Olive trees are iconic symbols of the Mediterranean and make beautiful additions to gardens and patios. To keep an olive tree happy and healthy in a container, choosing the right large pot is key. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share insider tips on selecting the ideal olive tree planter based on size, material, design and other key factors. Read on for everything you need to know to pick the perfect large pot for your olive!
Why Olive Trees Need Large Pots
Olives are vigorous growers with extensive root systems. Their roots continue spreading outwards as the tree matures. Restricting an olive tree’s roots in too small a container will stunt its growth and lead to a weak, unhealthy plant.
As a guideline, your olive tree needs a minimum of 10-15 gallons of potting soil per foot of height. For multi-trunk varieties allow even more room.
Ideally, your pot should be at least 25% wider and deeper than the tree’s root ball. During repotting, if the roots are densely circled or matted along the edges, it’s time to size up!
Best Pot Sizes for Olive Trees
Seedlings under 3 feet tall – Select a 10-12 inch wide/deep pot as a minimum.
Young trees of 3-5 feet – Need at least a 14-16 inch diameter pot.
Mature trees over 5 feet tall – Require a pot 18+ inches across and deep.
Multi-trunk trees – Size your pot at least 30% wider than their root balls.
As a rule of thumb, pick the largest pot size your space allows to maintain olive tree vigor and support maximum fruiting.
Ideal Pot Materials for Olive Trees
The pot material you choose for an olive tree should be:
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Durable – Lasts many years without cracking or decay
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Weather-resistant – Withstands sun, rain, wind and winter temperatures in your climate
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Well-draining – Has holes to prevent soggy soil that causes root rot
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Breathable – Allows air exchange through the sides of the pot
Based on these criteria, recommended olive tree pot materials include:
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Terracotta – Affordable, breathable and Mediterranean-style
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Concrete – Modern, durable and stylish for contemporary patios
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Ceramic – Attractive glazed and colorful finishes
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Resin – Lightweight and mimics looks of ceramic or stone
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Wood – Rustic appeal, best with added drainage holes
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Metal – Galvanized steel, copper or aluminum have industrial charm
Avoid porous materials like raw wood or straw that absorb moisture. Steer clear of thin plastic pots that easily crack and distort in weather.
Ideal Pot Styles and Designs
Consider the overall look you want to achieve when selecting an olive tree pot style:
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Rustic – Wine barrels, woven baskets, aged terracotta
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Modern – Clean lines, vibrant colors, geometric shapes
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Mediterranean – Urn shapes, clay, distressed blue/white paint
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Tuscan – Rich terracotta, handmade character
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French Country – Galvanized metal, reclaimed wood finishes
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Contemporary – Matte black, metal, fresh white, stone
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Boho – Global motifs, vivid patterns, eclectic mixes
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Traditional – Classical urns, colorful majolica, formal shapes
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Zen – Natural materials, peaceful simplicity, Asiatic style
Beyond aesthetics, look for large olive tree pots with:
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Multiple drainage holes
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Saucer or drainage tray
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Wheeled base for mobility
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Attached handles for lifting
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Internal ledges to allow for companion plantings
By thoughtfully selecting a pot style and design aligned with your taste and space, you can create a customized home for your olive tree.
Budget-Friendly Large Olive Tree Pot Options
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a quality olive tree planter. Here are some excellent budget picks under $100:
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Plastic nursery pots – Basic but durable and inexpensive
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Resin pots – Imitate stone/ceramics at lower cost
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Galvanized steel buckets – Farmhouse appeal on a budget
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Whiskey barrel halves – Rustic recycled wood stave construction
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Canvas grow bags – Light, portable and breathable
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Stock tanks – Repurposed galvanized livestock watering troughs
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Wire tomato cages – Line with landscape fabric to contain roots
With a little creativity, you can find an affordable large container solution perfect for your olive tree!
Splurge-Worthy Designer Olive Tree Pots
For an exceptional focal point, invest in one of these dramatic statement pots:
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Cast stone urns – Elegant contours, distressed finishes, instant classic
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Handmade ceramics – Heirloom quality craftsmanship and artistry
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Copper vessels – Gorgeous hammered metal patinas beautifully
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Wood barrels – Sophisticated repros with iron bands, expensive woods
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Architectural pots – Custom shapes and sizes in luxe materials
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Antique containers – One-of-a-kind historic charm and provenance
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Stone troughs – Massive beauty ideal for grand entrances and spaces
For the ultimate in bespoke design, have a pot handcrafted specifically for your treasured olive tree.
