In what conditions can you grow oleander in the garden

Subtropical plants are the royal decoration of gardens and greenhouses, an exquisite highlight of the interior of rooms, if they are grown at home. Most of them attract attention with a delicate aroma and bright oleander bloom. Care and cultivation of this plant does not require much effort, but in response to your care the southern flower will give you a real aesthetic pleasure.

Mysterious rose of the Mediterranean

Oleander is an evergreen shrub with narrow leathery leaves, reaching up to 1.5 m in height. Large airy inflorescences covering this plant from April to August are distinguished by a variety of colors - they can be:

• white;
• pale pink;
• crimson;
• purple;
• creamy yellow.

The "middle name" of oleander is "rose of the Mediterranean". The native land of the amazing flower is a subtropical strip covering the territory from Portugal in the west to southern China in the east. Remember: all parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and pets.

How to plant an oleander in your garden?

You will probably be pleased to know this fact: if you plant an oleander in the open ground, the reproduction of this flower will be so intense that you can soon create a whole greenhouse from one bush! You can propagate a Mediterranean rose in 2 ways:

• sowing seeds;
• by cuttings.

At the end of flowering, a box with seeds is formed - they are collected and stored until spring in a dry, well-ventilated room. You can also purchase seeds from a specialty store. It is necessary to sow oleander in neutral, slightly acidic soil, in places where there is enough sunlight, but there is no direct hit of rays.

For propagation by cuttings, also wait until spring and do the following.

1. Take stems 12-15 cm long.
2. Lubricate the cuts with charcoal and dry.
3. Plant them in slightly damp fine expanded clay and perlite.
4. The temperature in the room where the cuttings are located should be 18-20 ° C.
5. When roots appear, plant the cuttings in open soil.

Cuttings root well in a regular container of water. Dip a small piece of charcoal into it to prevent decay. Roots will surely appear within a month, and with careful full care, you can expect flowering in the year of planting. Oleander grows very well at home.If you want to make this flower a decoration of your room, plant cuttings or seeds in this earthy mixture:

• a third of the sod land;
• one third of peat;
• a third of humus;
• 10% sandy soil.

Before planting, you can freeze the soil to destroy harmful microorganisms.

Make sure it is not difficult to care for a southern rose!

Many housewives are interested in how whimsical the oleander is. Care and cultivation in the garden of this southern miracle will not cause much trouble. The shrub needs abundant watering only during drought. Just do not overdo it, otherwise the leaves may turn yellow. After half an hour after moistening the soil, feed the oleander once every 2 weeks. For this, mineral and organic fertilizers are ideal, which must be alternated to strengthen the plant.

If the oleander has taken root, pruning and shaping the bush is necessary for proper growth and aesthetic appearance of the plant. After waiting for the end of flowering, act professionally:

1. Keep the scissors at an angle.
2. When cutting off the stems above the buds, cut the branches in half.
3. If there are still buds, cut off the lateral buds underneath to stimulate flowering.
4. Do not forget: poisonous juice is released from the cut site, causing burns, therefore wear heavy gloves and safety glasses.

In winter, the plant can only withstand temperatures down to -10 ° C. To protect the oleander from the negative effects of frost, insulate the roots with mulch, sawdust, and wrap the branches with plastic or burlap.

If Mediterranean roses grow on your windowsill, create optimal conditions for them.

• If there is a lack of natural light, fill it up with a fluorescent lamp installed 70-80 cm above the top of the flower. The flower needs additional lighting for 8 hours a day.
• In the summer, the room temperature should be around 20 ° C, and in the fall, start to gradually lower the temperature: in the winter months, the oleander is comfortable at 10 ° C.
• If the plant is in the living room and there is no way to lower the temperature, ventilate the room more often.
• Protect the southern rose from drafts and spray occasionally.
• Do not let the soil dry out, but in the cold season, make sure that the roots do not start to deteriorate.
• In spring and summer, oleander can be found in the garden or on the balcony.
• Young plants should be transplanted every year into a flowerpot, which is 3 cm larger than the previous one: Do not immediately plant the oleander in a huge "house", otherwise the flower will spend too much energy on vegetative growth and will not bloom in the near future.

