The olive tree has kept people company for thousands of years, on dry hillsides where summers are long and bright and winters are cool and calm. Bring one indoors and it carries a little of that slow Mediterranean rhythm with it: slim silver green leaves, a soft twisting trunk, and the quiet patience of a tree that measures time in decades. It asks for one thing above all, and that is sun. Give it a bright window, water it deeply and not too often, and let it rest a little in winter. It will reward you for years.
Indoor olive tree care at a glance
| Light | As much direct sun as you can give it, ideally six hours or more. A south facing window is best. |
| Water | Deeply, once the top couple of inches are dry. Never leave it sitting in water. |
| Soil | Fast draining mix. Add grit, perlite or a little cactus mix to regular potting soil. |
| Pot | A drainage hole is a must. Terracotta suits it well because it breathes and dries evenly. |
| Temperature | Comfortable in normal home temperatures. Enjoys a cooler winter rest, around 45 to 60°F if you can manage it. |
| Humidity | Ordinary home air is fine. No misting needed. |
| Feeding | A balanced fertilizer every month or so from spring through summer. None in winter. |
| Pets | Not known to be toxic to cats and dogs, but keep it out of reach of chewers. |
| Care level | Easy going once it has the light it needs. Light is the whole secret. |
Light: the one thing it cannot do without
Olive trees grow in full sun in the wild, and indoors they never get quite enough. Place yours right by your sunniest window, and closer is better. South facing glass is ideal, west is a good second, and a bright east window can work with some help. A north window will not keep it happy for long.
When light runs short, an olive tells you slowly. New growth stretches out with wide gaps between the leaves, older leaves yellow and drop, and the canopy thins. If your brightest spot is still dim, a simple full spectrum grow light a foot or two above the canopy for ten to twelve hours a day makes a real difference, especially in winter. Our houseplant light guide helps you read the light in each room.
Turn the pot a quarter turn every week or two so every side gets its share of sun and the tree grows evenly.
Watering: deep, then wait
Olives are drought tolerant trees with roots that hate staying wet. The rhythm that suits them is a thorough drink followed by a patient wait.
- Check first: press a finger into the soil. If the top two inches are dry, it is time.
- Water deeply: pour slowly until water runs from the drainage hole, so the whole root ball gets a drink.
- Empty the saucer: after ten minutes or so, tip out any water that collected underneath.
- Adjust with the seasons: in a sunny summer window that may be every week or so. In winter, with cooler air and less light, it may stretch to every two or three weeks.
Overwatering is the most common way indoor olives decline. A pot that feels heavy and cool days after watering, a sour smell, or leaves that yellow and drop while the soil is still damp all point to roots sitting wet. Our root rot guide walks you through what to do.
The opposite happens too. An olive left bone dry for too long will curl its leaves inward and let them crisp. Leaves that are dry and brittle at the edges, with soil pulling away from the side of the pot, mean it is time for a long, slow drink.
Soil and pot
Think of the rocky, sun warmed soils of a Mediterranean hillside. A good indoor mix is regular potting soil lightened with perlite, coarse grit or a portion of cactus and citrus mix, so water moves through quickly and air reaches the roots. Our potting soil guide explains the parts.
Choose a planter with a drainage hole and only an inch or two wider than the nursery pot. Terracotta and unglazed clay suit olives beautifully because they breathe and help the soil dry evenly. Our pot size and drainage guide helps with fit, and our planters with drainage and saucers are a good place to start.
Olives grow slowly, so repotting every two or three years in spring is plenty. Our repotting guide shows the gentle way to do it.
The winter rest
In its native climate an olive feels a cool, bright winter, and that rest is part of its year. Indoors you can offer a softer version: from late fall to late winter, keep it in its sunniest spot, let the room run a little cooler if you can, water less often, and skip fertilizer.
That cool rest is also what encourages olives to flower. Most indoor trees never get enough chill or sun to fruit, and that is perfectly fine. The silver foliage is the real harvest. If you do see small, fragrant white flowers in late spring, enjoy them as a little gift of a well tended year.
Keep it away from heater vents and radiators, which dry the leaves fast, and away from glass that gets icy cold at night. Our winter houseplant care guide covers the quiet months.
A summer outdoors
An olive loves a summer holiday. Once nights stay above about 50°F, move it outside to a patio or balcony. Start in bright shade for a week or two, then ease it into full sun so the leaves can adjust without scorching. Bring it back indoors before nights drop toward 40°F, and check the leaves and stems for any hitchhiking insects before it comes in.
Pruning and shaping
Olives take pruning gracefully, and a light trim keeps the canopy full and balanced. Late winter or early spring, just before new growth starts, is the best time.
- Snip stems just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching there.
- Remove any crossing, weak or inward growing branches to let light into the center.
- Take off shoots sprouting from the base of the trunk if you want a clean tree shape.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the canopy at once.
Reading the leaves
| What you see | Most likely cause | What to do |
| Leaves dropping, canopy thinning | Not enough light, or a recent move | Move right to the sunniest window or add a grow light. A little drop after arriving or moving is normal |
| Long gaps between new leaves | Too little light | More direct sun, and turn the pot regularly |
| Yellow leaves, soil still damp | Too much water | Let the soil dry further between drinks and check drainage |
| Leaves curling inward, crispy edges | Underwatering | Water slowly and deeply until it drains, then return to the regular rhythm |
| Brown, crispy patches after going outside | Sun scorch from moving too fast | Ease it into full sun over a week or two |
| Sticky leaves or tiny bumps on stems | Scale or other sap feeding insects | Wipe with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, repeat weekly until clear |
| Fine webbing under leaves | Spider mites in dry, warm air | Rinse the foliage in the shower and repeat every few days |
Our guide to helping a shipped houseplant adjust covers the first few weeks at home, when an olive may let go of a few leaves while it settles into its new light.
Pets
Olive trees are not known to be toxic to cats and dogs, though we have not confirmed a species listing from a poison control source. Chewing any plant can upset a sensitive stomach, so keep it out of reach of nibblers. If you want plants with a clear pet safe record, see our pet safe houseplants guide.
Quick answers
Can an olive tree live indoors year round? Yes, as long as it sits in your sunniest window. A summer outdoors helps it stay full and strong, but it is not required.
How often should I water an indoor olive tree? When the top two inches of soil are dry. That is often about weekly in a sunny summer window and every two to three weeks in winter.
Why is my olive tree dropping leaves? Most often not enough light, overwatering, or the stress of a recent move. Check the light first.
Will my indoor olive tree grow olives? Rarely. Fruit needs lots of sun and a cool winter rest. Most people grow indoor olives for their silver leaves and graceful shape.
How big does an indoor olive tree get? It grows slowly, often a few inches to a foot a year indoors, and pruning keeps it whatever size suits your space.
Is an olive tree safe for cats? It is not known to be toxic, but keep it out of reach of pets that like to chew leaves.
Bring one home
Our Common Olive Tree arrives in its nursery pot, ready for your brightest window. Give it a breathable home from our planters with drainage and saucers, or lift it closer to the glass with a plant stand or riser.
More guides from Planty Things
- Money tree care guide
- Rubber plant care guide
- Why fiddle leaf figs drop leaves
- Staghorn fern care guide
- Pilea care guide
And if your olive ever looks unsure of itself, send a photo to mike@plantylove.co. We are always happy to help.