The Black Olive Bonsai Thrives in the Heat
The Bucida Spinosa, or the black olive bonsai tree, is an indoor bonsai tree that loves being warm. In fact, this tree can’t really survive in any temperature less than 40 degrees, and it really doesn’t thrive unless it’s even warmer. The black olive bonsai originally comes from the upper Florida Keys, and when left to its own devices, it can grow as tall as 50 feet and will produce very dense leaves and branches. While your indoor bonsai won’t get that large, it will still grow to a stately 15 inches tall or so. Remember to keep this bonsai in bright sunlight and to keep it nice and moist, too. Also note that while it is an evergreen, it does have spiny needles for leaves, so you may want to take care when shaping and trimming it.
It’s important to remember that your bonsai trees, especially indoor bonsai, need to have space around them so that they can get air. Plants need carbon dioxide so that they can create many of the nutrients necessary for them to survive. If you are growing many bonsai in a small space, you may be tempted to place your bonsai close together. This may prevent air flow, so be sure to leave some space between them.