In this article we will look at the topic: planting and caring for Oleander. Let's figure out the optimal conditions for breeding. Let's talk about the optimal soil composition.

Oleander is a flowering ornamental erect evergreen shrub with dense dark green lanceolate leaves. The height of the shrub reaches up to 3 m. The flowers are white, yellow and pink-red, collected in racemose inflorescences. Depending on the variety, they are divided into simple and double flowers.

The splendor of flowering depends on the growing conditions and plant care. For normal development and flowering, the plant needs a lot of light and heat with good air circulation. Oleander begins to bloom from June to October.

Oleander is perfect for loggias, verandas, greenhouses, winter gardens.

Planting and caring for Oleander: lighting, temperature, watering and pruning

Oleander grows well in fertile soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction in the open field. For indoor cultivation, it is necessary to plant a flower in large planting containers with a soil substrate, which consists of sod-leaf soil, with the addition of humus and sand.

For indoor and garden floriculture, common oleander is often propagated. They love oleander for the beauty of flowers and a persistent aroma. Lighting and temperature. Oleander is a light-loving and heat-loving plant. Prefers to grow indoors with bright lighting.The table shows the optimal temperature for growing oleander indoors:

Season	Optimum temperature
Spring	+ 18 ... + 20 ° C
Summer	+ 20 ... + 28 ° C
Autumn	+ 16 ... + 18 ° C
Winter (until March)	+ 8 ... + 16 ° C

At higher temperatures at different times of the year, ventilation is required. Avoid drafts when ventilating.

Tip # 1. When there is a lack of lighting, the oleander sheds its leaves. Therefore, in winter, the oleander needs additional lighting. And additional lighting is also needed if the oleander is grown on the north side. Additional lighting is provided by a fluorescent lamp, which is installed at a distance of 50-60 cm.

Watering. Oleander does not tolerate highly dry and abundantly moist soils. In this regard, in order to maintain the physiological state of the plant, it is advisable to water it regularly and evenly as the soil dries out.

When watering, it is better to direct the stream of water closer to the walls of the planting container. Water the oleander with settled water at room temperature. When spraying the ground part of the plant, it is better to use warm water; when spraying with cold water, colorless spots may appear.

In spring and summer, during the period of active growth and flowering of oleander, watering should be carried out no more than 2-3 times a week. In the autumn period, the soil dries up much longer, and the growth and development of the plant slows down, therefore, during this period, the frequency of watering should be reduced to 2 times a week. In winter, the plant is dormant, at which time the oleander least of all needs watering. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a month.

Tip # 2. You can soften the water for irrigating oleander with wood ash or peat. To soften hard water, wood ash is used at the rate of 5 g of ash per 2 liters of water or 25 g of peat per 5 liters of water.

Pruning. For oleander, pruning is carried out in order to improve the splendor of flowering and maintain the correct balance of its ground part of the root system. Pruning oleander annually improves not only the decorative appearance, but also stimulates the development of dormant buds, which makes the flowering abundant. Read also the article: → "Rules for choosing garden tools for pruning trees and shrubs"

It is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning in late autumn. This pruning consists of removing weak and mature shoots. On such shoots, pathogenic microorganisms are most often formed.

Formative pruning is carried out in the spring, half-stretched shoots are cut. Such pruning promotes the development of lateral shoots, on which flowers will appear over time. Cut shoots are used to propagate oleander by cuttings.

Tip # 3. Care must be taken when pruning, as all terrestrial parts of the plant are poisonous. Cutting must be done with gloves.

Propagation of oleander by seeds

Oleander seeds are sown in early spring - from March to April. Seedlings retain the decorative effect of the mother bush. The seeds are sown in a soil substrate, which consists of peat and sand.

Experienced gardeners practice growing oleander in perlite with the addition of sand and peat. Perlite is used for germinating seeds and rooting cuttings. Perlite advantages:

• Protects crops from mold and decay;
• Prevents drying out;
• Allows air and sunlight to pass through;
• When added to the soil, it improves the porosity and looseness of the soil;
• Prevents clogging and hardening of the soil;
• Water is well absorbed by perlite and given to plants if necessary;
• Prevents the development of fungal diseases.

