AusBonsai

ozzy wrote:When it comes to big cuttings I think you should just have a go, what have you got to lose, its all experimental, theres still people around that think i'm crazy when I tell them I've struck a 350mm Olive cutting, I tried a 150mm Hawthorn last year that didn't take but that hasn't convinced me that its not possible, half a dozen more go's might though but thats what it takes to finally know for sure.

350mm Olive! If anyone has experience with large diameter Olive cuttings please post in detail your technique. Thanks!

I wouldn't say theres a technique to it, they're very obliging, you just find a big old olive thats been happily growing undisturbed for decades in the same spot and chainsaw the bastard off at ground level and put it in a plant pot, they'll positively love the experience, more than you will even

Here is a good website for chainsawing olives off as cuttings - he also does a mean trident construction.

http://www.dugzbonsai.com

Cheers,
Leigh.

There is an article in a Canberra Club Newsletter about using a chainsawed olive cutting and growing it. I can't remember which month or year.
Penny.

ozzy wrote:I wouldn't say theres a technique to it, they're very obliging, you just find a big old olive thats been happily growing undisturbed for decades in the same spot and chainsaw the bastard off at ground level and put it in a plant pot, they'll positively love the experience, more than you will even

you have such a way with words.

Cutting them off at ground level is the only way to go. I have lots of collected Olives and all are done this way. I look for the lowest position to safely make the cut and then when its out of the ground, take a better look and recut if need be. Lots of Olives have a big basel flare that doesnt really work for Bonsai so the lowest widest point isnt necassarily the best. I look for the best taper. Then, after that i throw them in my trailor and let them sweet it out for an hour or two whilst i dig more up, then take them home and clean them up and put them in a tub of either super thrive or rootone for about 3 or so hours. Have pots prepared, all i use for mix nowadays is straight diatomite. Then i place them on a bench were they can sit untouched for a few months and water them in with superthrive. I dont let them dry out to much and water them with seasol or superthrive or whatever i happen to be using at the time. I have lost a few this way but mostly they take off in no time. I do the same treatment for bougs, with no losses.
Good luck with them.
Peter

Hi Peter,
have been collecting olives for a long time but always dig them out with root.
Do you defoliate your cut stump before planting? and I am unfamiliar with your potting medium. Is it just a light potting mix or something specially formulated for cuttings?
cheers
Dave

G'day Dave,
I have posted this link in another topic but I suggest you check out DugzBonsai for an excellent Olive technique.

Regards,
Steven

Thanks Steven,
interesting site
Cheers
Dave