Any houseplant experts on line this evening?

I have a small olive tree that I bought a couple of months ago - one of those pretty saplings that remind you of the Tuscan countryside during the cold weather. Anyway, it's shedding all its leaves.

It lives inside, in a terracotta planter near a south-facing window.

It will soon be a twig in a pot.

All advice or experience would be appreciated.

Move it further away from the window. It's probably cooking the leaves when the sun comes out.

Scorching by the window is a possibility. It could easily be drying out quickly, especially with a terracotta pot.

Another possibility is the complete opposite that it has been over watered. Most plants do not like their roots remaining continually wet.

Are the leaves going brown or yellow? If they are patchy, it could be some form of disease.

If the leaves are falling off whilst they are still green then I would bet that it's too wet. They don't like to be standing in water.

Olive trees need good drainage. I put 1/3 gravel in the bottom of the pot before planting. They also need direct sun and don't mind the cold. Mine is on the roof terrace through all the storms, snow and wind and it is the only thing I haven't managed to kill.

Where can I get an olive sapling like this? I want a taste of tuscany in the winter too!

Thanks everyone!

I have the diagnosis now: I've been killing it with kindness. Too much water (the fallen leaves are green) and too much sun. Moved it back from the window and will let it dry out for a while.

As for the drainage... I can't remember how much I put in, but perhaps not enough. I'll hold off from repotting for a while though, since it's already traumatised by my gardening skills.

Economisto: I bought it in Lausanne at "Les Oliviers", but many florists sell olive saplings. I've also used this online plant shop and found them very good:

http://www.plantes.ch/index.php?subc...roducts.search

They delivered a catnip plant and some clusters of wild violets right to my door. Both in beautiful condition and at good prices. The cat didn't go for the catnip much, but she slept in the box it came in for weeks!

Thank you very much for this I'll check it out.

It is not uncommon to overwater plants. It is best to let it dry out between waterings rather than keep it damp.

If the pot has a tray, you could put some shingle in the tray and stand the pot back on it. This will help it to drain.

During the winter it will be semi-dormant and require very little watering. Hope it recovers.