Olive trees are light feeders. In the ground in zones 8 to 11, a mature tree in decent soil often needs little more than a spring dose of nitrogen. A potted olive is a different story. Every watering flushes nutrients out of the drainage holes, and the small root ball has nothing to draw on, so container trees indoors and on patios are the ones that really need a regular fertilizer. The right product depends on how you grow: a gentle liquid you can mix into the watering can for a potted Arbequina in a sunny window, or a slow-release granule you scratch in a few times a year for a tree in a half barrel or the yard. Below are seven current listings that cover both jobs.
Part of our Trees & Shrubs guide →
In this guide
- 1. GARDENWISE Olive Tree Fertilizer 6-4-6 — Best Overall for Potted Olives
- 2. TPS Nutrients Olive Tree Fertilizer — Best Liquid for Regular Feeding
- 3. HiThrive Olive Tree Fertilizer — Best for Pale or Slow-Growing Trees
- 4. Gardenera 3-1-2 Liquid Concentrate — Best Gentle Feed for Indoor Trees
- 5. Down To Earth Organic Fruit Tree 6-2-4 — Best Organic for In-Ground Trees
- 6. Jobe’s Organics Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer 3-5-5 — Best Budget-Friendly Organic Granule
- 7. Gardenera Olive Tree Spray Fertilizer Mist — Best Ready-to-Use Spray
- How to Choose an Olive Tree Fertilizer
- Frequently Asked Questions
Disclosure: Urban Lotus Project earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
How we compared: we compared 7 current Amazon listings on what each listing states (formula, form, release type, dosing and intended use); we did not test or handle the products, and availability changes.
| Product | Best for | Key features | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARDENWISE Olive Tree 6-4-6 | Best overall for potted olives |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| TPS Nutrients Olive Tree | Best liquid for regular feeding |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| HiThrive Olive Tree | Best for pale or slow trees |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Gardenera 3-1-2 Concentrate | Best gentle feed for indoor trees |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Down To Earth Fruit Tree 6-2-4 | Best organic for in-ground trees |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Jobe's Organics Fruit and Citrus | Best budget-friendly organic granule |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Gardenera Olive Tree Mist | Best ready-to-use spray |
| Buy now →Check current price |
Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Key Takeaways
- Potted olives need regular feeding from spring to late summer; in-ground trees in fair soil need far less.
- Nitrogen drives olive growth. A modest, balanced or nitrogen-leaning formula suits most trees.
- Slow-release granules are the low-effort choice for containers; liquids give you finer control indoors.
- Stop feeding by early fall so new growth can harden off before winter.
- Pale leaves are often a watering or drainage problem first and a fertilizer problem second.
1. GARDENWISE Olive Tree Fertilizer 6-4-6 — Best Overall for Potted Olives
A 6-4-6 granular fruit tree food with iron and magnesium, made for potted and outdoor olives.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Granules go straight on the soil, no mixing
- Fast and controlled-release nitrogen in one product
- Iron and magnesium help keep leaves deep green
- Listing gives a 6 to 8 week container schedule
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | 6-4-6 |
| Form | Dry granules, water in after applying |
| Release | Water-soluble plus controlled-release nitrogen |
| Micronutrients | Iron 1%, magnesium 1%, others listed generally |
| Potted schedule | Every 6 to 8 weeks during active growth |
| Size on this listing | 8 oz (about 1/2 lb); larger sizes sold separately |
GARDENWISE Olive Tree Fertilizer — compressed specs
For most people with a potted olive, this is the easiest product on the shelf to live with. The dual-release nitrogen means part of the dose is available right away and part feeds steadily between applications, so you only think about fertilizer every six to eight weeks instead of every time you water. That matters with olives in containers, because the drainage that keeps their roots healthy also washes liquid feeds out fast. The 1% iron and 1% magnesium are a sensible addition for a tree whose whole appeal is silvery-green foliage.
It is also the only olive-specific pick here that comes as dry granules rather than a liquid, which makes it the better choice than the TPS or HiThrive bottles if you travel or simply forget to feed. The 8 oz bag is right for one or two potted trees; the same formula is sold in a 3-quart size if you have a row of containers or an in-ground tree.
