Olive Tree In Pot Not Doing Well
Olive trees require a well drained soil and a sunny position.
Olive tree in pot not doing well. The olive tree is an evergreen that flourishes in hot dry areas and as such will not do well in wet winter soil. Olive trees like extremely well draining rocky soil. The rot is caused by fungal organisms living in the soil. Plant into the new container gently pack down the soil and then water in well.
When growing olive trees in containers terracotta or wood is a preferable choice as these are more breathable and will help with drainage and insulation. Avoid sites where water stands during rainy periods or where ground water seeps into a hole two feet deep. Although most people associate olive trees with far off mediterranean lands or the coasts of california it is possible to grow olives in pots. When selecting a container opt for clay or wood.
In general water your olive tree deeply once the top 2 3 inches of soil has been allowed to dry. Keep the pot in full sun. Be sure to use a potting mix and not ground soil. The pot should have ample drainage holes and be propped up on blocks to ensure the holes are not obstructed.
Plant your tree in a mix of potting soil and perlite or small rocks. Olive trees can be purchased from a garden center or planted from seed then placed in to a container for further growth. As with most pot grown plants olive trees do not like frozen roots. Any commercial well draining potting soil will be fine for an olive tree.
Ground soil will not. Plastic containers retain more water which can be deadly for an olive tree. It needs regular watering to thrive. Every two weeks during the growth phase add olive tree fertilizer to the water.
Soil dries up much faster so it is necessary to water on a regular basis. Olive trees are usually purchased in either 4 inch pots with numerous side branches and a height of 18 24 inches or in a 1 gallon pot with a single trunk and a height of 4 5 feet. The best time to start growing olive trees in containers is spring after all threat of frost has passed. Olive trees will grow well in a container and there area many dwarf varieties available for decoration purposes if you are not interested in eating the fruit.
Growing plants in pots and specifically olive trees requires that certain rules be followed as regards watering. The trees are very adaptable and drought tolerant which makes them ideal for container life. Watering the frequency of water needed will depend on the size and type of container you chose to plant in. A layer of gravel styrofoam lava rock crushed cans or anything loose should fill the bottom of the pot.
A good quality plastic pot however has the benefit of being more lightweight and less prone to breakage. Choose a pot that is about 25 percent larger than the current pot with drainage holes replace the old potting soil with a new one. Because the roots are no longer feeding the tree tree growth is stunted and the foliage becomes sparse. Olive trees do not like excess water so only reduced watering is called for.
To check for root rot remove.