked some olive sites to get some ideas.
Nutrient deficiency can cause yellow leaves. Consider that if you have not been feeding regularly. Sometimes soil can affect how trees take up nutrients. If you mix your own soil you should consider iron deficiency as a possibility.

Some bugs can cause yellow leaves:
Scale is the first possibility but the scales that affect olives appear to be reasonably big and should be readily seen. Check on the stems and under leaves.
Horticultural oil sprays are usually effective on scales.

Olive lace bug is another pest I have not seen but appears to make leaves speckled with white or yellow spots and eventually turn yellow.
The site says pruning off affected foliage can control lace bug but your tree probably doesn't have enough to spare. Insecticides can be used but the site I looked at does not say what sort.
Both oils and most contact insecticides usually need to be used several times to get any new hatchings and any you missed first time.

I don't usually promote systemic insecticides but something like confidor should help with both those bugs and generally does not require follow up sprays.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
pureheart
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 505
Joined: April 16th, 2012, 1:50 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Northwest
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Olive tree sick?????

Post by pureheart »

Thanks for taking the time to write this Neil, I suspect the soil has been too wet and maybe iron deficiencies as I use my own pomice mix... is it safe to repot now?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Olive tree sick?????

Post by shibui »

I have seen olives repotted at all times of the year. A few years ago our club dug feral trees in March and all mine survived. A couple took nearly 12 months to sprout new shoots though.
This one is already sick. First choice is to try to restore health without disturbing the roots. Maybe try chelated iron or trace elements first if iron deficiency is probable?
Repotting is a last resort but if the soil is killing it then not repotting is probably worse than doing so. Lesser of 2 evils. The vast majority of my emergency repots have survived and grown better as a result of correcting the root problems even if the tree was quite sick before.

What to do must remain your choice.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Alan Peck
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 154
Joined: October 11th, 2009, 2:02 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea
Bonsai Age: 20
Bonsai Club: Newcastle
Location: Syd
Been thanked: 37 times

Re: Olive tree sick?????

Post by Alan Peck »

Just posting a chart that might help. I find it good for anything.
[attachment=0]PlantDeficiances.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Post Reply

Return to “Evergreen”