Olive trees are a classic Mediterranean plant that can add beautiful greenery and a touch of European flair to both outdoor and indoor spaces. Their handsome silvery foliage, twisted trunks and flavorful fruit make them a treasured addition. However, finding the right container is key to growing a thriving olive tree in a pot. When choosing a large planter for an olive tree, there are several factors to consider for optimal health and visual appeal.
Size Matters
One of the most important considerations is selecting a pot that provides enough room for the olive tree’s root system. Olives need approximately 10-15 gallons of soil capacity for every foot of height. For multi-trunk varieties, go even larger. This gives the roots ample space to spread out and grow. Choose too small of a container, and growth will be severely stunted. Look for a pot at least 2-3 times wider than the current root ball for a mature tree. Large cylindrical or urn shaped pots work well to provide depth for taproot growth.
For young saplings under 3 feet tall, a 12-15 inch diameter pot is sufficient. Upsize as the tree grows. Massive pots up to 5-6 feet across may be needed for very large mature olive trees. The pot should not be overly snug. Some extra capacity allows for adding amendments and ensures airflow to roots.
Material Matters Too
Olive trees in pots can get extremely heavy. Selecting a durable and sturdy material that can reliably hold the weight of a mature olive tree is crucial.
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Clay – Terracotta and ceramic pots are attractive and provide excellent aeration and drainage. Ensure thick, sturdy walls that won’t easily crack under the load.
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Concrete – Concrete planters offer decorative styles that withstand weather and heavy plants. Drainage holes are a must.
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Wood – Wood offers a natural look. Use very thick, reinforced wooden planters intended for extra weight.
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Resin – Lightweight yet durable plastic resin pots emulate materials like stone or metal with less weight
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Metal – Wrought iron, galvanized steel, copper and other metals make bold statements but can dent. Include drainage trays.
Elevate for Drainage
Preventing waterlogged soil is paramount for container olive trees. Select a pot with multiple large drainage holes and/or side openings. Elevating the pot an inch or two off the ground improves drainage and airflow beneath the bottom. Use pot feet, set on drainage trays, display on plant stands or place on pebble-filled saucers.
Complement Your Style
An olive tree in a container makes a superb accent piece. Choose a pot style and ornamental design that fits your personal taste and enhances your space.
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For contemporary patios – sleek square resin boxes, geometric terracotta, or hammered metal pots have modern appeal
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In cozy cottage gardens – aged terracotta, galvanized metal buckets and old wooden barrels suit the look
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Next to Tuscan architecture – classic Italian urn shapes and earthy terracotta pots with hand-painted patterns feel right at home
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Indoors – glazed ceramic, decorated metal cachepots and woven seagrass suit eclectic decor
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On decks or balconies – self-watering pots, wheeled containers and lightweight materials help with portability
Shop Top-Rated Picks
To make shopping easy, here are some excellent highly rated large olive tree pots perfect for patios, decks, gardens and indoor display:
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Emsco Olive Tree Planter – Oversized tapered olive green ceramic pot with drainage tray and casters – $129
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Benjara Rustic Stoneware Planter – Aged terracotta look in a generously sized decorative pot – $99
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Foreign Affairs Olive Tree Urn – Ornate metallic antiqued urn with engraved European motifs – $259
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Pennington Mediterranean-Style Ceramic Planter – Red terracotta drum pot with classic Spanish styling – $150
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La Jolla Pottery Handmade Planter – Custom extra-large terracotta pot made to order for large olive trees – $475
DIY Olive Tree Pot Ideas
For a unique home project, consider crafting your own custom olive tree planter using:
- A galvanized steel tub, stock tank or wastepaper basket
- A large wooden barrel cut in half lengthwise
- Concrete retaining wall blocks glued into a cube or column
- An old clawfoot bathtub, deep sink or iron wash basin
- A mosaic tile-covered trash can or plastic barrel
The container possibilities are endless! Use your imagination and be creative.
Key Tips for Happy Potted Olives
Once you’ve selected the ideal olive tree pot, follow these tips:
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Add pebbles or broken terracotta shards at the bottom for drainage
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Use a quality commercial potting soil mixed with perlite for aeration
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Top dress annually with slow release fertilizer or compost
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Prune carefully to keep growth balanced and avoid toppling
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Protect from extreme cold and heat with a sheltered location
With the right large container suited to its space, your olive tree will thrive indoors or out!
Potted Olive Trees in Landscape Design
Potted olive trees have great ornamental potential. One use is as a focal point.
If you’ve read this far and are still thinking that growing an olive tree in a pot in a cold climate is a pain, there’s one more thing to think about: potted olive trees look nice anyway.
Here are some ideas:
- Olive trees in pots on either side of an entrance to frame it
- Olive trees in pots as a screen next to a sitting area
- An olive tree in a pot as the focal point of a formal food garden or potager
- A plant from far away that looks great on a deck or patio next to a lemon tree in a pot!
To make more olive trees, all a home gardener has to do is find a sucker that grows from the plant’s base, at soil level. If you’re lucky, that thing will have roots of its own, so you can take it off the plant and put it in a pot. (You might need secateurs or a saw. ).
