Help with chopping up this big olive branch!

[Scoobs]

Hello! First time poster and pretty much a beginner although I do have a green thumb and am not unfamiliar with caring for plants.

I was gifted this big olive branch which I want to root and turn into a few smaller bonsai (2 or 3 from the fat part) but I am unsure how should I cut it up for best effect and would appreciate some help!

This is the whole branch, roughly 5.5 feet long (pen for scale).


The lower thicker section I am mostly interested in


Lower section other side




Where I was thinking to make cuts
A) (3 bonsai)


Or this
B) (2 bonsai)


C)1 big bonsai + 1 small bonsai


What do you all think? Do any of these options look good? Would you move the cut lines?
I have no real style in mind, still very much a noobie and I need to learn more about that so if you have any thought on that I'd love to hear them as well!

OR would it be a better idea to just root the whole branch first to see where new growth emerges before deciding how to chop it up?
Please help I really don't want to mess up this beautiful branch!

 

[sorce]

I'd jam the whole thing in the ground so the large base will hold it up.

Then wait.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Scoobs]

I'd jam the whole thing in the ground so the large base will hold it up.

Then wait.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

I thought about that, but then I'd loose the impact the thicker branch would have on a shorter bonsai would I not?
Perhaps just going with my third option doing one large bonsai from the bottom half of the branch would be a good compromise?

 

[AshleyMammal]

Hold up, this thing will root from a branch that thick??? Is this an early April fool's or do I just not know olives?

 

[Mikecheck123]

Hold up, this thing will root from a branch that thick??? Is this an early April fool's or do I just not know olives?

Yes, you can chainsaw cut a wild olive and just plant that and it will grow, which is a common technique for getting a flat root base.

However, this branch doesn't look very alive to me, so I'm not convinced it will work here.

 

[AshleyMammal]

Yes, you can chainsaw cut a wild olive and just plant that and it will grow, which is a common technique for getting a flat root base.

However, this branch doesn't look very alive to me, so I'm not convinced it will work here.

Cheers, I knew that for willow and dogwood but had no idea about olive - every day is a school day.

I'm a poor man's olive (privet) type of guy anyway.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Cheers, I knew that for willow and dogwood but had no idea about olive - every day is a school day.

I'm a poor man's olive (privet) type of guy anyway.

Cheers I knew that for willow and olive but had no idea about dogwood. The one in my backyard is now in danger.

 

[Scoobs]

Yes, you can chainsaw cut a wild olive and just plant that and it will grow, which is a common technique for getting a flat root base.

However, this branch doesn't look very alive to me, so I'm not convinced it will work here.

I did remove a lot of smaller branches and they all had green leaves on them, would that mean it's alive?

 

[BrianBay9]

I'd plant it as is and see what pops. Make the decision next year.

 

[Scoobs]

I'd plant it as is and see what pops. Make the decision next year.

I think that's what I'll do, thanks for your input!

 

[sorce]

Yeah, I think once it sprouts, the sprouts will guide you to your future cuts.

You shouldn't lose any options, where cutting it up now may lose you options.

Sorce

 

[Crazy Diamond]

You need to put it in a greenhouse with a lot of humidity and warmth, another common practice is using just a plastic bag

 

[Scoobs]

You need to put it in a greenhouse with a lot of humidity and warmth, another common practice is using just a plastic bag

No greenhouse but I am using a large trash bag to cover the whole branch and the pot it's in.

 

[Scoobs]

However, this branch doesn't look very alive to me, so I'm not convinced it will work here.

I was cutting some bark to expose the inside of the wood to rooting hormone and I saw a green layer!

 

[It's Kev]

it's gonna take a while though, i've had a rooted stump in the ground for 2 months now, still green under the bark but no leaves yet