Shohin Olive

Grant Hamby · Dec 20, 2016

JoeR said:
It has a bright future! However I do think you rushed it into a bonsai pot too early.

Yeah that's probably accurate, haha. The pot I received it in was almost the same size, so I didn't have to do any root work to make it fit. It was only slip-potted in the pond basket for a short time. Next time I repot, I'll probably put it into a slightly larger training pot.

Vin · Dec 20, 2016

You'll want to keep that first left branch pruned just enough to keep it alive. Let the first branch on the right grow like the dickens. It will fatten much quicker and that's what this tree needs. Once the right branch is noticeably larger/thicker than the left, you can then let the left one grow.

Adair M · Dec 20, 2016

Grant:

I can't resist...

When wiring branches coming off the trunk, start the wire from underneath the branch first rather than from above. Like this:

Grant Hamby · Dec 20, 2016

Adair M said:
Grant:

I can't resist...

When wiring branches coming off the trunk, start the wire from underneath the branch first rather than from above. Like this:

View attachment 126577

Haha, no need to resist! I'm always happy to learn. Is it okay to rewire any time or should I wait until the wire needs to be removed?

aml1014 · Dec 20, 2016

Grant Hamby said:
Haha, no need to resist! I'm always happy to learn. Is it okay to rewire any time or should I wait until the wire needs to be removed?

I adjust whenever if I think the branch will look better in another position.

Aaron

Adair M · Dec 20, 2016

Any time.

If you look carefully at the way your tree is wired now, you will see that the first place the wire actualy puts pressure on the branch is about an inch away from the trunk.

If instead it comes up from underneath, that first upper spiral can be right where it starts. So, you can bend down without creating "rainbow" branches.

Grant Hamby · Mar 7, 2017

I was able to slip this guy into a deeper pot a while back, no root disturbance. It's been doing well in the office window, almost time to bring it back outside. I've been keeping all growth in check except for the first branch, it's finally starting to take off a little. I've already seen improved ramification. You guys said that was fast for olives, now I believe you, haha.

Also.. big news. The key bud has finally popped. Now I must nurture it with tender love & care and guide it into perfect positioning, lol.

JudyB · Mar 7, 2017

niiiice..

Adair M · Mar 7, 2017

Don't "keep it in check". Lol!!

Let it grow! And get strong!!!

Then cut back.

Repeated pinching weakens trees.

Let it grow out like this:

Those long shoots generate good roots!

Then, you can cut back like this;

And wire. And pull off any leaves on the bottom of the branches.

The wire will cut in at about 6 weeks. Remove it. It will probably be as bushy as the first picture again! If so, cut back and wire. Remove leaves on the bottom of branches. Repeat as necessary throughout the growing season.

Grant Hamby · Mar 7, 2017

I tried to let it get a few leaf pairs before I cut, but until recently, none of the growth was going toward that first branch, so I was trying to balance it a little. I don't even know if that's how olives work, but I'll definitely let it bush out a little more before the next trim!

sorce · Mar 8, 2017

Grant, your olive thumb is quite green, that said....

I would call this here bud key, to a bigger treasure.

As that low one is almost directly opposite the other. I am learning to "accept" usable T-Bar branching, but I don't think this will fair all together "pretty" with it in the end.

Plus, it is in a great position to help close that wound.

And since you see how fast your development is going to be, provided you follow that Adair advice.....!

I just want to throw this all out there....

From the top line down....
When that top is bush, cutting it should get that bud to pop, of course the green is the branch.

I might consider layering at Orange, or since it's an olive, Just a cutting, but that top tree would be to cool to lose IMO.

I think keeping everything below the red line with the dot end is a possibility...

But I think the last red line cut would give you the dopest tree. In which case I would make it's twin out of the next hunk and branch too.

I just think the base is too nice to have a straight boner going up from it.

This is a 3fer for me!

And you are growing it well enough to take advantage IMO...

Well done! You sure have gotten this thing to a better structure than it was in the beginning!

Sorce

Grant Hamby · Mar 8, 2017

sorce said:
Grant, your olive thumb is quite green, that said....

I would call this here bud key, to a bigger treasure.View attachment 135420

As that low one is almost directly opposite the other. I am learning to "accept" usable T-Bar branching, but I don't think this will fair all together "pretty" with it in the end.

Plus, it is in a great position to help close that wound.

And since you see how fast your development is going to be, provided you follow that Adair advice.....!

I just want to throw this all out there....

View attachment 135421

From the top line down....
When that top is bush, cutting it should get that bud to pop, of course the green is the branch.

I might consider layering at Orange, or since it's an olive, Just a cutting, but that top tree would be to cool to lose IMO.

I think keeping everything below the red line with the dot end is a possibility...

But I think the last red line cut would give you the dopest tree. In which case I would make it's twin out of the next hunk and branch too.

I just think the base is too nice to have a straight boner going up from it.

This is a 3fer for me!

And you are growing it well enough to take advantage IMO...

Well done! You sure have gotten this thing to a better structure than it was in the beginning!

Sorce

I guess I should've said "a" key bud has popped, lol. I definitely hope the other one pops as well. I'm just happy that the empty space will be filled eventually.

And I do like the slight apex reduction. I'll consider that more as the new branch grows. I have a bit of a vision for the tree and I'd like to see it through a little more before I do anything more drastic.

As always, thank you for the tips/suggestions and the virts!

Grant Hamby · Mar 20, 2017

I left for a couple days and my office mates didn't water, so most of the fresh leaves got pretty well toasted. The hardened leaves still look great. Should I be concerned about the tree over all?

aml1014 · Mar 20, 2017

Grant Hamby said:
I left for a couple days and my office mates didn't water, so most of the fresh leaves got pretty well toasted. The hardened leaves still look great. Should I be concerned about the tree over all?

If the hardened off foliage is still fine, I think it's okay. Just keep it moist as usual and it'll bounce back.

Aaron

Grant Hamby · Oct 26, 2017

The original olive bounced back just fine from the toasted leaves issue. I haven’t touched it at all, I’m going to leave it alone for a while.

I recently added another to the collection, so I thought I’d share. I received it today and immediately added a bit of wire, but only did a negligible amount of thinning. I haven’t pulled it out of the pot yet, so I have no idea how the roots look, but all the foliage appears to be actively growing and there were several baby shoots emerging from the soil line, so I’m assuming the tree is healthy. Here’s a pic:

I might reduce the apex eventually so it’s not so pointy, but I don’t want to rush anything yet.

JosephCooper · Mar 12, 2018

Any updates yet?

Grant Hamby · Mar 21, 2018

JosephCooper said:
Any updates yet?

Not really, growth has been a little slow, I’ve been hands-off for a while now, just letting them rev up their engines. I’ll probably sell the original smaller one, I’m trying to pare down quite a bit to focus more on my better material.

miker · Mar 21, 2018

Super cute Grant. I think your tree has great bones.

Grant Hamby · Sep 19, 2018

Haven’t posted in a while, here’s an update on the olive (the newer one with the bigger base):

Just continuing the pattern of letting it grow and cutting it back.

my nellie · Sep 19, 2018

Grant Hamby said:
... ...Just continuing the pattern of letting it grow and cutting it back.

This never fails!

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