Oleander: Tips for growing a shrub and tree. 50 photos of an easy-to-care plant

Description

Oleander is a genus of plants of the Kutrovye family, which, however, consists of only one species - common oleander, whose name in common parlance is often shortened to just one first word. In the wild, such a shrub, which often takes the form of a small tree, grows in many subtropical regions of the Old World - from Portugal to Southeast China, including in the subtropical parts of the Black Sea coast. A favorite habitat for oleander is the river beds, which dry up in the dry season.

As befits a subtropical guest, oleander is an evergreen plant. In a tree-like form, the growth of such a shrub can reach 4 meters, in a tub it usually does not grow above two meters in height. Its stems are densely branched, their color is slightly brown. The leaves have a narrowed lanceolate shape, with a width of about 3 cm, they can grow in length by 10-15 cm.One of the main reasons for the widespread cultivation of oleander is its double flower, which has excellent decorative qualities, although terry is more characteristic of specially bred varieties, and not for a wild shrub. A wild tree usually blooms white or pink, thanks to the work of breeders there are varieties with emphasized red or even yellow flowers.

In natural conditions, where the shrub grows wild, it usually begins to bloom from June to October. The fruits of the plant are inedible and look like bolls packed with seeds.

When growing decoratively at home, be sure to pay attention to the fact that all parts of the plant are poisonous. In the most severe cases, the ingress of oleander juice into the human body can even cause cardiac arrest, therefore, such a tree is absolutely not worth growing where children or pets can get access to it

Moreover, some African varieties are even capable of emitting toxic fumes, and if there should not be any special problems when planting in a garden, then when growing in a tub in an indoor environment, people often experience headaches and dizziness.

Oleander indoor flower

Oleander nerium oleander is an evergreen perennial shrub with a magnificent appearance. He is a representative of the Kurtov family. The Latin name is "nerion", which translates as "wet". In warm regions, oleander, due to the variety of shapes and colors, has become a popular ornamental plant for landscape design.

Oleander in nature

There are three main types of oleander. At home, common oleander is more often cultivated. A beautiful flower perfectly decorates the home interior. A tall plant can reach two meters in height, taking on a tree-like shape. Indoor oleander growth should be controlled by pruning.

Oleander is credited with the mystical properties of purifying the energy of the house, getting rid of bad habits and promoting career success. The fact that the plant cleans the indoor air from harmful impurities is a proven scientific fact.

Strongly poisonous oleander, dangerous or not, no one knows for certain. It is known that the poison is found in the roots, flowers, leaves. It is advisable to wash your hands thoroughly after caring for the bush, wear gloves for pruning. These measures are sufficient for protection.

Oleander indoor

Only when eating parts of the oleander plant can symptoms of real poisoning appear. Therefore, the plant is not suitable for rooms where children and pets live.

The bush leaves are used as raw materials for the manufacture of drugs for diseases of the cardiovascular system. From the pomace of the plant, they produce creams and ointments for skin diseases.

pros

1. Exceptional decorativeness
2. Long bloom
3. Pleasant scent of flowers
4. Relative simplicity and unpretentiousness in care

Minuses

A well-formed oleander flowering bush looks amazing. But you have to pay for everything. And possessing such exceptional beauty, oleander has 2 significant disadvantages:

1. lack of winter hardiness, which makes it impossible to grow it in open ground practically throughout the entire territory of Russia,
2. the toxicity of literally all parts of the oleander, the substance causes disturbances in the digestive tract and heart.

Oleander comes from the subtropics, in Russia it is extremely unstable, it hardly survives even mild southern winters, it can withstand at least minus 5-10 ° C. With prolonged frosts of -15 ° C and freezing soil, the plant will die.

Therefore, oleander is grown in winter gardens and greenhouses, in indoor conditions, or as a tub culture, exposing it to the garden in the summer, and bringing it indoors for the winter.

Precautions

1. Do not grow oleander if you have children or pets.
2. If oleander blooms in a small room, its scent can cause headaches.
3. Blooms can cause allergies.

IMPORTANT
Oleander is a poisonous plant.
Use gloves when working!

Oleander contains potent toxins, so be careful with it. Wear gloves when transplanting and rooting. And if there are children and pets in the house, protect them from this plant.