The main disadvantage of perlite is that it does not contain nutrients and useful substances. When growing indoor plants in perlite, it is necessary to water them with liquid fertilizers and biological solutions to create useful microflora.

Perlite is an environmentally friendly sterile material that does not contain heavy metals. It is not a favorable environment for microorganisms, pests and rodents.

Before sowing, the highest quality seeds are soaked for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After the disinfection procedure, the seeds are immersed in a growth regulator solution for several hours. Read also the article: → "Rules for feeding garden shrubs in the spring"

Sowing seeds is carried out in a moist soil substrate, which consists of perlite and sand. The seeds are not embedded in the soil, they are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. The first watering is carried out with warm water using a spray bottle. Sowing is covered with foil and removed to a warm place for 8-10 days before germination.

Planting containers with seedlings are kept at a temperature of + 30 ° C ... + 35 ° C. At temperatures below the optimum, the germination period increases.

As soon as shoots appear, it is necessary to install additional lighting. Seedlings are regularly ventilated. As soon as 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into the pots to a permanent place.

Oleander propagation methods by cuttings

Cuttings can be obtained by pruning oleander in the spring. For reproduction of oleander, it is necessary to prepare cuttings from 10 to 15 cm long.After cutting, the cuttings are treated with charcoal.

Rooting cuttings in a soil substrate, which includes perlite, sand and charcoal in a ratio of 4: 3: 1. After rooting the cuttings, crushed charcoal is laid out around the root collar or clean sand is poured in a thin layer.

After planting the cuttings, the soil is watered with warm, settled water. The planting container with cuttings is removed to a room with good lighting and a room temperature of at least + 18 ° C.

Sand and charcoal protect the root collar of young oleander sprouts from decay.

For rooting, cuttings can be placed in a container of water. To prevent rotting of the cuttings, it is necessary to add a few pieces of charcoal to the water. With proper room temperature, roots will form on the cuttings after 3 weeks. Such cuttings are planted in a permanent place in pots or in open ground for further rooting.

Complex fertilizers for growing oleander

Complex fertilizers are recommended to be applied from April to August. Top dressing should be alternated and applied once every two weeks. Complex fertilizers prevent the development of bacterial and viral diseases due to complex mineral and organic elements.

• Bio fertilizer for flowers of the Dunamis brand;
• Fertilizer for flowers of the Buyskie Fertilizers brand;
• Complex fertilizer "Agricola" of the "GreenBelt" brand. gardeners' reviews on Agricola fertilization;
• Complex mineral fertilizer for flowers of the JOY brand.

The picture shows the types of fertilizers.

Oleander needs various types of fertilizers. Fertilizers are used in conjunction with irrigation.

The above fertilizers are designed for the cultivation of all decorative flowering shrubs and flowers. Regular fertilization will increase the flowering period and also promote the formation of large inflorescences.

Sprayer preparations in the fight against diseases and pests

Despite the fact that the terrestrial parts of the oleander plant are poisonous, they are affected by diseases such as oleander cancer and stem rot. And also such pests as harm the oleander:

• Spider mite;
• The mealy worm;
• Oleander thyroid gland.

Diseases and pests appear when there is a lack of nutrients in the soil, as a result of abundant watering and in the absence of timely pruning of the plant. In the table, we will consider the symptoms and causes of the appearance of diseases and pests:

Diseases and pests	Symptoms	Reasons for the appearance
Spider mite	A whitish-gray thin web forms on the lower part of the foliage.	No clipping. Abundant watering.
Mealy worm	The ground part of the plant is covered with a cotton-like bloom.	Low humidity. Lack of nutrients. Lack of ventilation of the room.
Oleander thyroid	The formation of a sticky plaque on the leaves, the inside of the leaves is covered with yellow spots.	At high room temperature and low humidity.
Oleander crayfish	Light spots on the outer surface of the leaves. At later stages, the spots darken and increase.	Bacteria multiply with abundant watering.
Stem rot	Light brown spots at the base of the stem. In later stages, spots form all over the stem.	The soil is dense in structure. Abundant watering. Excessive fertilization.

