I ordered a dwarf olive from an online company, potted it, and promptly killed the little thing. I felt really bad! One day, while golfing, I noticed several golf course olive trees had suckers. I know these are great olive producers because we pick those olives while golfing and I cure them with a few weeks of changing salt brine, finish with more brine, garlic, herbs, citrus, peppers, red wine vinegar, sealed with olive oil, and they are great!!

As we golfed, I pulled some suckers off several trees, and put them in a styrofoam cup of water. We brought them home, stripped them of all but a couple leaves, stuck them in rooting hormone, and put them in the ground. Those in full sun died within a week or so, but those in full shade lived, and much to my disbelief, 3 now are branching out and every day have new leaves!

This winter, we will dig them up, and carefully pot them in those root encouraging containers. I also have two varieties of cuttings ordered from UC Davis, so those will have containers too.

My little suckers got no special care other than shade and continuously damp soil from sprinklers. When these get their pots, they will go on the citrus drip system (in morning sun only) because I think they all have the same water requirements. My figs and pomegranates are on that citrus system also, and thriving.

As a side note, I have a couple favorite roses, so I read up on propagating those, and I tried in the same place that I put those olives, and I now have two new rose plants growing next to the olives. My favorites happen to be "Brandy" and "Veteran's Honor." Both beautiful and prolific. I'd like rows of Brandy in the front yard, and Veteran's Honor in the back facing the golf course. Roses are pretty easy. Just cut a stem with a fading rose on it, strip most of the leaves except the top two, and even cut those in half, rooting hormone, and in the damp soil they go. Easy!!

Good luck with your propagating!!
Suzi Q