HOW TO GROW AN OLIVE TREE INDOORS

Olives are my everything. I love to munch on them, at all times! I eat ’em garlic stuffed, pepper stuffed, cheese stuffed, and plain. I can’t help it! At least I’m eating plenty of healthy fats! I was inspired by a trip to the greenhouse the other day, where I spotted a tiny olive tree growing by the cash register. Needless to say, I died. My brain began whirling, and I immediately began wondering if I’d be able to grow one of them indoors. And what do you know? It’s COMPLETELY possible..but they will have to be moved outdoors at some point further down the road!

Choose a dwarf variety when growing olive trees indoors, and even these can get to be up to six FEET tall. Careful pruning will keep them on the smaller side, though. Olive trees love to hang out in the sun, and they need a whopping six hours a day. Choose a southern facing window, but don’t allow the branches to touch the glass

Pick a cactus mix when it comes time to pot your tree. Like many trees, Olives prefer well-draining soil. Make sure that your pot has a few holes for drainage. When potting, it’s crucial to pick a pot that will support proper growth. Pick a pot that is several inches larger than the “root” ball, this way, you probably won’t have to repot it again over it’s lifetime.

Olive trees don’t need much water, or any misting. After the top few inches of soil dry out, give it a good watering, but you’ll find that this only needs to happen once or twice a week. If you want a tree that bears fruit (you can grow an ornamental tree without doing this) you’ll have to keep it outside for a few months. This is to support “setting.”  There are several dwarf varieties available, and the Arbequina is my favorite. It’s a fruit-bearing tree, so you’ll have plenty of goodies to enjoy!

It’s important to remember that Olive trees only have a lifespan of about 7 to 8 years, and will need to be moved outside to keep living. However, 8 years is a pretty long time!