Young sweet olive tree needs less sun?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I have a baby sweet olive in pot that is barely six inches tall but already has buds all over. I initially had it exposed to morning sun only, but read that it like full 10hr sun? Should I move it to full location or is it too soon?

Featured Answer

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

2 years ago

Think about nature- young small plants are shaded out by larger trees. As they grow they get more and more sun until eventually they break through to full sun. So younger understory trees get less light.

You can acclimate this plant to more sun but you have to do it in stages- not just an abrupt change to full sun. If it gets morning sun now continue that but add in dappled shade the rest of the day. Then in a couple of weeks more sun. Slowly increase the light in increments until it is acclimated to it's final position.

Watch that it doesn't get too dry with all the increased light- with it in a container that would be my concern. Is it destined to remain potted or is it going into the ground?

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Comments (6)

RoseMe SD
Original Author
2 years ago

just this little.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
if its happy as can be where it is.. why are you thinking you know better and think you can come up with a better place ..

on some level.. you are trying to love it to death.. dont ...

always include a big city location ... in my MI ... i would NEVER have a plant that young is sun ... as it might create watering or heat issues.... because it is potted ...

ken

ps: maybe your name mean south dakota.. but i dont know ... is that olive country? ...lol
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
LOL!! Sweet olive is the common name for Osmanthus fragrans, which is typically grown as a houseplant everywhere except in the warmest zones. And growing it in partial shade or bright but indirect light is fine. Perhaps the 10+ hours referred to an actual olive tree, Olea europaea. It is easy to get confused if you are looking for info under the common name. Always use the botanical name!
sabut
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I am in Piedmont NC where shade loving plants do not forgive too much sun. Sweet Olive is not one of them. Young or old, planted in the ground, it can take any amount of sun from full sun to full shade. The difference is just its growing and blooming habit. I had 4 tiny twigs planted in full sun and they survived just fine, provided adequate watering. In contrary, I see quite a few big specimens around where they grow in full shade and still do fine.

Addition. Oh, if you are indeed in South Dakota do not move it to full sun in a pot. If you are in San Diego, plant it in the ground as soon as weather allows, they will do much better there.
RoseMe SD
Original Author
2 years ago
@sabut That's what I learned too, that sweet olive loves full sun.to grow lots of flowers. The fragrant flowers are what I got this tree for so really want to give it a best environment.

Young sweet olive tree needs less sun?

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

Comments (6)

RoseMe SD
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Young sweet olive tree needs less sun?

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

Comments (6)

RoseMe SDOriginal Author

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