Many people have started taking care of plants to relax and care for something while getting a great reward. Olive trees have become incredibly popular with those looking for a great design element to add to a room. If you have thought about growing your own indoor olive tree, have a look at this guide for some great tips for growing and caring for an indoor olive tree plant.
Why are people growing Olive Trees in their homes?
Olive trees have become one of the best plants to grow in your home due to their size and fantastic look. The plants typically grow tall with a long sturdy trunk which makes them look similar to an indoor topiary tree. They can be placed in any room with good lighting, and they are easy to care for if you have a bit of knowledge of basic plant care.
Olive trees come in many different styles and types, so make sure you are getting one that suits your needs before you purchase. Some olive trees are meant to bear fruit, while others are designed to be purely ornamental, so make sure you’re not wasting your time checking for olives that will never grow. If you are choosing to grow a fruit-bearing tree, you also need to make sure you are doing the extra steps required in order to allow the fruit to grow correctly. We’ll talk more about getting your olive tree to sprout later on.
Where should I place my indoor Olive Tree in my home?
Olive trees are typically grown on gorgeous mountains and hills in many different European countries, where they can get as much sun as possible, so you need to keep that in mind. Your olive tree should be getting at least 6 hours of sun every day so keep it placed in a window that will get a good amount. This will typically be a south-facing window in your home, but it will all depend on your home’s layout and the direction your windows are facing.
Your olive tree should be placed near the window in direct sunlight, but you need to make sure that the leaves are not touching the glass. These trees have leaves that are sensitive to extreme heat, and the hot glass might end up scorching the leaves or damaging them. These trees are also used to being in one spot and absorbing the sun based on the time of day so make sure you don’t move it around too often, or it will have trouble getting back into a good rhythm.
When should I move my Olive Plant outdoors?
The only time you should consider moving your olive plant is if you want to bring it outdoors for some good sunshine time. In this case, make sure you aren’t leaving it out for too long and try to move it into the same spot every time. If you live in an area that doesn’t get much sun in the summertime, you might want to think about using a grow light indoors to ensure that your olive plant can adequately complete a photosynthesis process and provide itself with the nutrients it will need to flourish.
You also need to be aware that your olive tree won’t be able to survive indoors forever, and you will need to move it outdoors after about 8-9 years if you want it to continue to grow. These plants are designed to be grown in an area where they can spread out and spread upwards, and they will likely end up wilting if they are not moved in time.
How do I care for my indoor Olive Tree?
We mentioned how these extraordinary plants are easy to care for, and that’s especially true if you have some knowledge about plant care. Your olive plant will need to be watered every 3-5 days in the summer months to keep up with the evaporating water and every 7-10 days in the wintertime. One important thing to remember is to make sure your soil never dries out completely. You should be watering the plant when the top two inches of soil have dried out but skip a watering day if the soil is still nice and spongy.
The watering schedule we provided is a loose guideline, and you might need to adjust it if your olive tree is getting an adequate amount of sunlight. You might also need to change the watering schedule as the plant grows. Young trees require a bit more water when they are growing to provide the system with enough nutrients so it can get strong as quickly as possible. You also don’t need to worry about the humidity as these trees grow well in areas with average to slightly dry temperatures, so a nearby fan or A/C vent won’t bother it too much.
How do I get my Olive Tree to start growing Olives?
We mentioned earlier how you would need to put in some effort in order to make sure your plant will produce actual olives that you can use. If you want to make sure your plant will give you some delicious fruit, you need to keep it outside for a period of time. This will vary depending on the type of olive plant you are growing. You will also likely need to fertilize your plant with some extra nutrients to give it a bit of a boost.
You should look for a slow-release fertilizer that has equal parts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. You also want to make sure you aren’t getting a fertilizer that is too powerful, so look for something that is meant for indoor gardening. There are many different fertilizers on the market, and buying one that is meant for a stronger situation could be a recipe for disaster, so make sure you are getting something with a lower concentration.
If you have succeeded in growing some fruit on your plant, you will need to harvest the olives in the fall. If you leave them on for too long, they will rot and fall off the plant, so you want to make sure you are picking them off when they are a nice green colour that is similar to a green grape. While eating olives right from the tree is ok, you will want to treat them with some brine if you want them to taste like the store-bought olives that you are likely used to.
When should I repot my Olive Tree?
If you are growing your olive tree from a little baby, then you will likely need to repot it as it gets older. If you start seeing the roots come out of your drainage holes, then it might be time to move your plant to a larger pot. To repot the plant, fill your new pot about 1/4 of the way full and then remove the plant from its original pot. Give it a good shake to loosen the roots up a bit, and replant it into the new pot while transferring over much of the old soil to keep the nutrients intact.
If you are reaching the end of your olive tree indoor life, you can also consider planting it in your yard. Find an area with good sun and dig a hole that is slightly larger than the size of the planter that the olive tree is currently residing in. Move the plant into the ground the same way you would when you are repotting but make sure you add some extra water to allow for the dirt to settle properly within the roots.
Tips for keeping your Indoor Olive Tree Healthy
Make sure you are keeping a good eye out for pests that might make their home in your plants. Check the leaves and look for colour changes, small black dots, or a powdery white substance. These are all indications that your plant has a pest issue, and you need to treat it as soon as possible.
Prune your olive tree when you notice the leaves are becoming too crowded and clustered. The leaves need to be able to get sunlight, and they won’t be able to if there are too many in one area.
If you have some leaves dropping from your plant, there’s no need to worry. Make sure that you are following a proper routine and check where the leaves have fallen from. If they are all falling from one area, it might be time to have a look and see if there’s an issue, but if the leave is coming evenly off the plant, it’s likely just shedding some excess growth, so it’s not an issue to be concerned about,
Growing an olive tree indoors is a great way to add some beautiful greenery to your space, and it might even reward you with some tasty treats. Olive trees are starting to become a big hit with the indoor plant crowd, and they are also getting very popular with designers who are looking for the perfect corner plant. Have a look at growing your own olive tree if you want to enjoy some yummy homegrown olives without the trip to Italy.
