The best-known tree of the olive tree genus, which includes around 40 to 50 species, is certainly the olive tree (Olea europaea). It is probably also most commonly found in home gardens or as a houseplant. Olive trees are evergreen shrubs or trees.
What care does an olive tree need?
The olive tree (Olea europaea) is an evergreen tree that prefers sunny, warm locations. It requires little water and is sensitive to waterlogging. Fertilization should be carried out in spring. Olive trees are sensitive to frost and should overwinter at around 10 °C.
Location and soil
The olive tree is also known as the “real olive tree”. It is not hardy and is therefore particularly suitable as a container plant. The ideal location is sunny, warm and sheltered. Otherwise the olive tree is not very demanding. It copes well with standard potting soil, but not at all with waterlogging. For the cold season it needs a suitable winter quarters with as much light as possible. The temperature there should be around 10 °C.
The olive tree is only repotted if the planter becomes too small. You can tell this is the roots starting to grow out of the pot. In principle, the new pot should have approximately the same circumference as the crown of the tree.
Water and fertilize the olive tree properly
The olive tree is very undemanding and easy to care for. It is completely sufficient to fertilize it in spring at the beginning of the growing season. Use commercially available liquid fertilizer for container plants. The olive tree also does not need large amounts of water. How often it should be watered is difficult to say as it depends very much on the environmental conditions.
It is best to water this plant “as you feel”. Use your finger to test how dry or moist the soil is. It should be slightly dried at least a few centimeters deep. When it's hot, the tree needs more water than when it's cooler. To avoid waterlogging, create a drainage layer in the plant pot and do not add too much water at once.
The most important things about the olive tree in brief:
- most famous olive tree
- intensely colored bark, silver gray or rust colored
- evergreen
- very slow growing
- sunny warm location
- It's best to pour according to your feeling
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- fertilize in spring
- not hardy
- ideal wintering temperature: around 10 °C
- grows 10 to 20 meters tall in nature
- Flowering time, depending on location: from April to early June
Tip
If you don't live in a wine region or a similarly mild region, then you should keep your olive tree as a container plant.