If oleander juice gets on the mucous membrane, you should immediately wash well or rinse your mouth with clean water.

Photo: blooming oleander on the Mediterranean coast

Nursing and growing at home

If you pay close attention to the oleander and take a responsible approach to caring for it, then the plant can grow up to two meters in height.

Therefore, it is important to prepare the right place for the bush in advance. Given some of the features of this plant

Location and lighting

• Well lit place. The bush will be large and lush only if it receives a lot of light.
• If it stands near the north window, then it must be additionally illuminated with the help of fluorescent lamps.
• With a lack of light, the foliage of the plant begins to crumble.
• In the hot season, the flower should stand in a well-lit and ventilated place.
• A newly purchased flower must be accustomed to the direct rays of the sun gradually.

At home, during flowering, you can put a flower on a balcony or veranda.

Keep the plant away from children and animals, as it contains poisonous substances in all its parts. Even a small bite from it can cause serious stomach upset in a baby or animal.

Temperature

The room with the plant must be well ventilated.
Temperatures in spring and summer range from 20C to 28C.
In autumn - no more than 18C.
In winter - from 8C to 15C.
With the onset of March, it is important to gradually increase the temperature in the room where the plant is located.

Watering

Use water at room temperature, it is better if it settles for a day before that.
Spring and summer: water when the topsoil dries out.
On hot days, the water flowing into the pan is left, and on cool days it is poured out.
In autumn and winter: after the top layer of the soil mixture dries out, only after two days can watering be carried out again

But the clod of earth should not be allowed to dry out, it is important to monitor this.

Bathing and spraying

• In summer, the plant does not need additional moisture. At very high temperatures, water is poured into the pan, this is enough.
• In winter, when the room is heated, the air is hot and dry, you should additionally spray the plant with water at room temperature.

In winter, the ends of the leaves may dry out, so the flower should be sprayed constantly.

Top dressing

Fertilization of the plant is carried out in the spring-summer period every 2 weeks. This is best done in cool weather. Top dressing consists of complex fertilizers suitable for indoor plants. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are excellent, so it is better to use them alternately.

Pruning and shaping the crown

Reference. Regular pruning of the oleander is necessary, otherwise the plant may not start blooming.

• A young plant will branch well and bloom more profusely.
• By pruning, you will form a beautiful crown of the flower and will be able to adjust its height.
• It is carried out immediately after flowering.
• The branches are shortened by half or 2/3 parts.
• The cut pieces can be used as cuttings.
• Vegetative shoots growing under the buds of flowers must be removed, they slow down the growth of the plant.
• Pruning should be done with gloves, since the plant is poisonous.

What to do when bloomed?

Oleander flowers open between June and October. During this period, you also need to remember to take care of the plant.

1. Be sure to remove vegetative shoots growing under flower buds. They prevent the plant from developing and slow down its growth.
2. Those flowers and leaves that have already wilted should also be removed. Do this very carefully, try not to damage the inflorescences that new flowers can give.
3. After all the inflorescence has faded, it is completely cut off with a secateurs.
4. After flowering, the oleander must be pruned.

Dormant period

When the time approaches winter, the shrubs need special care and increased attention.

1. From November to February, the oleander needs to be as quiet as possible. It should be in a cool, bright place. Room temperature from 12C to 15C.
2. Be sure to arrange additional artificial lighting up to 10 hours a day.
3. Do not overflow the plant when watering and avoid acidification of the soil. Otherwise, the root system of the flower will rot.

Attention. If the conditions are not met, the flower may shed its leaves and not bloom next time.

Description and varieties

In common parlance, the plant is often briefly called leander or bad man, pink or scarlet laurel, scarecrow, downy. On the basis of the wild-growing common oleander, with white and pink large five-petal flowers, breeders have bred many decorative varieties: double, red, yellow or variegated in color. The height of the bush in the wild is 3.5-4 m, at home - up to 2 m.The leaves are bright green, long, resembling needles, 10-14 cm in length with a clear, centrally outlined vein, small petioles, brown stems shade, and the bark of skeletal stems is light gray.

Attention! In some photos, the oleander looks more like ivy, because spreads on the ground

The shrub behaves this way with a lack of moisture in order to protect its own root system.