When severely damaged, the oleander sheds its leaves. Leaves can curl and dry out. Darkening of shoots and poor flowering are observed. In the table, we will consider effective spray preparations and folk remedies against diseases and pests:

Disease and pests	Sprayers	Folk remedies
Spider mite	"Aktellik", "Fitoverm", "Vermitic".	Onion peel infusion. Soap solution. Medical alcohol.
Mealy worm	Aktara, Fitoverm, Biotlin.	Soap solution. Tobacco infusion. Cyclamen broth. Infusion of calendula.
Oleander thyroid	Aktellik, Fufafon, Karbaphos, Fitoverm.	Soap solution. Medical alcohol. Onion and garlic infusion. Infusion of celandine.
Oleander crayfish	Alirin-B, Baktofit, Vitaros, Mikosan.	Tobacco infusion.
Root rot		Infusion of calendula.

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly prune oleander

Pruning is carried out in early spring. To carry out the pruning procedure, it is necessary to prepare gloves, a pruner, and a complex fertilizer. Next, consider the trimming procedure point by point:

1. Place Oleander outside the living room;
2. Visually highlight the most elongated last year's shoots;
3. Each shoot is cut to a third of its length;
4. Cutting points should be treated with charcoal;
5. Dilute the complex fertilizer with water in accordance with the instructions;
6. Fertilize the cut oleander and pour over with water.

Cuttings can be used for rooting. Such cuttings can be rooted in water and in soil. Read also the article: → "Caring for indoor plants in winter"

After the spring pruning, the oleander buds will begin to actively awaken. The active growth of young shoots will begin.

Common mistakes made by florists when growing oleander:

1. The plant is grown on the north side;
2. Water abundantly;
3. When growing seedlings, no additional lighting is used;
4. Planting is done in dense and heavy soil.

Frequently asked Questions

Question # 1. When does an oleander bloom for the first time?

Answer: Oleander seedlings bloom the next year from the moment of planting. When propagated by cuttings and layering, oleander blooms in the summer of the current year.

Question No. 2. Why did the oleander, which bloomed pink every year, began to bloom white?

Answer: This is possible with insufficient lighting and a lack of useful elements in the soil.

Question No. 3. A healthy oleander bush blooms profusely, but on one branch the leaves began to brighten and fall off. What is the reason for this?

Answer: Oleander leaves turn yellow with poor drainage, which means with stagnant water. In such conditions, the roots of the oleander are depleted, which manifests itself in yellowing and leaf fall.

Question number 4. Presented a rooted oleander stalk in a plastic bottle. The flower is about to bloom. Is it possible to transplant a plant into a pot?

Answer: If the oleander is ready to bloom, then it is better to refuse the transplant. Transplanting is best done before flowering - in the spring from March to early April.

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Oleander is a fabulously beautiful and fragrant flower that will decorate any windowsill or area. But at the same time, it is also a poisonous plant that requires taking precautions.

You can't stay under a blooming oleander for a long time - the scent of its flowers can cause migraines. Indoor oleanders need to be taken out to the balcony in spring.

Make sure that animals and children do not touch the plant, because oleander juice is a strong poison.Therefore, if there are small children in the house, it is better to postpone the purchase of oleander.

Planting oleander

Timing and soil selection

Planting oleander is best in late spring.

Oleander is a heat-loving plant from the southern regions, so well-lit, windless places are chosen for it. It is important that the sun shines on the area with a flower for at least eight hours.

Since this plant does not tolerate frost, it is planted in flowerpots, and in the summer it is taken out to the country or exhibited on the balcony. In the event that the oleander lives in an apartment in the summer, the room with the flower must be regularly ventilated.

Oleander bush or cuttings are planted in late spring, as well as in late August and early September. The optimal time for transplanting oleander is the month of May, in extreme cases, the beginning of June. If the roots of the plant are entangled in the soil, this is a signal for a transplant.

Young seedlings are transplanted every year, in adult plants, the transplant is carried out every 2-3 years. For very large bushes, it is sufficient to replace the top soil layer.

Oleander takes root especially well on dense, loamy soils with a neutral reaction. You can plant the plant in potting soil. For this purpose, turf is taken, where humus and peat are added - all in equal quantities. You can also put some sand there. The pot where the bush will grow must be well drained to drain excess moisture.

