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Repotting into a much bigger pot

Hi green friends. I have an olive tree that came in a 28cm pot; I read olives should be in a much bigger container so bought a lovely 55cm one. But then I read you shouldn't repot into a much bigger pot as there won't be enough roots to take up all the water. What can I do to not waste the new pot? Can I plant other things around the olive so there's collectively enough roots? I.e. treat it like a raised bed/ planter? Ideas welcome! Thanks

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    you could pot the olive into a cheapo plastic pot and bury it in the big one



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Thanks nutcutlet, great idea! Would it be ok to have damp soil sitting around the outside of the inner pot then, it wouldn't go mouldy or anything? 

  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267

    You  could use gravel in the larger pot to raise up the smaller pot and fill round the gaps either side with gravel, the pot would be heavy but drainage would be good.

    As the plant grows keep potting up until the plant is large enough to fit the 55cm pot...

  • Thanks, yes I'll give that a go. Maybe I'll try polystyrene, so it's not as heavy. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    good ideaimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • AHRAHR Posts: 361

    Hi

    Can I ask why you shouldn't pot a olive tree in a big pot?? 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    It's best not to over pot anything Giddy - the roots can get lost in the amount of soil, making it difficult to get the watering right, which can then make those little fine, new roots susceptible to rotting. It depends on the plant of course - but one which likes good drainage will tend to suffer a bit more than something which is less fussy. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AHRAHR Posts: 361

    I see. Thanks for that. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    Olives need good drainage - I agree with Verdun -  the pots will need weight for stability - use John Innes loam-based compost (not lightweight multi-purpose compost) and add a good proportion of coarse horticultural grit.  I would use 3 parts John Innes to 1 part grit.  That should ensure that the roots don't suffer from being too wet when the temperatures drop as they do in the UK.  

    Last edited: 22 August 2016 09:22:18


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





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