When grown outdoors, flowering can be seen from June to September. Petals fly around 1-2 weeks before the onset of cold weather. Indoors, if you create optimal conditions, the buds are formed at any time of the year. An ordinary oleander is unpretentious: in order for it to develop, it is enough to normalize the schedule of feeding and watering, and increase the daylight hours. Artificially bred varieties are much more capricious.

Types of indoor oleander

It is easiest for beginner growers to cope with care when growing an ornamental plant with flowers of light pink color, adapted to home conditions. Suitable varieties:

• Kiwi - most of all resembles a wild-growing shrub;
• Double Peach - blooms with coral-colored terry inflorescences;
• Martha Hannah Hensley - petals of the original color, with dark veins, the edge is wavy.

White varieties take root well, differing only in the shape of the cup.Five-petalled Hardy White and sisters Agnes, the latter have denticles along the edges of the petals. Terry Album Plenum with a bright yellow center is more demanding for watering. This color is not typical for tropical shrubs.

Orange-peach Sherry Allen Turner and Angelo Pucci have a contrasting core. But in the terry Mrs. Roading of the same color scheme, lush flowers do not have such a zest. The saffron-yellow species are most rarely grown, typical representatives: Maria Gambetta, Matilda Ferrier, Luteum Plenum.

Often, botanical gardens publish photos of trees with bright red lush tassels, the flowers on which resemble small roses. Under conditions close to natural, oleander often forms a common trunk and skeletal branches. But in apartments, varieties with bright flowers do not stretch higher than 1 m. The most decorative of them is Rubis, more modest, with five wide-standing petals - Sherry Ripe and Blue Blank Red Dee.

For those interested in rare species, variegated are the best options. For example, Scarlett - bright crimson petals and a white center, or the star of Persia - a golden core and variegated, multicolored, red-pink-yellow edges. But fragrant oleander is not grown at home because of the thick rich intoxicating smell. When you want to decorate a spacious room, choose the Indian variety, the height of the trunk of which reaches 4 m.

Propagation of indoor plants by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings (vegetative method) is the most popular among flower growers. A stalk is a part of a plant that is specially cut off. She has the ability to root and grow. In floriculture, several different types of cuttings are distinguished, namely: stem, leaf, apical, and also middle.

Propagation by apical cuttings

This method is used for all ampelous plants, as well as for touch-me-not and balsam.

To obtain this kind of cutting, cut off the part of the non-lignified stem, which is located at the top. On such a cutting, there must be developed leaves in the amount of 2 to 4 pieces. You need to step back a centimeter below the knot and make a cut. It is on this node that the roots appear first. To make rooting faster, it is recommended to treat the cut with growth stimulating agents (phytohormones).

For rooting, the cuttings are planted in a soil mixture for young plants, and then watered. To keep the humidity high, cover the container with plastic wrap.

19. Reproduction of plants by apical cuttings.

Propagation by stem cuttings

Ficus, geraniums, all succulent plants, as well as cacti can be propagated by stem cuttings.

This type of stalk can only be cut from a healthy plant, and the cut must be made slightly below the node. Such a stalk should consist of 3 or 4 nodes and there should be leaves on it

Pay attention to the cut, it must be fresh and even. There should be no flowers or buds on the handle

If desired, the leaves from the bottom can be torn off. Rooting is carried out in moist soil, which contains a lot of sand, or a soil mixture for young plants is used for this. After the roots appear (after about 3-4 weeks), the plants are transplanted into an ordinary soil mixture. Most cuttings are rooted simply by dipping them in a glass of water.

If you propagate succulent plants or cacti in this way, then the cutting must be left for several days in the open air for drying before planting for rooting. At the same time, the place of the cut should become tightened, and the edges of it should be bent inward. This will avoid the appearance of stem rot. After planting, the soil is slightly moistened with a sprayer (do not watered).

Cuttings of geraniums, as well as succulent plants, are not covered with a film during rooting.All other plants need high humidity at this time, so they need to be covered with foil.

As a rule, it is recommended to place the cuttings in a well-lit and warm enough place. It should be borne in mind that they must be protected from direct sunlight.

As a rule, such cuttings are propagated in spring and summer, when the plant is growing intensively. But there are plants that are best propagated in this way in the last summer days, for example, geranium, fuchsia.