Features of planting and transplanting

Before planting, a hole is made in the ground, equal in depth to the root coma, but 2-3 times wider in width. The plant is not buried too deeply. Otherwise, you can bury the base of the supporting stem and moisture will damage it. Gently spread the roots and sprinkle with earth. Drizzle.

To make the oleander bloom better, when transplanting its old roots are pruned, and the lump of earth is slightly reduced. Sprinkle the root cuts with crushed charcoal.

Oleander juice is very poisonous. All work with it (trimming, transplanting) should be carried out in trousers, long-sleeved clothing and protective gloves. Cuttings cannot be burned, the smoke is also toxic.

Reproduction

Most often, oleander is propagated by cuttings and air layers. In some cases, seeds.

Cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut in spring or autumn, the cut is sprinkled with crushed coal and allowed to dry. Then the cuttings are rooted in perlite or in a mixture of charcoal and sand. To protect the cuttings from decay, fine charcoal is placed at their root collar or clean sand is poured.

It should be remembered that waterlogging of the substrate will damage the cuttings. The room temperature is maintained at 18-20 ° C, lighting should be sufficient. You can also root the cuttings in a container with water, where you also need to throw charcoal. In good conditions, the roots will appear after 3-4 weeks, after which the cuttings are transferred to the soil.

For more information about the maintenance, care and reproduction of oleander, see the video:

Air layering is done in this way: the bark is removed from the branch in a circular (but not completely) way. The bark is several millimeters thick. Then the place of the cut is dropped into wet sand or placed in a narrow container with water. When roots appear, the cuttings are disconnected from the adult plant and transplanted into the soil.

Oleander seeds are planted immediately after ripening, as their germination rate drops rapidly. The seeds do not sprout at the same time. Before planting in the soil, the seeds are soaked for 30-40 minutes in a solution of manganese or a systemic fungicide. Then they put it in warm water with a growth stimulator for several hours. For planting seeds, a moist substrate is prepared from charcoal, sand and vermiculite. The seeds are not deepened into the ground, but simply sprinkled on top.

The container with the substrate is kept at a temperature of 32-35 ° C. If the temperature threshold is lowered, the seeds can rot. Seedlings appear in a week and a half. Seed sprouts are illuminated with a fluorescent lamp, the room is ventilated and maintained at moderate humidity. When the second pair of leaves appears, the seedlings dive into separate pots.

Learn about planting and caring for blue spruce here.

Care

Watering

In spring and summer, as soon as the topsoil in the oleander flowerpot becomes dry, it is watered abundantly. In a very hot period, water can be poured into the sump, and on cloudy and cool days, drain. Instead of water, you can put wet pebbles or expanded clay into the pan. Only warm water is used for irrigation. If the plant is indoors, the water temperature should be 2-3 degrees higher than the room temperature.

Top dressing

Fertilizer "Rainbow" is perfect for feeding oleander

During increased growth (April-August), fertilizers for indoor plants are used to feed the plant. Fertilizers such as: "Rainbow», «Ideal», «Giant».

You can fertilize with oleander and diluted mullein. Top dressing is carried out every 14 days on cool or cloudy days. For half an hour before feeding, the plant should be watered.

Oleander mulching is carried out in spring and autumn. This allows you to protect the root system of the plant, retain enough moisture, and also avoid hypothermia of the roots. It is best to use cut grass or sawdust as mulch, cover with a layer of 5 cm.

Pruning

Flowers are cut off as they die, and after the flowering period, the ends of the stems are cut off. This stimulates branching. You should not prune in late autumn, so that the plant does not become exhausted before the frosts.

Intensive pruning is done in the spring. In this period:

• remove old, intertwined and overgrown wood;
• remove the lower processes of the plant to increase its flowering;
• cut off unnecessary shoots just above the nodes on the stems.

Pruning more than 1/3 of the oleander can weaken the plant greatly, so it's important not to overdo it.

Winter oleander care

In winter, the oleander needs to provide maximum illumination by using fluorescent lamps. They are placed above the plant at a level of 60-70 cm, the duration of illumination is 6-8 hours.

The wintering place for oleander should be cool (8 ° C), and provided with an influx of fresh air, but without drafts. From about the second half of March, it is desirable to maintain the temperature at 15 ° C.

Disease and pest control

The main pests of oleander are scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids.

