Indoor olive tree care guide
Olea europaea
Olive trees (Olea europaea) bring silvery leaves and a relaxed Mediterranean look that designers love. Indoors, they're more demanding than most houseplants for one reason: they need real sun.
This guide covers light, watering, soil, winter care, pruning and common problems, plus care for arbequina, dwarf and bonsai olive trees.
Direct sun
About once a week
Fussy
Pet-safe
Where to water it
Pour water slowly onto the soil around the base, not over the leaves, until it runs out of the drainage holes. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes.
When: When the top half of the soil is dry. Olives hate wet feet.
Where to put it
Only in a south or west window with 6 or more hours of sun, or on a terrace.
Common mistakes
- Putting it in an interior room
- Overwatering
- No winter light; it needs grow lights in dark months
Indoor olive tree care at a glance
What an olive tree needs to thrive indoors.
| Need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Light | At least 6 hours of direct sun, or a strong grow light. |
| Water | When the top 2 inches are dry. Water deeply, then let it dry. |
| Temperature | 60°F to 80°F. A cooler winter, 40°F to 60°F, is ideal. |
| Humidity | Low. Dry indoor air is fine. |
| Soil | Fast-draining cactus or citrus mix in a terracotta pot. |
| Fertilizer | Monthly in spring and summer. |
| Pruning | Late winter or early spring. |
| Pets | Non-toxic to cats and dogs. |
How much light does an indoor olive tree need?
Olive trees need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Indoors, that means right in a south or west window. An olive tree in a bright room without direct sun will slowly drop leaves and decline.
If you don't have that window, a full-spectrum LED grow light 12 to 24 inches above the canopy for 12 to 14 hours a day works. Moving the tree outdoors in summer gives it a big boost.
How to water an indoor olive tree
Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, then water deeply until it drains. In a sunny window that's about every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter. Olive trees are drought-tolerant and hate wet feet, so err on the dry side.
Signs of overwatering include yellow leaves and leaves dropping while the soil is still damp. Underwatered olives have curled, dull leaves.
Soil, pots, feeding and winter care
Use a fast-draining cactus or citrus mix, or potting mix with a third grit or perlite, in a terracotta pot with drainage holes. Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring.
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced or citrus fertilizer. Don't feed in winter.
Olives like a cool winter rest. A bright spot around 40°F to 60°F, such as a cool sunroom, keeps the tree healthier and is needed for flowering and fruit. Keep it away from heater vents, which dry and stress it.
Pruning an olive tree
Prune in late winter or early spring to shape the canopy and keep it compact. Remove crossing branches and suckers from the base of the trunk, and thin the center so light reaches the inner leaves. Pinching new tips through summer keeps it bushy.
Common indoor olive tree problems
Most problems trace back to light.
- Dropping leaves: too little light, the most common issue indoors. Move it into direct sun or add a grow light.
- Yellow leaves: overwatering or poor drainage.
- Curled, crispy leaves: underwatering or heater blasts.
- No fruit: indoor olives rarely fruit without a cool winter and strong light. Most are grown as ornamental trees.
- Pests: scale and spider mites. Wipe leaves and treat with horticultural oil.
Designers love olive trees, but most interiors don't have the sun for them. Leafstruck can place real olives where the light works, or install high-end faux olive trees where it doesn't.
Artificial and preserved plantsOlive trees for growing indoors
Compact varieties do best in pots.
Arbequina
A compact, self-fertile olive with small leaves and fruit.
Care: The best olive for indoors. Can fruit in a pot with a sunny summer outside and a cool winter.
Dwarf olive
Also sold as Little Ollie, Olea europaea 'Montra'
A dense, shrubby olive that stays small.
Care: Standard care. Doesn't fruit, but stays compact.
Mission and Manzanilla
Larger fruiting olives.
Care: Grow large; best outdoors or in very large containers.
Olive bonsai
A miniature trained olive tree.
Care: Needs very bright light, careful watering in a shallow pot, and regular pruning.
Black olive tree
Also sold as Bucida buceras
A tropical shade tree with small leaves.
Care: Not a true olive. It's an outdoor tree for warm climates, sometimes sold as a potted indoor tree that needs bright light.
Easier alternatives
Ficus Audrey, Ficus Alii and faux olive trees.
Care: If you don't have direct sun, these give a similar airy look with far less light.
Your Olive Tree watering schedule
Every 10 days · about every week and a half
Water the soil
Pour water slowly onto the soil around the base, not over the leaves, until it runs out of the drainage holes. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes.
Check first: When the top half of the soil is dry. Olives hate wet feet.
Olive Tree prefers direct sun. In medium light it will struggle whatever the watering.
Schedules are a starting point. Always check the soil before you water. Full Olive Tree care guide
Too many plants to keep track of? We water them for you.
Olive Tree questions
Can olive trees grow indoors?
Yes, if they get at least 6 hours of direct sun a day or a strong grow light. Without enough light they slowly drop their leaves.
How often should I water an indoor olive tree?
When the top 2 inches are dry, about every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
Why is my indoor olive tree dropping leaves?
Almost always too little light. Overwatering and heater drafts are the next most common causes.
What's the best olive tree for indoors?
Arbequina. It's compact, self-fertile and handles pots well.
Will an indoor olive tree produce olives?
Rarely. It needs strong sun and a cool winter around 40°F to 50°F to flower and fruit.
What indoor trees look like olive trees but are easier?
Ficus Alii and Ficus Audrey give a similar airy look in less light. High-quality faux olive trees need no light at all.
Are olive trees safe for pets?
Yes. Olive trees are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
The olive tree look, done right
Leafstruck places real olive trees where there's sun and premium faux olives where there isn't, then maintains both.
Plants that like the same light
Test what you know
Water It Right game
Ten plants, two questions each: how often, and where does the water go?
GameFind the Right Spot game
Place each plant in the room where it will thrive, from sunny windows to windowless hallways.
QuizPlant matcher quiz
Answer five questions about your light, space and style to get three plants that will thrive.