How to Take Care of Your Olive Tree

Step aside Fiddle Leaf Figs, you've got some competition! If you are looking to add a touch of the Mediterranean to your home, look no further than the stunning, and popular, Olive Tree. Known in Ancient Greece as a traditional symbol of harmony, wisdom, and triumph, the narrow, sage green leaves and pale stems create a simple and elegant statement in any home. Even though there are plenty of Olive Tree varieties that exist, the most popular species for growing indoors is the Dwarf Olive Tree, since it doesn't reach heights higher than 6 ft., unlike those that can grow upwards of 30 ft. Now, don't go purchasing one of these guys if you are looking for fruit, because they generally don't produce actual olives, but this doesn't diminish their beauty.

△ 10" Olive Tree

The natural habitat of these ancient plants resides in the dry regions of the Mediterranean, including Spain, Greece, and Italy, or even in some Californian gardens. From this, we can deduce that they will do just fine in our dry, Northern homes with central heating and air conditioners sucking any of the natural moisture and humidity out of the air around us. Now we can begin to understand why they are so popular, since most other plants require some level of humidity. The main thing that these trees need is light, and a whole lot of it at that, which is what makes them rather difficult houseplants here in Canada.

One thing to note with Olive Trees is that they are not the easiest houseplants. They will not survive indoors indefinitely, just like Citrus Trees, so it is very important that they spend a portion of the year outdoors, in the spring and summer months. This is mostly due to how much light they need, which is up to 6-8 hours a day of strong, direct sunlight, something most homes, apartments, or condos do not naturally provide. Along with high light levels, they also require good airflow to maintain their health, hence why it is recommended that they are moved between the indoors and the outdoors throughout the span of year, but we'll get in to that more later on.

Despite the fact that they are a relatively slow-growing tree, they are definitely worth owning because their beauty creates a statement that most other houseplants just can't do. With dainty leaves, not reaching more than half an inch wide, they are incredibly stunning, it's just their care that they are a little finicky with, but let's cover that now.

Light Requirements

Sun, sun and more sun! There are no if's, and's, or but's, Olive Trees need as much direct sunlight as possible in order to stay healthy and happy, they are native to the hot, dry climate of the Mediterranean after all. Indoors, there just isn't enough light to support them throughout the year, which is why we mentioned above that they should be moved outdoors once the days and nights start to warm up.

There really aren't any lower light locations since they need as much direct sunlight as possible. Indoor, bright light plants require sunlight to assume their full potential, which means they need to be right next to a sunny window with at least 6 - 8 hours of direct, bright sunlight a day. Avoid letting the leaves touch window glass, which can intensify the sunlight and burn them. A South-facing window would be best, but if you only have an East or West-facing window, consider investing in grow lights to supplement for the lack of light in the lower light portion of each day.

If you choose to keep your plant outdoors during the summer, which we recommend, please refer to our When & How to Transition Your Plants Outdoors for the Summer blog post. It is important to give your plant time to transition because, just like moving to your home can be a shock, moving a plant from indoors to the outdoors in direct sun can also shock your plant, causing leaf burn or loss. It is also important to not put your plant out too early, but you can read all about that in the article linked. Even if there are some leaves that drop, once the plant adjusts to the new location that it loves, receiving 6-8 hours of sun, it should begin to grow more leaves on the stalks that are left behind.

The high amount of light that they require is why they generally don't fare as well indoors year-round, because they truly need those 6-8 hours of sun a day. While it is ok that you keep your Olive Tree inside the home, they adapt much better to the outdoors during the warmer months and often perform better as well. Raising them indoors means that you might have to be a more watchful caregiver, moving your plant around the house to accommodate its need for sun. When kept outside, towards the end of the season, transition the tree back inside before it gets too cold.

Watering Requirements

Olive Trees actually don't like constantly moist soil and prefer it more on the dry side, with low to medium watering needs, just like in their natural habitat! While we want to avoid letting the soil dry out completely, we also want to avoid overly saturated soil. They need to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch so it is safer to give the soil a check before you water again. To check the moisture levels, push your fingers into the soil, if it feels damp, wait a few days and then check again.

Even though Olive Trees are rather drought tolerant, when it does come time to water, water your plant deeply, so that all of the soil is moistened and not just the top layer of soil. If this is done right, there should be water coming out of the drainage holes at the base of the pot, which is why we always recommend potting your plants in pots with drainage holes, so there is never the chance of water building up at the base of the pot. Feel free to read more about our watering methods in our Watering Guide.

△ Olive Tree Leaves

This is why it is recommended to keep them in well-draining soil, such as cactus soil mixed with perlite, orchid bark, or lava rock - perlite is recommended because it is lighter and Olive Trees are frequently moved indoors and outdoors, depending on the season. With this type of soil, it won't stay as wet as long as soils that are on the denser side, meaning that there will be a lot more airflow for the roots. Regular indoor potting soil can be used, but you will have to keep an eye on your watering, making sure to check if the plant actually needs to be watered or not.

Olive Trees grow quite slowly in general, especially those kept indoors, but over the winter months they will most likely go dormant, so avoid giving your plant too much water too often during that season. Although they are slower growers, you want to make sure that the container is a couple inches larger than the root ball on each side to allow the roots room to expand. Planting in a larger container will also mean you’ll have to re-pot your tree less often.

Humidity

Unlike almost every other houseplant, Olive Trees actually do not need additional humidity and will do just fine in our homes, which is one reason why they are so popular! They grow in the Mediterranean so they can tolerate the dry air and won't need to be misted to stay happy. Even though they love the warmth and dry air, protect your tree with a little shade during extreme high temperatures

Fertilizing

Olive Trees will benefit from regular doses of fertilizer throughout the growing seasons of spring and summer. You can use a generic, balanced houseplant fertilizer (a 10-10-10 with micronutrients, for example), feeding twice a month April through September, following the product instructions and diluting it as they say so as not to give the plant too much food. Then, feed the tree once a month in the fall and winter months.

Toxicity

Olive Trees are non-toxic to ingest, by both pets and people! Although it is always recommended to keep your pets and children from ingesting any houseplants, you can feel comfortable and safe having these beauties around your home in the potential case where someone feels like having a snack.

Common Pests & Problems

Although their care guidelines are rather short and simple, there are some issues that can plague Olive Trees. The main care step to achieve is correct lighting, since they have such high light needs, but it is also important to keep an eye out for the following:

Final Notes

Try not to fret too much over your plant if it starts to drop leaves, just give it time to adjust to your home or analyze the situation to see what is going on. Pick a warm, sunny window and keep your plant there all winter, then, when the days and nights start to warm up again, transition your plant outdoors and watch it go to work. Most of the time, Olive's will recover, you will just have to be patient and follow the regimen that they need.