Pros
- Low-effort feeding schedule
- Includes iron and magnesium
- Works for pots and in-ground trees
Cons
- Small 8 oz bag on this listing
- Synthetic, not listed as organic
- Granules can sit on top of dry soil
Check GARDENWISE Olive Tree 6-4-6 price on Amazon
2. TPS Nutrients Olive Tree Fertilizer — Best Liquid for Regular Feeding
A liquid olive tree food for potted, indoor and in-ground trees, sold here in a 32 oz bottle.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Formulated specifically for olive trees
- Listing stresses steady growth, not forced growth
- Suits containers, indoor trees and landscapes
- Made in the USA, three bottle sizes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | Not stated in listing |
| Form | Liquid concentrate, pour and mix |
| Use | Potted, indoor and outdoor olive trees |
| Size on this listing | 32 oz (1 quart); 8 oz and 1 gallon also sold |
| Origin | Made in USA |
TPS Nutrients Olive Tree Fertilizer — compressed specs
If you prefer to feed in the watering can, TPS is the most straightforward olive-specific liquid here. The listing’s emphasis is on balanced feeding that supports roots and foliage “without forcing excessive growth,” which is the right philosophy for olives. Pushing a potted olive with heavy nitrogen gives you long, floppy shoots and a tree that needs constant pinching to keep its shape.
The trade-off against the HiThrive and Gardenera concentrates is information: this listing doesn’t print an NPK ratio or a mixing rate, so you’ll rely on the bottle label for dosing. The three sizes on the shelf are useful, though. Start with the 32 oz if you have one or two trees, and step up to the gallon if you also want to use it across a collection of Mediterranean shrubs in pots.
Pros
- Olive-specific formula
- Gentle, steady-growth approach
- Three sizes to match your collection
Cons
- NPK not stated in the listing
- Needs frequent reapplication like any liquid
- Mixing rate only on the bottle
Check TPS Nutrients Olive Tree price on Amazon
3. HiThrive Olive Tree Fertilizer — Best for Pale or Slow-Growing Trees
A liquid olive food with calcium, magnesium and zinc; a 16 oz bottle makes 16 gallons.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Adds calcium, magnesium and zinc to NPK
- Aimed at pale leaves and slow growth
- Clear seasonal schedule in the listing
- Names Arbequina, Kalamata and Picholine
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | Not stated in listing |
| Form | Liquid concentrate |
| Yield | 16 oz makes 16 gallons |
| Micronutrients | Calcium, magnesium, zinc |
| Schedule | Every 1 to 2 weeks in season, every 4 weeks in cool months |
HiThrive Olive Tree Fertilizer — compressed specs
HiThrive leans hardest into micronutrients of the liquid picks, naming calcium, magnesium and zinc alongside nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. That makes it a reasonable choice for a container tree that has been in the same potting mix for a couple of years and is showing pale new leaves or stalled growth, since old mix runs out of trace elements long before you notice.
Be cautious with the schedule, though. Feeding every one to two weeks is on the frequent side for olives, which tolerate lean conditions well. Many growers will get good results using it at the longer end of that range, and pausing entirely for an indoor tree that has slowed down for winter rather than following the listing’s every-four-weeks cool-season suggestion. A larger 32 oz bottle, making 32 gallons, is also on the shelf.
Pros
- Broad micronutrient package
- Economical dilution rate
- Clear year-round instructions
Cons
- Suggested schedule is frequent for olives
- NPK not stated in the listing
- Liquid must be mixed each time
Check HiThrive Olive Tree price on Amazon
4. Gardenera 3-1-2 Liquid Concentrate — Best Gentle Feed for Indoor Trees
A 3-1-2 liquid concentrate for indoor olive trees, mixed at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Mild 3-1-2 ratio suits slow indoor growth
- Simple 1 teaspoon per gallon mixing rate
- Listed as made from natural ingredients
- 8 oz and 32 oz bottles on the shelf
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | 3-1-2 |
| Form | Liquid concentrate |
| Mixing rate | 1 teaspoon per gallon of water |
| Intended use | Indoor olive trees |
| Size on this listing | 8 oz bottle |
Gardenera 3-1-2 Liquid Olive Tree Fertilizer — compressed specs
An olive living indoors grows much more slowly than one outside, because even a bright south window delivers a fraction of outdoor light. That tree needs very little fertilizer, and this concentrate’s low 3-1-2 ratio and small 1-teaspoon-per-gallon dose fit that reality. It is nitrogen-leaning, which is what olives use most, without being strong enough to scorch roots or cause soft, stretched growth in low light.
