QA

Quick Answer: How To Care For An Olive Tree

Help it acclimate by keeping it in a sheltered spot for the first few days and gradually expose it to more sunshine and wind. Keep checking to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out. After 7 to 10 days, put your olive tree in full sun. It can vacation outside until frost.

How do you look after an olive tree?

During the growing season keep the compost moist and feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every month to ensure it produces a good crop of fruit. Prune olives in early spring to keep an attractive shape and to remove any dead, diseased or dying branches.

How often do you water a potted olive tree?

The week after you’ve re-potted make sure to water your tree every day to help establish roots. Afterward, you will need to water your little tree 1-2 times per week. In the winter, you can stretch this to once every 2 weeks. If you live in a cold climate- fear not!Jul 19, 2015.

Do olive trees need direct sunlight?

Olive trees need full sun and six to eight hours of bright, direct sunlight to survive. Positioning the olive tree in front of an east- or south-facing window in a dry, spacious room, like the living room, is an ideal spot.

Are olive trees hard to care for?

Growing a potted olive tree indoors has become popular. One reason people are taking to olive trees as houseplants is that caring for olive trees inside is easy. These trees tolerate dry air and dry soil too, making it an easy-care houseplant.

Can I leave my olive tree outside in winter?

Potted olive trees can be left outside until late September, early October, and should then be brought inside until the beginning of May. A cold conservatory, porch which has good natural light or a greenhouse are all suitable to house an olive tree during winter.

Can olive trees grow in pots?

If you don’t have a garden or you’re short on space, you can still grow olives. They will happily grow in large pots – just make sure they have plenty of sunshine! Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Can you overwater an olive tree?

Whether you are growing an olive tree in-ground or in a pot in your back yard, overwatering your olive trees can cause serious issues. Overwatering not only drenches your olive tree but the soil around it may cause other imbalances. Olive trees cannot tell you when they had too much water.

Why are the leaves on my olive tree falling off?

The most common problem of olive trees dropping leaves is related to watering when the roots of the olive tree are too soaked or too dry. Another reason is seasonality changes where is normal for an olive tree to shed some leaves especially prior to the winter slowdown.

Can potted olive trees grow indoors?

Olive trees are ancient plants. But we can enjoy olive trees (Olea europea) in containers indoors, at least for short periods of time. Because they don’t thrive indoors over the long run, it’s best to move potted olives outside or plant them in the ground when the weather warms up.

Can olive trees live in shade?

Olive trees generally need as much sunlight as possible. In other words, the more light they have, the longer your olive tree will remain healthy and in its best condition. Although, a little shade can be tolerated with a few precautions.

Are olive trees easy to grow?

They are easy to care for. Olive trees are low maintenance plants. They are drought tolerant and prefer dry soil and air, regular watering, and six hours of daily sunlight. Their adaptability means that they are cold hardy, yet can handle warmer temperatures as well.

How long does it take for an olive tree to bear fruit?

Most olive trees take about three years to come into maturity and begin to set noticeable amounts of fruit. To increase fruit set, it is recommended that you plant more than one cultivar close together. Olive trees like to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny area of the landscape.

Do I need to bring my olive tree inside for winter?

Never bring your olive trees indoors in winter. Outside, bring them as close as possible to a window so that they may benefit from the warmth of the house. Mulch the base of your olive trees to protect them from the cold. Wrap the pots with a thick cover, and avoid letting rain fall in.

How do I make my olive tree bushy?

Olive trees are a slow growing variety and don’t require much attention when it comes to pruning. If you would like to do a bit of maintenance we would recommend pinching back some of the new growth. This will encourage the tree to send out new shoots and in turn, this will create a lovely bushy tree.

How long do olive trees live?

The oldest known olive tree is 1500 years old, but the average life span is 500 years.

How cold can a potted olive tree get?

A potted olive tree can survive temperatures consistently above 27℉ (-3℃) with no trouble. A few nighttime frosts are not likely to do any damage. If your region experiences rare freezes, you can leave your olive tree outside.

Do olive trees lose their leaves in winter?

IN WINTER. Olive trees are hardy but may require some winter protection for the first few years. Don’t be alarmed if your tree begins to drop leaves when spring arrives, olives naturally shed older foliage as the new season’s growth begins.