All Things Olives
Olives are a hot commodity right now, & we've had a lot of customers coming in to ask if they can grow one inside. We can't blame you for wanting one of these beauties inside! Their stunning delicate foliage & graceful shapes are hard to pass up. The answer to whether or not you can grow this beautiful tree indoors is- unfortunately- very circumstantial to your home environment. But, if you can check all these boxes, a gorgeous olive in your home might be in your future! If not, they look just as gorgeous outdoors...
Olive trees thrive in hot, sunny environments, originating from Asia Minor (think Syria, Greece, & Palestine). They have a huge cultural significance for many people, & symbolise peace, cleansing & healing, among many others. One of the oldest known olive trees, the Olive tree of Vouves, is said to be about 4000 years old, & the average age is around 500 years old! Unfortunately they aren't quite so long lived indoors, where they can live for around 8 years given the right care. They also don't take being cold very well unless they're established outdoors. So you can understand why not everyone's house would be suitable for an indoor olive, as much as you might want one!
Light
To grow an olive indoors, you need about 8 hours of bright sun daily. At the very least, you need a sunny room with large windows, preferably without any filters like sheer curtains or tinted glass. Without some nice sun on it's leaves, your olive won't be very happy.
Watering
Okay, so we have some nice sunny windows? Great. Now to focus on watering. You need to keep an indoor olive a little bit on the dry side, watering when the first couple inches of soil are dry, but like most fruit trees, you can't let it dry out or it won't be able to grow as well, & certainly won't flower or fruit. Make sure your olive is potted into something with some extra drainage at the bottom, like scoria or pumice.
A good way to test is to stick your finger in the soil up to the first knuckle, & if it comes out dry you're good to water.
Special Requirements
A great plus for your indoor olive is having a spot with a bit of air flow. This will really help simulate an outdoor environment & keep the dust off it's leaves. If you'd like, now & then you can even spritz the leaves with some water, especially if your home is air conditioned & on the dry side.
Plan B
If all else fails & your olive isn't growing, or is looking generally pretty sad, you'll need to have a plan B spot for her! If you buy an olive, make sure you have an outdoor place planned, even if it's just for the summer months to let her have some fresh air. Pick a nice place with some sun & a bit of a breeze, & move her there if she's looking sad. A lot of people have success with this combined indoor/outdoor method! Plus, if you ultimately decide your olive just won't be happy inside, she can always be planted permanently in a beautiful outdoor planter instead. They look absolutely stunning in a garden or on an outdoor patio/deck. They'll need at least 6 hours of sun per day to thrive, & a breezy area can help too. Make sure to feed regularly (biweekly if in a pot or monthly if in the garden). As a plus, olives live much, much longer outdoors so you can enjoy their beauty for many years to come.