To get rid of the scale insects, the leaves of the plant are wiped with a sponge dipped in a solution of laundry soap. Then a 0.15% solution of actellik is made (1-2 ml per 1 liter of water) and the plant is sprayed.

To combat mealybugs and spider mites, the leaves are treated with soapy water. Then arrange a warm shower for the plant with a water temperature of about 50 ° C. After that, spray with a solution of any insecticide. Spraying is carried out regularly. In severe cases, 0.15% actellic is used.

If there is not enough light for the oleander in summer, it will not bloom. It is necessary to rearrange it in a favorable place. Lack of lighting in the cool season can provoke a leaf drop in the plant.

Due to the dry air in winter, the tips of oleander leaves can dry out. To prevent this, the plant is regularly sprayed with warm water. If the flowering of an adult oleander is scarce, the cause should be sought in insufficient watering, lighting and nutrition. Oleander blooms poorly even if it is not pruned.

You can read about the care and shelter of hydrangeas for the winter here.

If you are interested in planting, caring for and using variegated deren in garden design, follow the link

Also read our article on planting a thuja.

Varieties

The color of the oleander flowers, as well as the size of the bushes, depend on the variety. The most popular varieties:

• Splendens Giganteum;
• Soleil Levant;
• Petite Salmon;
• Papa Gambetta;
• Mont Blanc;
• Madame Leon Blum;
• Hardyred;
• Emilie Salut;
• Cardinal.

Check out the photos showing these varieties of oleander:

Oleander in landscape design

Oleander is an amazingly beautiful plant. It can be placed on the site as an independent ornamental plant or for arranging flower arrangements in the garden. At the discretion of the owners of the site, you can purchase both tall oleander varieties (up to 4 m high) and dwarf (up to 1.5 m high).

Although oleander is a poisonous plant, and requires special precautions in handling, it is gaining an increasing number of fans.This beautiful, unusual and very fragrant plant is now not a curiosity in the courtyards of houses, on window sills and in summer cottages.

Jul 10, 2015Elena Tymoshchuk

The alluring exotic name evokes memories of Mediterranean relaxation, hot sun and salty air. Oleander is mentioned by ancient poets, he is depicted in paintings, sung in folk songs. And the indigenous people cannot imagine the environment without the bright lush thickets of oleander. In Russia, the plant is grown as an indoor flower that loves warmth and sunlight.

Description of oleander

Botanical classification assigns the plant to the kutrovy family (Arosupaseae). It grows up to half a meter with an erect branching stem of a brownish color with lenticular growths. The leaves are bright green saturated color lanceolate with a pointed end. Plates are smooth, flat, with short planting petioles, separated in the middle by a light green radial line.

The shape and size of flowers depends on the variety, there are small, large, double, smooth. All are united by the shape of the inflorescence - a shield with five-leafed flowers. The flower is distinguished by the presence of a pleasant aroma, the intensity of which can vary from the conditions of detention, varietal variety. Red, white, yellow, pink oleanders are more common, but the color can change intensity, combine several shades on one bush.

In nature and in favorable conditions, the plant reaches 3-4 meters. For indoor cultivation, the maximum recorded height is 1.5 meters. Oleander is a liana creeping plant, so at home it easily wraps around erect supports with its stem.

How to grow oleander at home

Oleander photo home care We propagate oleander by cuttings

Like all southern plants, oleander loves bright sun, an abundance of light and warmth, loose sandy loam soil. He is grateful for feeding, watering on demand, loves water procedures.

Seat selection

It is best to set aside a room with a bright sun for permanent residence, preferably on the south side, but the eastern part is also suitable. The sun's rays should illuminate the oleander throughout the day, provide additional sources of daylight in winter. Small species are placed on stands or low shelves, the grown bushes are moved to the floor.

Temperature regime

The plant is not demanding for high temperatures, for optimal growth, abundant flowering, 22-25 degrees in summer and 10-15 degrees in winter are enough. The temperature is reduced gradually, decreasing by one degree every day. If the apartment is hot, it is recommended to ventilate the room more often. Better not to plant next to heat-loving plants. Oleander easily tolerates sub-zero temperatures, but not for a long time. Wintering outside is detrimental to the plant.

