Olive Tree Dropping Leaves: Light plus Watering Fixes
An olive tree dropping leaves indoors is often reacting to its pot or its window. Virginia Cooperative Extension lists leaves falling off as a sign of both overwatered plants plus underwatered plants. NC State Extension notes olive prefers full sun plus well drained soil. Light plus careful watering are the main levers.
The short answer
Check the potting soil first. Soggy, rotten smelling soil with yellow leaves points to overwatering. Dry, shrunken soil with brittle leaves points to underwatering. Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry before the next round. Give the tree the brightest window you have, since olive is a full sun plant.
Why do indoor olive trees lose leaves?
Virginia Cooperative Extension notes overwatered plants show wilting, yellowing on new plus old leaves, mushy stems plus leaf drop. Underwatered plants show dry or brittle leaves, brown leaf edges, curling plus leaf drop. Both look alike early on, since wilting comes first in each case. Checking the soil separates them.
| Cause | Sign | Fix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overwatering | Yellow leaves, mushy stems, sour soil | Clear drainage holes plus let soil dry | Virginia Cooperative Extension |
| Underwatering | Brittle leaves, soil pulling from the pot | Water slowly until soil is wet through | Virginia Cooperative Extension |
| Wet roots | Root rot | Use well drained soil | UF/IFAS |
| Low light | Tree far from a bright window | Move close to a south window | Illinois Extension plus NC State |
Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension, UF/IFAS, Illinois Extension plus NC State Extension.
How much light does an olive tree need?
NC State Extension notes olive prefers full sun. It grows outdoors in zones 8 to 10, or indoors or in a greenhouse in colder areas. Illinois Extension notes outdoor sun can reach 10,000 to 12,000 foot candles. A spot directly in front of a south window gives about 1,500. Indoor light is much weaker than outdoors.
How should an olive tree be watered?
Virginia Cooperative Extension advises watering until the potting soil is wet all the way through. It notes overwatering is about how often you water, not how much. Never leave a pot sitting in a tray of water over 60 minutes. UF/IFAS notes too much water makes olive trees prone to root rot.
How to: step by step
- Move the tree to the brightest window, ideally south facing.
- Feel the soil before watering.
- Water until the soil is wet all the way through.
- Empty the drainage tray within 60 minutes.
- Use a pot with drainage holes plus well drained soil.
- Prune off dead stems or foliage to spur new growth.
Troubleshooting
Yellow leaves plus soggy soil: overwatering. Clear drainage holes plus let the soil dry.
Brittle leaves plus a light pot: underwatering. Water slowly until the soil is wet through.
Steady leaf loss away from a window: low light. Move the tree into brighter light.
For related reading see overwatering and cannabis growth, underwatering cannabis plus grow lights for cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Olea europaea, NC State Extension
- Olives, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Houseplant lighting, Illinois Extension
- Properly watering container houseplants, Virginia Cooperative Extension
FAQ
Can an olive tree live indoors?
Yes, with enough light. NC State Extension notes olive can grow outdoors in zones 8 to 10 or be brought indoors or into a greenhouse in colder areas. It prefers full sun plus well drained soil, so give an indoor tree the brightest window you have and water with care.
How often should an indoor olive be watered?
There is no fixed schedule. Virginia Cooperative Extension advises watering until the potting soil is wet all the way through, then letting it dry before watering again. It notes overwatering comes from watering too often. Plants need more frequent water in spring plus summer than in fall plus winter.
Will olive leaves grow back?
Often they can once the cause is fixed. Virginia Cooperative Extension advises pruning off dead or dying stems, foliage or roots to stimulate new growth. For overwatered plants it advises clearing drainage holes, letting the soil dry plus repotting into fresh potting soil when roots have rotted.
Should olive trees go outside in summer?
NC State Extension notes olive is a full sun plant that grows outdoors in zones 8 to 10. Outdoor sun is far brighter than indoor light, which Illinois Extension notes can reach 10,000 to 12,000 foot candles. UF/IFAS notes trees need cover when winter temperatures drop below 20 degrees.
Does pot size affect watering?
Yes. Virginia Cooperative Extension notes potting soil dries faster in a smaller container than in a larger one. Terracotta pots also dry the root zone more quickly than plastic. Taller pots drain more fully. Check the soil by feel, or lift the pot to judge its weight, before you water.