Key Considerations When Selecting an Olive Tree Pot
To recap, keep these key criteria in mind when choosing a container for your olive tree:
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Size – Allow ample room for root growth based on tree height
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Material – Pick a durable, weather-resistant and well-draining option
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Style – Select a design that expresses your vision and personality
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Budget – Consider both price point and long-term value for investment
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Placement – Will it be moved or stay stationary? Mobility features?
By taking the time to find the ideal olive tree pot for your specific needs, you’ll give your plant the very best chance to flourish. Trust me, the effort pays off tremendously in vibrant health, faster growth and abundant fruit production for years to come. Your olive tree deserves it!
Potted Olive Tree Autumn Care
Theres no rush to bring the plants indoors in the fall. I leave mine out even as we get light frosts.
As you get them ready to bring indoors, check for pests. Scale is the most common olive tree pests indoors.
How to get Fruit
This tree is budded up and ready to flower. Without a cool spell, the flowering cycle of the tree can be disrupted. Then it wont produce olives.
As I mentioned, while olive trees survive in a centrally heated home, growing indoors at room temperature is not ideal.
Pests aside, the main reason is that with warm conditions over the winter, your olive tree might not gear up to flower. Thats because they need “winter chill” to induce flowering. It just means that the plant makes flower buds in response to cool temperatures.
Without a cool spell, the flowering cycle of the tree can be disrupted. (Some people refer to this period of cold temperature as “chill hours.”)
My original two trees—clones from the same plant—looked great but didnt produce fruit for years when I kept them over the winter in warm conditions. When I tweaked my overwintering technique to give them cool temperatures over the winter in a sunroom that almost hit the freezing mark on cold nights, they bloomed. They were covered in blooms!
So if you overwinter olive trees at room temperature, you might not get flowers.
And no flowers means no olive fruit.
Olive flowers. When your olive tree blooms, expect lots of pollen. Its everywhere.
Olive trees are not reliably self-fertile. That means that some olive varieties require pollen from another plant, of a different variety, for successful pollination.
Even if you have an olive variety that is self-fertile, crops can be larger if there is cross-pollination with another variety.
When your olive tree blooms, expect lots of pollen. Its everywhere.
That yellow dusting of pollen is normal because olives are wind-pollinated. If you want to help the process of pollination, you can use a feather duster, or a vacuum set on reverse to blow. (I let nature take its course, and dont help with the pollination.)
Olive harvest time depends on the growing season, the variety, and stage of ripeness. These green olives havent fully sized up — so even if I wanted green olives, I would wait longer, until they get to their final size and the sap inside is milky.
Harvest time depends on the growing season, the variety, and stage of ripeness.
Olives can be picked at different stages of ripeness:
- Green (wait until the juice inside goes from clear to milky)
- As they start to develop colour
- When fully coloured (the longer you leave the olives, the more colour they will develop—and the final colour depends on the variety)
Olive Trees – Houseplant of the Week
FAQ
How large a pot does an olive tree need?
When selecting a pot, consider the following: – Size Matters: For a young olive tree, start with a small pot, around 30-40cm in diameter. As it grows, you can repot it into a larger pot or garden planter.
What kind of pot is best for an olive tree?
Recommended Pots for Your Olive Tree
GRP / Fibreglass and Corten planters are also good options and have the benefit of being more lightweight and less prone to breakage.
Do olive trees have deep roots in pots?
In very loose soil, the roots can reach up to 7 metres deep into the earth. Otherwise, olives are flat-rooted. Most of the roots reach a maximum depth of 1 metre. That is why olive trees are so well suited as a container plant.
How to repot a very large olive tree?
- Place your tree on its side and remove the root ball from the pot. …
- Check your tree for dead roots. …
- Add some compost to your new pot, filling it approximately a third of the way up. …
- Place the tree in your new pot and press it down into the compost a little.