Lighting

On the south side, the sun floods the room from morning to evening. Oleander is not afraid of direct sunlight, easily tolerates the summer heat, therefore, on a hot day, it is taken out to a closed balcony or loggia. In winter, the sunshine of the northern regions is not enough, so artificial daylight will be organized to replace solar energy.

Watering and irrigation

The plant does not need abundant watering, but in the heat with the scorching sun, it is imperative to leave water in the pan. It is better to maintain water balance through root nutrition, when the soil is not moistened from above, and all moisture comes from the pan of the planter. The soil should not dry out, therefore, at the first sign of lack of water on the surface of the earth, it is necessary to shed the plant. In winter, water treatments are reduced to give the flower a rest before the upcoming abundant flowering. The main threat of waterlogging is root suppuration, which leads to the death of the flower.

Gratefully responds to water treatments under the shower and a spray bottle. In the absence of a humidifier with heating on, oleander should be sprayed and wiped every 2-3 days.In the sultry summer, place the flower for a short time in a bath of cold water, pouring cool water on top.

Top dressing

Loosening the soil for air exchange allows the roots to breathe, but over time, the soil depletes its energy capabilities, the plant begins to wither, and flowering becomes scarce. Experienced florists advise changing the soil after 2-3 years, and during the growing season and swelling of buds, use special or universal mineral and organic complexes. Before buying, pay attention to the purpose: indoor, abundant flowering, bush, warm and light-loving.

Oleander transplant

• The young plant is transplanted every year, increasing the capacity according to the size of the flower.
• You cannot immediately take a large pot: the large size of the bowl will not allow the green mass to form, there will only be root growth.
• A small capacity does not allow roots to grow, changing the appearance of the plant: the lower leaves fall off, growth slows down.
• After 3-4 years, the bush is considered fully ripe, the soil in the pots of such a plant is changed every 4 years.
• To do this, pour a lump of earth into a new container of suitable size, having previously drained the soil well with sand and pebbles. This procedure avoids soil caking, better aeration, and soil mineralization.

Pruning oleander at home

To form a tree-like sturdy stem, pruning of basal shoots is used. Otherwise, the plant grows, forming a shrub, as in nature. To create the desired shape, use garden shears or pruning shears. The procedure is carried out by wearing gloves, a mask and glasses so that the poisonous juice does not get on the skin and mucous membranes. Due to its aggressive internal content, the plant is not grown in children's rooms, institutions and organizations with children.

After flowering, you can form the desired shape of the bush by removing excess branches and shortening the remaining ones in height, which is not often used: natural natural forms are in priority. Faded inflorescences are not immediately removed, because they can bloom again.

Reproduction of oleander

Low prevalence on the continent, low germination of seeds, picky about growing conditions made the seed method of growing uncommon. Reproduction by cuttings or aerial shoots is more often used. You can buy these in a greenhouse or nursery, seeds are purchased in a specialized garden store.

Oleander from seeds at home

Oleander from seed photos of seedlings

A pack usually contains 3-5 seeds, treated with a special solution that prolongs germination. According to statistics, no more than 75% of the seeds germinate, so you can buy several packages at once to surely get the result.

Before sowing, the seed is treated with a fungicide, soaked in a growth stimulator for an hour. Then they are placed on the surface of the soil of the seedling box, it can be small in size, 10/15 / 2.5 cm.

• For germination, the seeds need a temperature above 30 degrees, therefore they cover the box with thermal film, place it in a warm place, preferably with heating.
• After the first shoots appear, the film is removed, watering is reduced to optimal moisture without water stagnation.
• When 2-3 true leaves appear, the bushes are transplanted into pots one by one, the size of the pot should not exceed 10 cm in diameter.

How to propagate oleander by cuttings

Propagation of oleander by cuttings at home How to cut an oleander photo

An adult plant in autumn and spring gives off shoots from the root, which, when planted in a new place, will grow into a healthy adult bush, otherwise they are cut off.

• Shoots 15 cm long are cut, placed in prepared soil, and after a month new roots can be observed.
• The place of the cut in an adult plant is treated with ash or a special solution for houseplants purchased from a garden store.
• Oleander cuttings take root well in plain water. When the roots grow back, a new bush is planted in a pot. No complications!