It is the only liquid pick that prints both an NPK and a mixing rate in the listing, which makes it easy to dose with confidence. The listing describes it as organic and made from natural ingredients, but unlike the Down To Earth and Jobe’s granules, it doesn’t mention OMRI listing.
Pros
- Clear NPK and dose
- Gentle enough for low-light trees
- Small bottle lasts a long time
Cons
- Too mild for big outdoor trees
- No OMRI mention in listing
- Liquid needs regular application
Check Gardenera 3-1-2 Concentrate price on Amazon
5. Down To Earth Organic Fruit Tree 6-2-4 — Best Organic for In-Ground Trees
An OMRI-listed 6-2-4 fruit tree fertilizer with added calcium, in a 5 lb box.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- OMRI listed for organic production
- Nitrogen-forward 6-2-4 ratio suits olives
- Added calcium for fruit development
- Full ingredient list printed in the listing
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | 6-2-4 |
| Form | Dry organic granules/meal |
| Ingredients | Feather meal, fish bone meal, calcium carbonate, langbeinite, potassium sulfate, alfalfa and kelp meal |
| Certification | OMRI listed |
| Size | 5 lb box |
Down To Earth Organic Fruit Tree — compressed specs
This isn’t sold as an olive fertilizer, but its 6-2-4 ratio is closer to what an olive actually wants than many products that are. Nitrogen is the nutrient olives respond to most, and this blend is nitrogen-forward with moderate potassium and little phosphorus. The organic ingredients break down over weeks with soil microbes, so it feeds gently and is hard to overdo.
The 5 lb box makes it the best value for an in-ground olive or a large tree in a barrel. Indoors, organic meals can smell for a few days after application and can attract fungus gnats in moist potting mix, so we’d use the Gardenera or GARDENWISE picks for a tree in the living room and save this one for outdoors.
Pros
- OMRI listed
- Well-suited nitrogen-leaning ratio
- Biggest package of the picks
Cons
- Not olive-specific on the label
- Slower to act in cold soil
- Can smell indoors
Check Down To Earth Fruit Tree 6-2-4 price on Amazon
6. Jobe’s Organics Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer 3-5-5 — Best Budget-Friendly Organic Granule
An OMRI-listed 3-5-5 granular fertilizer for fruit and citrus trees, in a 4 lb bag.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- OMRI listed, no synthetic chemicals
- Easy every 4 to 8 week schedule
- Widely sold, familiar brand
- Hard to overfeed per the listing
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | 3-5-5 |
| Form | Granules |
| Schedule | Every 4 to 8 weeks in the growing season |
| Certification | OMRI listed |
| Size | 4 lb bag |
Jobe’s Organics Fruit and Citrus — compressed specs
Jobe’s is a solid general-purpose choice if you also grow citrus or figs and want one bag for all of them. Its 3-5-5 ratio is lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium than the Down To Earth blend, which suits a mature fruiting tree more than a young olive you are trying to bulk up. For a young potted olive putting on size, one of the nitrogen-leaning picks above is the better match.
Like the other organic granule, it works slowly and steadily, and the listing stresses that it’s easy to measure without overfeeding. It shares the same indoor caveats about smell and gnats.
Pros
- OMRI listed
- One bag for olive, citrus and fig
- Gentle, slow feeding
Cons
- Lower nitrogen than olives prefer
- Not olive-specific
- Organic smell indoors
Check Jobe's Organics Fruit and Citrus price on Amazon
7. Gardenera Olive Tree Spray Fertilizer Mist — Best Ready-to-Use Spray
A ready-to-use 3-1-2 fertilizer mist for olive trees in an 8 oz spray bottle.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- No measuring or mixing at all
- Same mild 3-1-2 ratio as the concentrate
- Handy for one small indoor tree
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPK | 3-1-2 |
| Form | Ready-to-use mist |
| Intended use | Olive tree leaves and growth |
| Size | 8 oz spray bottle |
| Coverage | Not stated in listing |
Gardenera Olive Tree Spray Mist — compressed specs
This is a convenience product for someone with a single tabletop or small floor olive who wants zero fuss. Foliar feeding delivers a small amount of nutrients through the leaves and can give a quick lift, but it’s a supplement, not a replacement for feeding the roots. An 8 oz bottle won’t go far on anything bigger than a small tree.
