Scale and root rot are listed risks. Olive scab and other outdoor or under-glass problems are also listed.
How to care for an olive tree
Use the sunniest window for an olive tree, let the top inch of mix dry, and move it frost-free for winter.
Plant coveredOlea europaeaOlive tree · Indoor container
Find a bright, steady position
Light and temperature
Use full sun. Indoor guidance supports at least six hours of sunlight, ideally at a south-facing window away from heat and drafts.
Keep the pot warm, sunny, and sheltered, then move it to a frost-free place for winter. NCSU notes about two months at 40–50°F (4–10°C) for flowering.
The flowering chill period is not an indoor survival minimum.
Check the mix, drainage and pot
Watering, drainage and repotting
Let the top inch of indoor mix dry before watering. Use free drainage and do not let the pot remain waterlogged.
Use a gritty, well-drained loam-based medium. RHS under-glass guidance specifies John Innes No. 3 with sharp sand.
Feed only during active growth
Fertilizer and active growth
For a growing or fruiting container, use balanced liquid fertilizer about monthly during the growing season. No indoor maintenance interval is set.
Check the visible signs before changing care
Common problems
Indoor fruiting may be unlikely in an ordinary room, even at a bright window.
Use the verdict for this exact plant
Pet safety
Sources
- Royal Horticultural SocietyPlant profile; full sun; drainage; under-glass compost; pests
- Royal Horticultural SocietyContainer size; gritty loam; watering; monthly feed; frost-free overwintering
- University of Illinois ExtensionAt least six hours sunlight; south window; water top inch dry; indoor fruiting caveat
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxLight; soil moisture; drought; indoor/greenhouse movement; chill requirement; pests
Pet-safety information for catalog plants uses ASPCA reference data where available. It is reference information, not veterinary advice.