Propagation of oleander by air layers

Reproduction of oleander by air layers photo

The method is a little more troublesome than the previous two methods, but it allows you to quickly prepare the plant for transplanting and speed up the appearance of buds.

• On the layering, roots are germinated before planting.
• To do this, cut the bark, wrap it with a bag, forming a bag where sand is placed.

How to breed oleander photo

• A lump of sand at the base of the layer is constantly moistened.
• After the roots appear, the prepared branch is cut off from the mother plant and planted in a new pot.

This method of breeding oleander is convenient in that a strong viable seedling is obtained without much investment of time, almost without your participation.

Care problems

Sometimes oleander leaves dry out or fall off, change color or slow down growth. You can identify a lack of care by appearance.

• The leaves dry at the tips - there is not enough moisture, you need to shed the bush to moderate moisture, and maintain a constant water level in the pan.
• Lower leaves fall - not enough light, it is necessary to organize an additional artificial source of daylight.
• Poor flowering - no favorable conditions: little light, heat, water.

Useful qualities of oleander Is it possible to keep oleander at home

The flower is used not only to decorate a garden, room or park, but also as a component of decoctions to maintain immunity, cleanse the liver. For this, dry leaves and flowers are used. The saturated color of the petals is used as a dye for dyeing fabrics, drinks, dry mixtures.

Dangerous plant vapors can harm a person, therefore, the flower is not planted in small apartments and rooms where there is a large crowd of people. An excellent option for him will be the living room, the foyer of the organization with southern windows, where the presence of people is short-lived and not numerous.

Can oleander be planted outside?

Oleander may well become a garden decoration if the climate is mild and frosts do not exceed -11 ° C. In autumn, the plant is pinched, young shoots are cut off so that the wood matures and can survive the winter. Before wintering, the bush is bent to the ground and covered. So that the branches are not injured, the plant is planted slightly at an angle, preferably in a trench. So with minimal damage it will be possible to bend the branches to the ground and raise them in the spring.

Indoor oleander can also be planted in the garden for the summer so that the plant gains strength, drove out more branches, and in the fall it can be transplanted into a spacious tub and installed in the room. You just need to remember that in winter the oleander needs peace, and therefore low temperatures and coolness are desirable. It is better to keep it in the coolest room or on the loggia, and if the temperature drops below 2 ° C, bring it into the apartment.

Oleander varieties with photos and names

Cultivated and bred cultivars of common oleander, its other names are "Indian oleander", "fragrant oleander". The wild-growing species has small flowers, more often spine-petal red or pink. Cultivated varieties are distinguished by the variety of colors and the size of the inflorescences.

Common oleander is the only species of its kind nerium oleander

Oleander ordinary photo of the variety Nerium oleander 'soleil levant' pink flowers

Soleil Levant with pink monochromatic open flowers, the branch of inflorescences has more than 40 corollas;

How to care for oleander at home In the photo, the variety Petite Salmon Oleander

Petit salmon - a plant of pastel color with a bright yellow center;

What does an oleander look like? Oleander 'Variegata' in the photo

Variegata one of the specific species, its needle-like inflorescences fall to the ground with a waterfall from a height of one and a half meters, the bouquet reaches 1 m in diameter;

Oleander flower photo and description In the photo, the variety Hardy Red Nerium Oleander

Hardy red - a bouquet of bright scarlet flowers is framed with green leaves with drops of silvery color, the petals are velvety to the touch;

Oleander photo indoor variety Nerium oleander Cardinal Red

Cardinal deep burgundy color with smooth petals;

EmilieSalut inflorescences of salmon color, lush, long flowering.

The fragrant oleander is characterized by a single-flowered flowering, double inflorescences, large. The height of the plant is just over half a meter, the thicket varies from 30 to 55 cm. Distributed on the slopes of the Asian mountains, where the sun illuminates most of the day.

Indian oleander, brought from the coast of the Indian Ocean, grows up to 4 meters. Its five-petal flowers are red, yellow, turquoise, pink. Attracts insects with a sweetish aroma that surrounds the plant from early June to mid-autumn.
It is worth choosing a variety and type for permanent cultivation based on taste preferences, environmental conditions.