The middle stalk is considered part of the stem. Cut it off from the middle or bottom of the shoot. As a rule, such cuttings are used for propagation of Tradescantia.

Propagation by leaf cuttings

Bushy begonia, gloxinia, uzambara violet (Saintpaulia), peperomia can be propagated by leaf cuttings.

Propagation of Saintpaulia is carried out with whole leaf plates with cuttings. A strong healthy leaf with a handle of a decent length should be cut off from the plant, then it is planted in a special soil mixture. When daughter plants are formed on the leaf plate, they will need to be separated and planted separately.

Succulent plants propagate directly with leaf plates. So, for the reproduction of streptocarpus, sansevieria and gloxinia, part of the leaf is used. It is necessary to plant a leaf in the soil in such a way that only a small part of the leaf rises above the soil surface. In the case when the particles of the leaf plate are too small, they are laid out on the surface and slightly pressed into the substrate.

Propagation of gloxinia by leaf cuttings or leaf fragments

How to properly prune oleander bushes

Oleander is a perennial ornamental plant. Subject to all the rules of care, when there is no shortage of anything, the shrub actively grows, blooms and develops.

For this reason, the plant (usually in the fall or winter) needs to be pruned. The bushes endure this procedure without problems, and new buds with the arrival of spring more than compensate for the damage caused to the crown. Moreover, thanks to such manipulations with scissors, the shape of the bush will be even more beautiful.

In the spring, the bushes are not "trimmed" (perhaps only infected shoots), since the buds of future flowers have already been formed by this time and are just waiting in the wings to bloom.

Diseases and pests

Some of the most common oleander pests include:

• Shield. To destroy it, you should use a special insecticide.
• Aphid. To save the plant from this unpleasant insect, it is enough to wipe the leaves with a solution of ordinary laundry soap. Tar soap, which is often found in many homes, is also suitable.
• Spider mite. To get rid of it (if the situation is not started) is quite simple: you should wipe the affected areas with a cotton pad dipped in alcohol, and then with clean water.

Sometimes, growths may appear on the leaves that resemble cauliflower in appearance. These are signs of oleander cancer, the affected areas should be removed immediately. If the disease has spread, the plant should be destroyed, keeping it close to others means spreading the infection throughout the house.

In insufficient light, the leaves of the plant may turn yellow. What reasons can cause the lack of flowering? There are several of them:

• insufficient lighting in the house;
• poor organization of watering;
• not performed trimming and pinching;
• lack or inadequacy of feeding;
• very large pot.

Origin and appearance

The homeland of the evergreen shrub is considered the entire strip of the subtropical climate from Portugal to China. As an ornamental shrub, oleander is very popular in Mediterranean countries, Algeria and southeastern Asia. A sun-loving plant with a euphonious name and fragrant flowers fell in love with many flower growers.

Perennial oleander is widespread on the Black Sea coast.In open ground in a favorable subtropical climate, it can grow as a tree up to 4 m in height. Sometimes the bushes form whole thickets, exuding an amazing aroma.

Bloom

Oleander loves well-lit and ventilated areas. In the shade, the shrub begins to ache and even refuses to bloom.

The plant has beautiful flowers with five petals, painted in delicate white, orange, pink colors. They are arranged one at a time or collected in inflorescences and are formed throughout the summer. They are famous for their pleasant strong aroma. Flowers are simple and double. The leaves are narrow, smooth, green or variegated with a pronounced middle.

Growing at home

Among flower growers, oleander is considered an unpretentious plant, the cultivation of which is available even to a novice amateur. Caring for oleander at home comes down to a simple set of sequential actions. But in order to grow a tall, spreading, abundantly flowering bush of this beautiful plant, a number of important conditions must be met. Otherwise, the oleander will not fully reveal its decorative potential and will not show all its amazing beauty. But this plant is considered one of the most beautiful shrubs grown at home.

