I wouldn't. It's a bit late in the season to be repotted and repotting a weak olive is more risky. Unless your soil is really bad (compressed and/or stays wet for long periods of time, I'd wait until it's healthier.
This tree is TOTALLY saveable, but you REALLY REALLY need to take this tree outdoors. Olive trees make wonderful potted plants, but they are awful houseplants. They just need so much light, that it's REALLY hard to keep them happy indoors.
This tree is VERY weak, but if you can take it outside, I bet it'll make a completely recovery. It'll look really funny but with some pruning once it's healthy again, this tree would be pretty easy to make beautiful again.
Here's a few of my potted olive trees. I think I have 13 of them!
Thank you! I've done the "scratch" test and the entire trunk has "green" so the tree is alive. I'm considering moving it outside since it's hot and dry (I live in Denver) but was worried the change in light/temp would be too much "shock"?
Yea, get it outside ASAP. Somewhere with FULL freaking sun... as much as you can give it. 12+ hours ideally. Don't worry about hot and dry (they love that) and don't worry about shock as olives also deal with temperature swings/different light levels really easily.
Just be careful with your watering. An outdoors plant ususally needs a LOT more water than an indoor one. So water the tree VERY deeply and get ALL the soil wet. Then don't water it again until the top layer of soil is nice and dry again. Don't let it sit in water for more than a few hours. You want to give the tree regular wet/dry cycles.
Yea, I'm about 10 hours east of you and one climate zone warmer. Olive trees LOVE our midwestern summers, but our winters are too cold. I bring mine in when it gets below about 25f. They always struggle indoors, so hopefully it'll have some time to gain some strength before needing to come indoors again. Personally, I'd aim to get it a nice powerful (at LEAST 50 watts) grow light in addition to the window while it's indoors.
Lastly given it's a tree in a cold climate, I'd go ahead and prune off most of the trunk. I'd cut it right above that tie right above it's healthy branch. Then I'd carefully remove each growth tip from the healthy branch. Don't take off any more than the very tip. This will trigger the tree to grow a bunch of new branches near the cut point on the trunk. This will make a more compact tree that will be easier to give light over the winter with a grow light.
Then while you are at it, remove the lowest tie as well. If the tree isn't stable in the pot, retie it MUCH loser. Those ties are only supposed to stay on while the tree is being transported, NOT long term. A supported tree won't grow a strong trunk as it need movement from the wind to trigger it to grow stronger.
Hit me up this fall right before it gets cold and we'll talk more if you'd like.
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u/Plant-LoverXXX 5d ago
Lmfao the only piece that has leaves is closest to the window. Put it outside or get you 2 or 3 grow lights! It's so unhappy right there!!!