Do Olive Trees Need Full Sun – I have always dreamed of having an olive tree indoors but didn’t know how to make it happen. Where can you even find an olive tree? Can they even be houseplants? I know they need a lot of sun, which Chicago doesn’t get half the year, and historically plants never do well under my care. I was lucky enough to meet Vagabond in Western Springs and they ordered the most beautiful tree. We chose an Arbequina olive tree for our living room. And they told me
We all also need to know how to keep olive trees alive. How to care for an olive tree indoors. If you’re having trouble keeping plants alive, here are some artificial options. I’ve also included a few below.
Do Olive Trees Need Full Sun
My fiddle leaf fig has a new home in our office/sunroom and I can’t get over how much lighter and brighter this little corner of our living room feels. I should add that fig trees are much easier to care for than olive trees. You can see our fig tree room here. But our olive tree is beautiful – its pale green color is the perfect muted green – no wonder it’s so popular with design enthusiasts. Such an attractive option for your home, but they are very lively. I will say that it sounds difficult to care for, and it is, but if you take good care of and care for your olive tree, it will thrive indoors.
Olive Trees For Sale
You can’t beat the beauty of olive trees – there’s a reason they’re so popular. However, caring for olive trees is complex and keeping trees alive is a common problem. Olive trees can grow in the US but rely on certain soil types, do best as outdoor plants and cannot survive cold temperatures. It is very difficult to take care of a real olive tree. Their cold tolerance is zero and they do not do well even in partial sun. They are light and airy and beautiful in small spaces.
Olive trees need at least six hours of sunlight each day. Since they need so much sunlight, a sunny south-facing window is ideal. The soil can be drained. The right floor makes all the difference. A grow light can help give the tree a little extra sunshine during the darker winter months. I didn’t want to commit to grow light but without lots of sun your olive tree will not thrive. Trust me. They are suitable for the drier air found in most homes – spraying is not usually required. Make sure there are drainage holes to drain excess water. Young olive trees take time to blossom into mature trees and they will also produce olive fruit.
The winter has been hard on Diana (a common problem but we brought her into our yard when it warmed up and she thrived (literally) in full sun. The good news is that there was new growth and she is thriving! If your tree is struggling, give so some time outside during the warmer months. Fresh air and natural sunlight will do wonders. Since olive trees only live in warm climates, an indoor olive tree seemed like the best option.
Yes! But there are some basic guidelines to follow and it will take a lot of work to keep your olive tree alive. Add an inch or two of Styrofoam, gravel, or another type of filler to the bottom of the pot to keep the soil well drained. Allow the top inch of soil in the pot to test between waterings. The pot size should be large enough to accommodate the growing tree.
Everything You Need To Know About Arbequina Olive Trees
Place the tree in the hole. Add 1 inch of soil to the root ball while building the grade with the original soil.
Potted trees need to be watered more often than trees planted in the ground. We use 4 cups of water once a week, but be careful not to overwater.
You can repot as they grow – up one container size each year if needed.
Early spring and summer are the best times to plant olive trees indoors. Since olive trees need full sun and almost 6+ hours of direct sunlight to survive, winter is not ideal. The olive tree should be in front of an east or south window. Humidity should be low – the room should be dry. Dawrf olive trees only grow up to 6 feet tall. So if you don’t have high ceilings or room for a 10-foot tree, consider a dwarf olive tree.
Move Over Fiddle Leaf Fig! Here’s Why The Olive Tree Is Our New Favorite Houseplant
It may be necessary to prune the potted tree more than once a year to keep the tree within space limitations. Removing the growth tips promotes growth, removing branches creates more space. Olive trees can be grown indoors but last 8-9 years indoors. Odds are unlikely to grow on an olive tree indoors.
You can try your garden center or order online. This site has some great olive tree varieties. Now that you know how much care they require, this might not be for you, but I have some good choices below.
If you love the look of an olive tree but miss year-round sunlight or just don’t want to try to keep one alive, there are some great artificial olive tree options. Artificial olive trees are a great option for those of you who love the look of a beautiful tree but just need it.
Both my planter and olive tree were given to me by Vagabond in Western Springs, IL. Thank you Vagabond for sharing information on indoor olive tree care. All opinions are my own.
Trees Similar To Olive Trees
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Grow an olive tree indoors and let it spend the summer outdoors. If your climate is hot, you can even plant it in your garden.
Remember: Prices and inventory are subject to change after the release date and we may make money from these affiliate links.
You can grow olive trees indoors and then bring potted olives outside or plant them in the ground when the weather warms up. This olive tree vacations with outdoor ease.
Olive trees are old plants. Archaeologists who have found olive pits and traces of olive oil in clay fragments estimate that we have been cultivating them for 6,000 to 8,000 years.
Olive Tree Plant Care Guide
Not all of us can grow these trees for fruit or oil. They are hardy only in USDA zones 8 and warmer and begin to die back when temperatures reach the mid-teens. But we can enjoy olive trees (Olea europea) in containers indoors, at least for a short time. Since they don’t thrive indoors forever, it’s best to move potted plants outside or plant them in the ground when the weather warms up.
If you are growing olives as a houseplant, choose a dwarf variety. Dwarf olives can grow up to 6 feet tall, but you can prune them to keep them shorter. Some gardeners choose to grow these trees as bonsai.
Choose a spot in your home that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun a day, such as a south-facing spot. Avoid letting the leaves touch window glass as this can increase the sunlight and burn them.
Cut back the growth spurs of your tree when it threatens to outgrow its place as a houseplant and keep it bushy. If necessary, cut off a few branches to keep the tree open in the middle so the leaves get plenty of light and air.
Little Ollie Is A Delightful Dwarf Olive Bush
Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean region and can therefore tolerate dry air. Most people do not need additional humidity in your home.
Fertilize the tree once a month in the fall and winter with a regular houseplant fertilizer. When spring returns, start fertilizing twice a month or switch to a time-release fertilizer. Follow the product instructions to learn how much to use.
Indoor olive trees are prone to defoliation, so watch for signs of these sap-sucking insects. If necessary, treat the tree by spraying it with an insecticidal soap.
Your tree probably won’t bear fruit indoors. It takes a drop in day and night temperatures, plus about two months of temperatures below 50 degrees F, to stimulate flowering.
Olive Trees Not Growing Or Producing New Leaves?
Use a large container with drainage holes. Fill it half full with a good potting mix that drains easily, or a sand mix such as B. cactus soil.
If your tree is in a container, turn it over and tap the ground. Slide the tree out and carefully separate the roots. Place the tree in the container and add more soil, don’t plant it deeper than it grew in the original pot.
Leave about an inch between the soil and the rim of the container so you have room to water. Use a saucer under the container to catch drips; Place the container on stones or blocks to allow the water to drain easily from the holes.
Water thoroughly to even this out
Potted Olive Tree Care
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