Required climate

The homeland of oleander is the southern subtropics, so he is very fond of the abundance of sun, heat and moisture. Prefers loose, sandy loam, neutral acidity soils. Loves periodic spraying and the presence of a constant source of moisture in the neighborhood, for example, an aquarium with fish. At the same time, it does not tolerate chronic waterlogging of the soil, preferring watering rare, but abundant and deep, rather than frequent and superficial. The basic requirements for home growing are as follows:

• Location. A large room with south-facing windows will do. Sunlight should be available to the plant throughout the day, at any time of the year.
• Optimum temperature. In the summer, 22-25 degrees, an increase to 28-30 is allowed. In winter, lowering to 2-12 degrees. The temperature is lowered gradually, one degree per day. The plant tolerates drafts well, so you can ventilate the room on hot summer days. It easily tolerates a short-term drop in temperature below zero, but it is not adapted for wintering on the street and quickly dies from hypothermia.
• Lighting. The plant is very fond of direct sunlight, does not suffer from sunburn, so in the summer it is advisable to transfer it to a loggia or balcony. In winter, when there is little natural light, additional lighting is required. In the event of a lack of sunlight, the plant begins to ache. The disease causes the plant to stop growing and shed all its leaves.
• Watering and irrigation. The best option is intra-root watering without soil moisture. In this case, the natural access of air to the roots through dry and porous soil will be maintained. For this purpose, the pot with the plant is placed on a special tray, into which water is poured in a layer of one to two centimeters. However, in order to avoid overdrying the substrate, it is necessary to water the plant abundantly through the soil surface every two weeks. On especially hot summer days, daily spraying of the plant is carried out.

Chionodoxa: planting and care in the open field

Transplanting young plants

Transplanting is best done in the spring, when the abundant growth of new shoots begins. Young plants are replanted every year, each time increasing the capacity of the flower pot. It should be remembered that too large planting capacity will provoke an abundant increase in the root mass to the detriment of the growth of the aerial part of the plant.

Four-year-old specimens are considered fully ripe and the annual transplant for such plants is stopped.Every three years, they remove the surface layer of the earth to a depth of 2-3 centimeters and replace it with a new substrate.

The soil for transplanting requires neutral acidity of the following composition:

• 40% sod land;
• 40% leaf humus;
• 20% coarse river sand.

At the bottom of the planting tank, drainage is laid in a layer of 2-3 centimeters. It is best to use pieces of charcoal or expanded clay of medium fraction as drainage.

Correct crown formation

In nature, oleander forms naturally in the form of a tall shrub with branches sticking out chaotically in all directions. At home, for an aesthetic purpose, they give it a beautiful tree-like shape, not allowing it to grow chaotically in all directions. For this purpose, in young plants, the basal lateral shoots are annually cut off, leaving only the central tree-like trunk.

In oleander, pruning and shaping is done with garden shears and pruning shears. It is imperative to observe safety precautions, work in rubber gloves, a special mask and goggles, carefully making sure that the plant sap does not get on the skin surfaces or mucous membranes.

Tips & Tricks

To succeed in growing a crop, it is important to properly care for it. To do this, you should follow the recommendations of experienced florists:

Correctly carry out planting work, observing safety precautions. In this case, it is worth using protective equipment.
In winter, the container with the plant should be kept in a cool room.

In summer, it is recommended to take it out to the veranda or garden.
After flowering, all branches should be cut in half. This will help stimulate the growth of side shoots and the emergence of new flowers.
It is recommended to replant the oleander in the spring. In the summer it is worth doing the transshipment. During the flowering period, any manipulation with the crop is prohibited.

Oleander is considered a popular crop with excellent decorative properties. Moreover, this plant has a toxic effect on the human body.

Therefore, when growing it, you should be careful.

Rules for caring for oleander at home

As mentioned, this plant is poisonous, so it should not be used to decorate rooms where children and pets are. For any contact with the plant - when transplanting, processing, feeding, forming a bush and pruning - gloves must be worn. You should not refuse them even when watering - contact of leaves with open skin can cause a burn.

You can not place flowerpots with a plant in the bedroom: during flowering, it emits a rich pleasant smell. But, if you enjoy it for a long time, intoxication will occur, accompanied by negative symptoms: nausea, dizziness and headache.

Interesting! Despite its dangerous properties, oleander is popular due to the fact that it quickly absorbs harmful substances scattered in the air, destroys pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Escaping essential oils contain a high amount of phytoncides, natural antibiotics. The most active healing effect in varieties with pink double and plain white flowers.