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Real-life advice on growing olive tree indoors

2

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    You can fight nature but why bother? It will win in the end even if it means falling in its sword.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It strikes me that of the things that loves all day, full, baking, ouside sun, it's an olive tree.
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @Devonian   Oundle are obviously NOT experts - they are sales people and want your money!!  Of course they will say it's possible.  Is the fish fresh?


    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'll add my voice to those who say a big fat NO. 
    Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be ignoring EVERYONE saying no, but clinging to the salesman who says yes. 
    Your money, your choice. 
    Devon.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Could you put a tree outside near to the window so you could see it? Reading these posts has made me realise why I dislike houseplants. Growing things are better outside I think. Obviously lots of people will disagree and that’s fine, just my opinion. 
    Not a fan of artificial plants but I think that’s your best bet in the circumstances. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2021
    Unless you have bright light from 180 degrees above and around your tree and a properly controlled atmosphere (like at Kew) you tree will never be happy or give you what you want. 

    Folk like 0undle sell their plants to interior designers ... not gardeners. They only have to look good until their client’s cheque has cleared. The photographs in their portfolio will get them more naive customers. 

    If you think your room is bright, get a photographer’s light meter and take a reading several times a day three feet from your window  ... then go and stand in the middle of a field away from buildings,  and take the same readings and you’ll see what I mean. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    By the way, Oundle haven’t been growing their olive trees here in the UK. They’re dug up, potted and imported from around the Mediterranean where they’re clearing ancient olive groves to put up housing and holiday apartments. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DevonianDevonian Posts: 176
    Wow, I didn't mean to start a storm!  :)  Don't worry, I'm not ignoring your advice and it's genuinely made me rethink. I'm just collating as much opinion as I can - like most things, there are those who say 'yes it can be done, I've done it and here's the evidence' and others who say 'no it can't be done, and here's the evidence'.

    Genuinely sorry if I've caused offence by suggesting a living, breathing olive tree might be kept indoors. I've grown them successfully outdoors (the 'proper' way, not the lollipop style!) and personally, I love them. So, again thank you all for your advice and opinions - very much appreciated!

    @debs64 that's actually a very good shout to put it outside the bay window, thank you

    PS - I know Oundle are sales people but they can be experts at the same time  :) I'd like to think I'm savvy enough to recognise when I'm being sold to and when I'm being genuinely advised! Thanks for your warning though - I totally get where you're coming from!
  • DevonianDevonian Posts: 176
    @Dovefromabove, your post popped in after I typed mine! Thanks for the insight into Oundle.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    You seem like someone who cares about plants and I think you would be unhappy if you felt your tree was struggling. Also it wouldn’t look very nice if it was only just alive. Hope you find a solution that makes you happy.
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