If you want the same formula at a lower cost per dose, the Gardenera concentrate above makes far more feed per bottle. Choose the mist only if convenience matters more than value.
Pros
- Nothing to mix
- Mild formula, low risk
- Compact bottle
Cons
- Foliar feeding is supplemental only
- Small volume
- Coverage not stated
Check Gardenera Olive Tree Mist price on Amazon
How to Choose an Olive Tree Fertilizer
Olives evolved on poor, rocky, often alkaline Mediterranean soils, and they don’t need rich feeding. The goal is steady growth and healthy leaves, not a burst of soft shoots. Here’s how to match a product to your tree. For the bigger picture on planting, soil and pruning, see our trees and shrubs guide.
Potted vs in-ground
A container olive depends entirely on you. Feed it from spring, when new growth starts, through late summer. Slow-release granules every six to eight weeks or a diluted liquid every two to four weeks both work. An in-ground olive in zones 8 to 11 usually needs one feeding in late winter or early spring, and perhaps a second in early summer if growth is weak. Mature in-ground trees in reasonable soil may need nothing at all for years.
Indoor trees need much less
Olives indoors grow slowly because of limited light. Use half-strength liquid feeds during spring and summer, and stop entirely from late fall to late winter when the tree is resting. Overfeeding a low-light olive is a common cause of leaf drop and salt crust on the soil. Our guide to growing olive trees indoors covers light, watering and the winter chill many olives need to flower.
The NPK ratio
Nitrogen is the main nutrient olive trees use. Balanced or nitrogen-leaning ratios such as 6-4-6, 6-2-4 or 3-1-2 suit them well. High-phosphorus bloom boosters aren’t necessary. Products made for citrus, figs and general fruit trees are close enough for olives; our roundups of fruit tree fertilizers and citrus fertilizers cover more of those options.
Micronutrients
Potting mix runs low on trace elements after a year or two. Iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium help prevent pale new leaves. If an older container tree yellows despite feeding, repot into fresh, fast-draining mix before reaching for more fertilizer.
Organic vs synthetic
Organic meals feed slowly through soil biology and work best outdoors in warm soil. Synthetic granules and liquids act predictably in sterile potting mix and don’t smell, which makes them easier indoors. Both grow good olives.
When not to fertilize
Skip fertilizer on a newly planted or freshly repotted tree for about four to six weeks while roots settle. Don’t feed a stressed tree that is dry, waterlogged or dropping leaves after a move; fix the cause first. And stop by early fall outdoors so new growth hardens before frost. Variety-specific timing for the most popular container olive is in our Arbequina olive tree care guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I fertilize a potted olive tree?
From spring through late summer, apply slow-release granules every six to eight weeks or a diluted liquid every two to four weeks. Stop in fall and winter, especially for trees kept indoors, where growth slows sharply.
Can I use citrus fertilizer on an olive tree?
Yes. Citrus and fruit tree fertilizers are close to what olives need, usually with balanced or nitrogen-leaning ratios plus micronutrients. Follow the container rate on the label and lean toward the lighter end.
Why are my olive tree’s leaves turning yellow?
Overwatering and poor drainage are the most common causes, followed by nitrogen or micronutrient shortage in old potting mix. Check that the pot drains freely and the soil dries partly between waterings before adding fertilizer.
Will fertilizer make my olive tree produce olives?
Not by itself. Most olives need full sun and a period of winter chill to set flowers, and many indoor trees never get enough of either. Fertilizer supports healthy growth, but light and chill decide fruiting.
Is organic fertilizer better for olives?
Not necessarily. Organic meals are excellent outdoors and are hard to overapply, while synthetic granules and liquids are cleaner and more predictable in pots indoors. Choose based on where the tree grows.