Olive trees can be propagated by three different propagation methods. These include; olive tree cutting, air layering olive tree branch, and with olive tree seeds.
These techniques will result in a tree that can be planted within a year, though cutting-propagated olive trees will grow more quickly and more nearly match the parent tree in terms of size, growth habit, and fruit production.
However, the focus of this article will be on how to propagate olive trees from cutting.
The Propagation of Olive Trees by Cutting
By taking cutting from an established tree, you can propagate an olive tree. This technique is more recent and is used extensively in all nursery industries.
Growers prefer to propagate olive trees using this method because they are assured a clone of the tree they are taking the cutting from. The ideal time to use this method of olive tree propagation is when the tree is actively growing in the summer.
How To Propagate an Olive Tree from Cuttings – Step by Step Guide
Finally, let’s see the exact steps you should take in order to propagate olive trees from cuttings.
1. Pick The Right Cutting
Olive trees produce the best growth with softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings. Find a healthy branch that is under a year old, around the width of a pencil, and in good health.
Take an 8-inch semi-hardwood cutting from the end of an olive branch with a stem diameter of 1/4 inch. Cut it off 1/8 of an inch below a leaf node. Chop off the bottom four to six leaves, then wrap the branch’s end in a moist paper towel.
To reduce the danger of disease transmission, make sure your secateurs are clean and sharp before cutting.
2. Rooting Technique
Remove each leaf along the bottom portion of the cutting. Then put the leafless end of the olive cutting in 0.2-percent IBA rooting talc. Tap the stem to remove any extra powder. Place the cuttings in a bright area away from direct sunlight, and spray them daily.
3. Watering The Newly Potted Cutting
Water the newly potted cutting thoroughly until the water is dripping from the bottom of the pot. Every time you water the foliage, check the amount of moisture in the sand mixture. If the sand feels primarily dry in the top inch, add water. Place the pot in a warm location that receives indirect sunshine and stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Constant Care
Olive cuttings that have been rooted only need to be watered by an inch per week. Around a month after being rooted, they should be transplanted into 1-gallon nursery pots filled with potting soil, where they should be grown until autumn in light shade. You can either place the cutting in a covered area of a greenhouse or somewhere in your home where it will receive indirect light to help prevent drying out. In the autumn, move it into a permanent location.
Benefits of Propagating Olive Trees
There are numerous advantages to cutting-based olive tree propagation over other methods.
- Olive trees take too long to grow from seed. For instance, olive trees produced from seed can take up to 15 years to reach maturity, while olive trees developed from propagation often do so in 7–10 years.
- You can keep antique olive tree varieties alive by propagating them.
- You can grow several different types of olives on one tree using olive tree grafting procedures. For those with smaller yards, this choice is perfect.
When to Take Olive Tree Cutting
Never start cutting olive trees in either their first or second year. Till the olive tree is at least four years old, you shouldn’t use that pruner on the branches of your tree.
You should allow it to grow leaves throughout these initial years and encourage it to do so. A tree’s leaves provide food; thus, having a lot of leaves when the tree is young gives it plenty of energy for growth.
Just as the new growth is starting to harden in the summer, take an olive tree cutting. Wait to take a cutting from an olive tree until the olives are visible and the blossoms have faded.
Are There Any Other Propagating Methods?
Yes, there are two other possible methods of propagating olive trees. That involves propagating olive trees from seeds and propagating olives using the air layering method.
To grow an olive tree from a seed method, only olive seeds that have not been treated or soaked in oil, such as those you could get in a shop, can be attempted to germinate.
Air layering is when low-hanging branches meet the ground and then begin to form their own root system. This method of generating young olive trees is preferred by nurseries and horticulturists since the progeny will be genetically like the parent tree.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Propagation of Olive Trees
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Can you root olive tree cuttings in water?
In water, olive tree cuttings won’t take root. However, you can begin the process of propagating olive tree cuttings by soaking fresh olive tree cuttings for the first two to three days in a cup of water before moving them to a pot with potting soil.
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How long does it take for olive tree cuttings to root?
It will take the olive tree cutting approximately 3 months to root. Olive tree cuttings can take up to 4 weeks to begin developing roots, although this might vary depending on the species of tree and the environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and light.
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Can you grow an olive tree from a branch?
Yes, a branch can grow into an olive tree. When you use an existing plant to grow another plant, the process of creating an olive tree is referred to as propagation.
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How fast do olive trees grow?
Most olive trees grow at a rate of fewer than 12 inches per year, which is pretty slow compared to some other types of trees.
Final Words
You can propagate using other techniques. However, propagating olive trees from cuttings is a very effective and widely used method of increasing the number of olive trees. We hope this article on growing olive trees from cuttings has proven beneficial to you.
