Cultivate olive tree - 10 care tips for healthy plants

In the article you will learn what the optimal environment of the olive tree looks like and how to get as close as possible to this optimal environment in our climate. All plants basically need the same substances to grow; not alone humus, as we thought about 2, 000 years after the Aristotle-based humus theory. But many different elements, depending on the plant in different quantities and in an environment in which all elements can be absorbed and processed.

The care of the olive tree

Plants need the same substances, but in different quantities, depending on the conditions under which their evolutionary development took place. And it's not just about the element itself, but also how easily the plant gets to the fabric. That's what the olive needs:

1. light
All olive-growing areas are between 30 and 45 degrees latitude (or even closer to the equator). From the 30th to the 45th latitude, the global solar radiation is between 2000 and 1200 kWh / m² per year. Germany lies between the 47th and 55th latitude north, with us the sun supplied statistically only 1, 000 to 800 kWh per m² / year, the more north, the less. Not only for the Flensburger with solar system a problem, but also for every German olive tree.

In 2014, Germany received more sun: Between 936 and 1, 225 kWh / (m² · a), in the course of global warming, the southern tip of Germany can just fulfill the light requirements of an olive tree. These values ​​are not promises, but the heat requirements of the olive tree can only be met outdoors with some effort. Olive trees are therefore usually kept in the bucket and a good part of the year behind windows, where it is once again a good deal darker.

Therefore, the olive tree would need additional lighting south of Munich for optimal photosynthesis rates; anyway, north of Munich.

Tip - Nearly every plant grows indoors in the low light, because window panes (different sized) light components "swallow". Plant lighting has so far caused high energy and cost expenditure, today there is LED plant light, which supplies the plants with a few watts.

2. Water
Olive trees grow best at annual mean temperatures of 15-20 ° C and annual precipitation of 500-700 mm, populate above all mountainous coasts with profound soils and subhumid climate. There it rains less than in (our) humid climate, but enough to get native plants harvested without irrigation. Average annual temperature 15-20 ° C means that a lot of rain evaporates; Growth on the mountain slope means that precipitation is partial. Olive trees grow in fairly dry soils, can be reached with only 200 mm annual precipitation, wet feet you do not know.

In Germany, an average of 760 mm of rain falls, with an average annual temperature of 8 ° C. More precipitation from which less evaporates - Olive trees with outdoor locations hardly require irrigation and a functioning drain in the tub; When casting olive trees indoors, there is a lot of restraint compared to native plants.

3. air
"Spent air" is really consumed by plants because they use air elements for photosynthesis, so rooms with plants should be aired daily (multiple times depending on the number of plants). If you already live in a new building / refurbished old building, for which a constructional ventilation concept was created, the ventilation system must be occasionally put on intensive ventilation, otherwise applies: air vent, window wide open, possibly open the connecting doors, close after 5 minutes, causes the best air exchange (but please do not let in a "storm" or cold drafts)

4. Nutrients = fertilizer
The roots make extensive use of a mixture of minerals, organic matter, air and water, which we call earth: organic carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and the main nutrients phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium. Iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chlorine, boron and molybdenum must be supplied as essential micronutrients in small quantities. Probably there are other useful / necessary elements, the influences of microorganisms + further substrate active ingredients are just being investigated.

After all, it is known today that plants in healthy soil, where enough water and air are available, are supplied with almost everything; only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (and one or the other trace element) can become scarce when vigorously grown, the basic components of any complete fertilizer (NPK, N Nitrogen, P Phosphorus, K Potassium).

Again in very different quantities:

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• What a plant needs is explored by looking at the natural soil and experimenting with different nutrient supplies
• The natural soil of the olives is rather barren
• In the experiments, plant researchers have consistently found that unfertilized olives develop most roots
• Growth and yield of the olive trees could hardly be influenced by NPK fertilizer
• Olive trees grew best with 4 cubic centimeters of humic fertilizer called "Potash actosol" per plant + year
• Original "Potash actosol" can be seen here: eaiad.com/en/home/products
• Potash (potassium carbonate) and humic substances are also found in other organic fertilizers
• Eg in Fertofit garden fertilizer (organic fertilizer with NPK 7/3/6)
• Kalireich are except potash z. B. bone meal, comfrey mulch, ferns
• Potassium ensures maturation of the plant cells = better winter hardiness (therefore last fertilizer application in August)