It is usually quite easy to grow olive trees and it is common to grow them in containers that can be moved to the chosen position.
Apart from the actual fruiting kinds, there are many ornamental varieties of olive trees.
Either way, what ever kind of olive tree you choose to grow, when learning to grow olive trees know what you should and shouldn’t do.
Growing Olive Trees in Pots Problems
Just like with anything else you might plant, you should know what to do when things go wrong.
This is what this article is designed for.
Some of the challenges you may run into when growing olive trees in pots include:
- Mold
- Moss
- Loss of leaves
- Transitional shock
- Pest control
- Holes in the trunk
- Sucker branches
But don’t worry because most of these issues have very simple solutions.
When you have issues growing olive trees in pots, you will experience these issues most of the time anyway.
The fact is getting rid of these problems and getting your plant back to being healthy and thriving again is much easier than you think.
It is also much cheaper than you think.
Let’s look at seven of the most common problems faced by growers when growing olive trees in pots.
1. Fungus on the Trunk of Branches
Not all fungus on an olive tree is harmful, however, if you see any discoloration or wilting of the leaves, this could be fungal.
The three most common types of fungus are shelf fungus, jelly fungus and mushroom fungus and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Look for fungus only on the branches or trunk of the tree?
They are commonly the result of:
- soil that is too damp
- humidity
- over-watering the plant
Most arborists call this type of fungus, tree fungus or fungal disease.
If you think you have tree fungus on your olive tree, the best thing to do is seek advice from the experts.
Why Experts? Well, they will have the right tools and materials to properly diagnose and treat the issue. In most cases, it may be difficult for you to do it yourself.
2. Moss on the Tree
Even healthy olive trees can develop moss, and it isn’t always a bad thing.
Many trees that grow outside in humid weather can be covered in moss.
Moss can be bad as well, because sometimes, it can mean the branches are overcrowded or it is not getting enough sunlight.
Neglect of an olive plant can contribute to the growth of moss as well, and also poor vigor from inadequate growth due to excessive exposure to wind and rain.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do when it comes to that scenario. First, can simply do a removal of the moss from the tree.
American Plant Exchange Arbequina Olive Tree Live Plant
Next on the list, you can probably increase the circulation of air away from some of the humidity.
You can prune some of the branches that are affected, or you can also promote new growth on the tree by applying mulch and fertilizer.
Many times, improving the care of your olive tree will stop more moss from growing in the future.
3. Leaves Falling Off the Tree
If you notice leaves falling off of your olive tree, typically it has to do with an issue with watering.
In over 95% of cases, the plant is either being under-watered or over-watered.
If the plant is over-watered, the leaves will droop, but they will not be dry or “crispy.” All you really need to do is water it less frequently, but just make sure that if you are going to water it only every 2-3 weeks, that you are watering deeply each time.
Also make sure that there is plenty of drainage at the bottom of the pot.
If the leaves have brown edges and are dry and “crispy,” the plant is under-watered.
If the plant is under-watered, all you need to do is water it more frequently, only make sure it doesn’t go crazy and be watered too frequently.
What to do: Just make sure from now on, if you water the plant, that you are letting the water soak through the soil and drain completely until water comes out of the pot. In other words, water deeply and more frequently.
4. Transition Shock
In essence, transition shock occurs when there is an abrupt change in the levels of light.
By far, the most common use of this terminology is when you have an olive tree that you keep indoors and then suddenly have it outside instead.
This is considered a major change and actually the leaves blanche, creating a look as if they are sunburned.
You may see some leave loss from the change in light level as well. That said, this is yet again, another issue where there is an easy remedy.
If you have an olive tree that is planted in a pot that you are going to put outside, just put it in the shady part of your yard for a few days, and then you can move it to a spot with more sun.
And do not panic, your olive tree will eventually recover and start growing again!
5. Pests on the Tree
The good news is that olive trees are relatively resistant to pests in general, with some exceptions.
We occasionally find pests on the leaves of our plants, including aphids, scale insects, and fruit flies. In most cases, they can simply be wiped off with the right solution.
If you see small, round, somewhat fuzzy pests on the leaves, those are called scale insects, which are often simple to pick off the leaves with your fingers!
If that doesn’t work, don’t worry because there is a Plan B for obliterating olive tree pests.
You can usually try a number of solutions, including the options below:
- cotton ball soaked in alcohol
- soapy water with lemon
- insecticidal soap
- neem oil
Some of these options you will likely have in your house already.
Others will be relatively easy to purchase, as they are commonly found in nurseries and garden centers.
6. Holes in the Trunk of the Tree
As olive trees mature, you may notice either the bark displaying splitting or the trunk of the tree may develop large holes.
These symptoms are not that rare when it comes to older olive trees.
Olive trees will often twist and develop splits at various locations throughout their trunk as they grow older.
However, when an olive tree experiences changes to its growth conditions, you may see indications of holes being developed in the trunk or base of the tree.
Some growth conditions can include extended dry weather or simply the effects of aging.
So, if you are asking, “What should I do about this?’ the answer is “nothing!” These abnormalities will not affect the tree’s health or longevity.
In most instances, they are not very unsightly. If this happens to your olive tree, the best thing to do is nothing and leave your olive tree alone!
7. Sucker Branches on the Tree
Sucker branches are basically branches growing where they shouldn’t be growing, like the scion or rootstock of an olive tree.
Essentially, these sucker branches are trying to take over the tree and take up all of the nutrition that really should be going to the tree.
This happens because olive trees simply don’t exist in pots and pots always put a certain amount of stress on olive trees. Thus sucker branches start to grow.
The downside with sucker branches is that they take away from the nutrition of the tree and this could hurt that tree.
The good thing is: The solution is simple because all you have to do is prune the tree as soon as you see sucker branches growing from it. Most of the time this will solve the problem.
Final Thoughts
Don’t allow any of the issues we have discussed prevent you from growing olive trees in pots.
I love my two, and wouldn’t trade them for any other plant or tree in a pot.