I can't answer your question about repotting w/o seeing the tree, but you can pot-up now without complications. The soil should never be soggy or completely dry, even though Olea prefers it on the dry side. If you set a plant in full sun inside a room, it is usually wise to make sure there is adequate air circulation. Olea can certainly tolerate the light levels, but it may rebel at the lack of air flow which allows the temperature of the leaf surface to climb to very high levels.

The blanket of unstirred air surrounding leaf surfaces is called the boundary layer. It helps insulate the leaf against water loss because it becomes nearly completely saturated with water vapor. The thickness of the boundary layer might only be a few thousandths of an inch, but depends on the degree of air movement, which blows away the boundary layer. Heat generated when photons are absorbed into the plant heats the leaf and this layer of air. If there is no air movement, a thicker, hotter, and more insulative layer results. Wind blows away this heated boundary layer and allows leaf tissues to give up heat to the cooler air, adding to this is the cooling effect of increased transpirational water loss.

Leaf surfaces will often be found to be cooler in full outdoor sun than in front of windows that only allow 70% (or less) light transmission because of the difference in or lack of air flow over leaf surfaces.

How long does the soil stay wet after you water? Are you watering so a fair amount of water exits the drain hole EVERY time you water? Let's get your plant fertilized - you can't expect it to make growth without the building blocks it needs to make its food.

Al

Thanks for all the information-

Airflow is probably a huge problem actually, with all my plants. I arranged them differently and think they should be doing better now. I also repotted the tree into a 4 or 5in rose type terracotta pot- the taller kind (it was all i had) - with a lightweight well draining soil mixture and a time release fertilizer with micronutriants. In the last few days no new leaves have fallen off. I think i was possibly not watering it enough. I will monitor it closely the next few weeks!

Thanks again

I have a small olive, too, which I grow in full sun on an east/south/east facing deck.
This spring, it has put on a ton of new leaves and has dropped some of the older,
uglier, half-yellowed leaves. I have noticed that the new leaves are quite delicate,
and can be knocked off easily by things like cats and rough hands.

Josh

Trying to keep a fan blowing air into this portion of my house but ive noticed more leaves dropping off every day.... Trying to water a bit more frequently, as the soil dries fairly quickly. Stays moist for maybe 3 days? It is still slowly opening up new leaves, and it looks like it should have a lot of new growth on it- but im not sure why it is dropping so many of the older leaves- especially when they aren't yellowing or anything. Really hope i can keep this guy for a long time- its very cute and i want to take good care of it.

We need pictures to diagnose!

Josh

okay heres some photos of the little guy, and a picture of the new growth that is happening- and the leaves that are falling off.

Here is a link that might be useful: Olive tree

Thanks for the pictures, that'll really help!
First of all, it doesn't look too bad. The new growth seems fine.

Is that the location where it sits all day?

Josh

Hi, I too have a couple of baby olive trees which I have in a plater outdoors. Lots and lots of hot sun but one of them is really struggling. From the base of the trunk (it's only 3/4" wide) it has sort of spidered out to 7 spindly branches but there is no leaf growth for about 10 inches so it looks very weird! Have added some photos at the link below. Am wondering if I was to brutally prune it to the base again, will it grow back? The other one is doing much better and is in the same spot, pot and soil. Different species though I think. Any help and guidance would be much appreciated. I'm pretty black thumbed!

Here is a link that might be useful: Oliver (the sick one) and Olivia (the better one)

hello,

I need help with my olive trees. I had a small olive (Arbequina olive) and it was doing so well all these months and suddenly started to drop it's leaves. The leaves become curly, thin and dry and the fall. (I have pictures attached). I am not watering enough? I water once a week, but maybe 2 cups. should I be watering more? its indoors, near the window with light, its always 71 F inside. please help?

also, I brought a bigger one home and within 2 weeks, it lost ALL its leaves! Its completely dry! and not a single leaf on! will it get leaves again? its 3-4 feet tall. how much should I be watering that one?

thank you,

Kate

Mine has been healthy for over a year. I recently moved it to a brighter spot and now it’s dropping all its green leaves. Is this normal?