Olive tree care guide

An olive tree brings silver-green leaves and a Mediterranean look indoors. It grows wild on dry, sunny hillsides, so light is everything. In a Canadian winter, even a south window can be dim for it. A summer outside makes a big difference.

Light

Give it the sunniest spot you have. A south window is best. Six or more hours of direct sun keeps it full. A grow light helps in winter.

In low light, it drops leaves and grows long, thin stems.

Water

Olive trees handle dry soil better than wet. Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In winter, water less.

Yellow, dropping leaves with wet soil mean too much water. Crispy leaves with dry soil mean too little. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a gritty, fast-draining mix. Combine potting soil with cactus mix or pumice. A terracotta pot with a drainage hole helps.

Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F) for most of the year.

A cooler winter suits it. A bright, cool room between 7 and 13°C (45 and 55°F) gives it a rest, much like the winters where it grows wild.

Summer outside

Move it outside once nights stay above 10°C (50°F). Start it in part shade for a week, then give it full sun. Bring it in before frost.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Prune in late winter or spring to shape it. Cut just above a leaf. Remove suckers that sprout from the base of the trunk.

Will it grow olives?

Indoors, seldom. Olive trees need a cool winter, below about 10°C (50°F) for a couple of months, to set flowers. A tree that summers outside and winters in a cool, bright room has the best chance. Olives off the tree are bitter and must be cured before you can eat them.

Propagation

Olive cuttings are slow and tricky. Take a semi-hardwood cutting in summer, dip it in rooting hormone, and keep it warm and humid. Most people buy a young tree.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Leaves drop in winter	Not enough light
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Crispy, curled leaves	Too dry
Long, thin stems	Not enough light
Sticky leaves or white bumps	Scale

Pests

Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites can show up indoors. Check the stems and leaf undersides.

Pet safety

The ASPCA does not list the olive tree as toxic, and there is no known toxin in it. A pet that chews a lot of leaves can still get an upset stomach.

Varieties

• ‘Arbequina’ is the most common indoor olive. It stays compact and can fruit on its own.
• ‘Little Ollie’ is a dwarf, shrubby olive that does not fruit.
• ‘Manzanillo’ and ‘Picual’ are larger fruiting types.