Care instructions for an olive tree

• An olive tree is a plant that needs a Mediterranean climate. So hot and relatively dry in summer, cool in winter, but absolutely frost-free. Accordingly, an olive tree needs a little more care and attention than other plants.

How and where best to set up the plant

• Optimal care begins with the choice of the location for your plant. Since olive trees cannot tolerate frosty winters, it is best to plant the plant in a container that you can move around. In this way olive trees can be kept in the garden as well as on the balcony.

• In summer it can't be too warm and sunny for olives. So let the tree soak up plenty of sunshine.

• However, as soon as the first frosty days come, the olive tree has to move.

• Since olives are evergreen plants, it is important that you place the olive in a bright place where it can overwinter frost-free. Take into account, however, that the plant must not be too warm in winter either. Accommodation in your own home is therefore not possible.


Hibernate the olive tree properly

An olive tree is used to the Mediterranean climate. Hot and dry in summer, in winter ...

• Ideal locations are winter gardens or greenhouses. Garages are another option, but there must be enough light for the plant. The stairwell may be suitable in apartment buildings - always under the premise that it is light there and not too warm

• If you do not have a suitable place, you can try the plant on the balcony or the terrace to hibernate. Place the plant close to the window or door.

• You can also place the pot on a styrofoam plate: This isolates the pot and soil from frost on the ground. In specialty shops there are also special nets that you can use to wrap plants winter-proof. Note that especially the soil in the pot must not freeze! Otherwise the plant can no longer absorb water and will dry up.

What kind of soil does an olive tree need?

• Olive trees prefer loamy and sandy soils. In the event that you need to repot your plant (for example, if the soil is too full of roots is permeated and you have to water more), you can use conventional potting soil with sand and / or clay mix.

• Alternatively, you can buy soil for citrus plants from a plant shop or hardware store, as this meets the needs of olive trees.

What to consider when watering and fertilizing the olive tree

• It is true that it is quite dry in the Mediterranean, especially in summer, so that olive trees need little water. However, if they are in a pot or Be kept in pots, you should make sure to water the plant regularly in summer.

• Avoid, however, that the soil becomes too damp and so-called waterlogging forms. Otherwise, the fine roots of the tree will rot.

• In winter you should only water infrequently. If your plant hibernates outdoors, be careful not to water it during a period of frost to prevent the earth from freezing.

• You can fertilize your olive plant during the growing season (spring). A special one fertilizer There is no such thing as a fertilizer for olive trees, but a fertilizer for balcony and container plants is completely sufficient.

The pruning of the olive tree

• If you only want to prune the plant a little, you can always do so. If you want to prune the plant heavily, you should do this in spring.