Growing Olive Trees in Pots: Soil, Watering and Care

Olives are among the best fruit trees for containers: slow growing, tolerant of dry spells and happy in full sun on a patio or balcony. A potted olive needs four things: a free-draining mix, a heavy pot with a drainage hole, as much sun as possible and a cool winter. Get those right and a compact variety such as Arbequina will even give you a small crop.

Choosing a Pot

• Size: start with a container 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wider than the root ball; a final pot of 50–70 cm (20–28 in) suits a mature patio tree.
• Material: terracotta or stone breathe and are heavy enough to stop the tree blowing over. Plastic is lighter but stays wetter.
• Drainage: one or more large holes are essential. Never leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.

Best Soil for a Potted Olive Tree

Use a gritty mix that drains in seconds: roughly two parts loam-based compost (or good potting soil), one part coarse grit, pumice or perlite, and a little bark. Cactus and citrus mixes also work. Avoid pure peat-based multipurpose compost, which stays wet and collapses over time. Olives prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil.

Planting Step by Step

1. Put a layer of grit or broken pots over the drainage hole.
2. Tease out circling roots.
3. Plant at the same depth as before; do not bury the trunk.
4. Fill with the mix, firm gently and water until it runs from the base.
5. Top-dress with gravel to keep the trunk base dry.

Light and Position

Give your olive the sunniest spot you have: at least six hours of direct sun, ideally more. Outdoors from spring to autumn is best. Indoors, a south-facing window (north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere) or a grow light is the minimum; olives kept in dim rooms drop leaves and stretch.

How Often to Water a Potted Olive

• Summer: water thoroughly when the top 5 cm (2 in) is dry, typically every 2–4 days in hot weather for small pots, weekly for large ones.
• Spring and autumn: about once a week.
• Winter: only when the mix is dry a few centimetres down, perhaps every 2–4 weeks in a cool place.

Overwatering is the most common killer: yellowing leaves, black roots and a sour smell mean the roots are sitting wet. Underwatering shows as curled, dull leaves that drop suddenly.

Feeding

From early spring to late summer, feed every 2–4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser or use a slow-release granular feed in spring. A citrus or Mediterranean plant feed is ideal. Stop feeding by late summer.

Repotting

Repot young trees every 2–3 years in spring into a pot one size larger. When the tree has reached its final pot, refresh the top 5–10 cm of compost each spring instead, and every few years root-prune lightly and return it to the same pot with fresh mix.

Pruning a Potted Olive

Pinch or trim in spring to keep a compact, balanced crown, remove shoots from the trunk and base, and thin crowded branches. Many people train potted olives as a "lollipop" standard or in cloud shapes; light, regular trimming works better than occasional hard cuts.

Winter Care

Pots freeze faster than the ground. In cold areas move the tree to a bright, cool, frost-free place at about 5–10 °C (41–50 °F) once frosts below around −3 °C are forecast, and keep it fairly dry. This cool rest also helps the tree flower.

Will a Potted Olive Tree Produce Olives?

Yes, if it gets full sun in summer, a cool winter and a fruiting variety. Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki are the best croppers in pots. Expect a handful to a few kilograms from a well-grown tree, not a grove-sized harvest.

More Olive Tree Guides

• How to Grow Olive Trees: The Complete Guide
• Growing olive trees from seed and cuttings
• Olive tree fertilizer
• How often to water olive trees

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best soil for an olive tree in a pot?

A gritty, free-draining mix: loam-based compost with about a third coarse grit or perlite, or a cactus or citrus mix.

How often should I water my potted olive tree?

When the top 5 cm (2 in) is dry: every few days in a hot summer, much less in winter.

Why are the leaves on my potted olive tree turning yellow?

Most often from overwatering or poor drainage; also from lack of light or a nitrogen shortage.

Can an olive tree in a pot stay outside all year?

In mild climates yes. Where frosts drop below about −3 to −5 °C, move it to shelter in winter.

How big a pot does an olive tree need?

Start a little larger than the root ball and work up to 50–70 cm (20–28 in) for a mature patio tree.