The natural home of the olive tree is the sunny Mediterranean, which means it’s used to a much different climate than what we typically see here in the States. Even though olive trees are incredibly tough plants, they can run into some trouble when they aren’t in their comfort zone. One of the most common headaches for olive tree owners? Dropping leaves.
Especially in the Winter
If you notice your olive tree looking a bit bare, there could be a few reasons why, but it usually happens during the colder months. Overwintering is a critical phase for olive trees grown in cooler climates. It’s a bit of a balancing act: olive trees can’t handle a deep, prolonged freeze, but they also don’t like being too warm during their winter nap.
Why Is My Olive Tree Dropping Leaves?
Most of the time, leaf drop is a sign that the winter setup isn’t quite right. Here are the most common culprits:
- Your olive tree isn’t getting enough light during the winter.
- The room is either too warm or too cold. Ideally, you want to keep it at a steady 50°F (10°C).
- You’ve been a little too heavy-handed with the watering can. Standing water leads to root rot, which causes leaves to fall off fast.
- On the flip side, it’s also possible the soil has dried out completely, and the tree is dropping leaves due to thirst.
What Happens Next?
The good news is that dropping leaves usually doesn’t mean your tree is dying. However, since olive trees are already slow growers, you might notice even less growth than usual the following season. It’s also a toss-up whether the plant will have enough energy to produce blossoms or fruit. That’s why it’s so important to jump into action as soon as you see those leaves hitting the floor.
How to Fix It
Your first move should be checking the soil moisture. Too much or too little water is the easiest thing to fix! It gets a bit trickier if the light or temperature at its current location is the problem. If that’s the case, you’ll need to find a new spot for your tree. Look for a place that offers plenty of natural light but stays nice and cool. If you can dial in those conditions, your olive tree should bounce back and start pushing out fresh green leaves in no time.