Nurseries propagate olives from cuttings. Olive cuttings don’t root as easily as some plants. But if you would like to try, get a cutting with a few nodes, 8-12” long. Use rooting hormone, and keep it in humid conditions. To keep the humidity high, put a clear plastic bag over each pot or a clear dome over the whole tray.
To make more olive trees, all a home gardener has to do is look for a sucker that grows from the plant’s base. I removed this sucker, along with roots, using a pair of secateurs.
Why does my olive only have fruit every second year?
This is called “alternate bearing” and is common with many fruiting plants. Apples are a good example. The tree spends a lot of energy making a big crop, so it doesn’t use any to make flower buds for the next year. This is solved by pruning and fruit thinning. If you prune your potted olive every year, you can minimize alternate bearing.
When should I bring my olive tree indoors?
It’s not an exact science. When it gets close to freezing, I leave my olive trees outside for a couple of weeks before moving them to a safe place. This helps to satisfy winter chill requirements.
Can you grow an olive tree from a pit?
Yes. My neighbour Joe had a seed-grown olive tree that he liked to show me. If you enjoy the challenge of growing from seed, try it. But know that, like apples, olive seeds won’t give you a plant like the parent plant. Start with a cutting or graft from a known variety if you want an olive that you know how to grow.
Can I grow an olive tree in Canada?
Yes! Read about olive trees in Canada. In warmer places, they can grow in the ground (with or without protection, depending on the weather), but in colder places, they need to be in a pot.
Why cant you eat olives off the tree?
You can do it once, but I guarantee that you won’t try it a second time.
Fresh olives contain alkaloid compounds that make them jarringly bitter. You’ll contort your face and say something rude. And then know better next time.
How do you brine an olive?
I just slit olives lengthwise with a knife as I prepare them for brining.
There is more than one way to do this. The goal is to remove the bitterness.
Here’s what I do, thanks to the guidance from friends from olive-growing regions:
- First, remove the olive’s skin so that the brine can get inside it better. There are different ways to prick an olive. Some people use a mallet or the end of a knife handle to crush it. I just slit them lengthwise with a knife.
- First, I put the olives in a bowl or jar with water. Every day for 10 days, I changed the water twice.
- The olives are then put into a brine that has 100 grams of salt per liter of water.
- It’s best to leave the olives in the brine for at least two weeks. Try one, and if it’s too bitter, let the olives sit in the brine for longer.
- I take them out of the brine when I think they’re ready and then marinate them in red wine vinegar, lemon zest and juice, a little olive oil, crushed garlic, rosemary, and ground pepper.
Put the olives in a bowl or jar with water. Every day for 10 days, change the water twice.
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Find out about olive growers in Canada.
Grow Potted Olives in Cold Climates
I bought a small olive tree at a garden center more than twenty years ago and brought it home with me. The shimmering light in olive groves in Italy drew me in, so when I saw that little plant in Toronto, I had to have it.
Olive trees are beautiful when the wind goes through them. The feathery leaves take on a silvery glow as they billow in a breeze.
My potted olive tree grew bigger and bigger. I shaped it into a nicely proportioned tree. When it sent up a sucker, I lopped off the sucker to make a second olive tree.
They were a beautiful touch of the Mediterranean in my cold-climate garden.
But those potted olive trees never gave me a single olive.
I wasn’t sure until I read this article and learned a few simple but important things about olive trees in pots.
Monty Don Shows How to Pot Your Olive Tree Correctly | Gardeners’ World
FAQ
How big should a pot be for an olive tree?
Can I grow an olive tree in a large pot?
What is a good pot for olive tree?
Do olive trees like to be pot-bound?
What is the best pot for olives trees?
In my experience, the best pot for olives trees are large clay pots. Here are the options: Ceramic pots are a popular choice because they look great. They can add to your home decor, and they have great drainage. They are also long-lasting, and can last for decades. Clay pots are durable, and they are often called terracotta pots.
What is the best planter for an olive tree?
Olive Tree Pot Size Important! 1. Fox & Fern Ceramic Large Pot 2. Amazon Brand Ceramic Planter with Stand 3. Pure Garden Fiber Clay Pot 4. Classic Home and Garden Wooden Pot 5. Bloem Self Watering Plastic Pot 6. Novelty Classic Urn Planter 7. Lechuza Classico Color Self Watering Planter 1. Fox & Fern Ceramic Pot 2.
How to plant an olive tree in a pot?
When you are planting an olive tree in a pot, it is important to choose the right size. If the pot is too small, it can cause rot around the roots. You need to pay attention to the olive tree and move it to a larger pot when it outgrows the one it’s in. The pot should always be about 25% larger than the root ball of the olive tree.
How big should a 3 year old olive tree be?
Once you have it planted, you will want to check the tree every spring to see if you need to move it to a larger pot. Generally, you will plant a three-year-old olive tree in a pot that is 12 to 15 inches in diameter. If it is younger than three, it will be 6 to 10 inches. Continue reading to learn all about the best size pots for olive trees.
Are clay pots good for olive trees?
Clay pots are typically made with unglazed terracotta clay and keep for many years. As well, these pots may be named as terracotta pots suitable for your olive trees. Another benefit of the clay pot for your olive tree is that they dry out slightly faster. So it will keep the roots of your olive tree from moisture.