Plant care
Olive Treetemperature & humidity
Olea europaea
More about olive tree
Ideal temperature for olive tree
Aim for 15-30C (growing); hardy to about -10C briefly (59-86F (growing); hardy to about 14F briefly) on the thermostat and you've handled the easy part. The hard part is the half-metre around the plant: window glass that drops to near-freezing on a January night, a radiator pumping out hot dry air, a draught from an opened front door. Move the plant 30 cm and you've usually fixed the problem. Below roughly 15°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Olive Tree is comparatively hardy (USDA 8-11 (outdoor); container with winter shelter in colder zones, RHS H4). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for olive tree
Olive Tree sits happiest at around Low to moderate ambient relative humidity. Prefers dry Mediterranean air and resents prolonged damp. Good airflow keeps foliage healthy; humid, stagnant conditions encourage scale insects and leaf fungal problems. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Olive Tree temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for olive tree?
Olive Tree grows best between 15-30C (growing); hardy to about -10C briefly (59-86F (growing); hardy to about 14F briefly). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can olive tree tolerate?
Olive Tree starts to suffer below roughly 15°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 8-11 (outdoor); container with winter shelter in colder zones, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does olive tree need?
Olive Tree prefers about Low to moderate ambient relative humidity. Prefers dry Mediterranean air and resents prolonged damp. Good airflow keeps foliage healthy; humid, stagnant conditions encourage scale insects and leaf fungal problems.
How do I raise humidity for olive tree?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can olive tree live outside?
Olive Tree is rated for USDA zone 8-11 (outdoor); container with winter shelter in colder zones and RHS hardiness H4. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More olive tree care
In the UK? Keeping olive tree warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full olive tree care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.