Native to southern EuropeCommon oleander(Nerium oleander) is decorated with large or medium-sized, variegated, fragrant flowers. The undoubted advantage of this plant is also its long flowering period - from spring to the beginning of autumn.Common oleanderis best grown on sunny balconies, terraces and porches. See what the correctpot-grown oleander care looks likeand learn how towintering common oleanderat home.
Common oleander - Nerium oleander
Common oleander - cultivation and requirements
Warm and sunnyCommon oleander growing siteguarantees proper growth and abundant flowering. This plant, which grows in pots from 0.5 to 1.5 m in height, does not like the cold or excessive density. However, it is not sensitive to air pollution. It grows excellently on sunny balconies, terraces and verandas in cities.Oleanders should be placed outside in summer. In such a case, they should be provided with a bright and sunny place, but sheltered from the wind. The most recommended position is at the southern or western wall of the building. If the plant is at home, it should be right next to the south-facing window.
The soil in the oleander potshould be fertile (mixtures of clay soil, peat and sand can be used) with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The ideal soil pH for oleander is 6.7 - 7.2.
During the growing season, oleander requires a room temperature of 18-20 ° C.In winter, the plant goes into a dormant period and then it feels best in bright rooms with a temperature of only 4-6 ° C.
Growing common oleandershould not be a major problem if we meet these requirements.
Oleander in a pot
Fig. depositphotos.com
Common oleander - care
Common oleander carerequires regular two treatments - watering and fertilizing. Trimming the oleander is also beneficial.
Common oleander - watering
Nerium oleander is very sensitive to a lack of moisture. Water scarcity very quickly leads to the appearance of wilting flowers, drooping flower buds and falling leaves. The firstsymptom of oleander dryingwill be browning and drying of the leaves in the lower parts of the plant.
Therefore, on warm dayswe water the common oleander every day , and even twice a day if necessary.The soil in the pot should always be kept moist. Watering is limited only in winter. Then it is enough to water the plant once a week or even less frequently, letting the top layer of earth dry out.
Water at room temperature should be used for watering oleander , too cold can also cause shedding. Direct rainfall is not good for the plant, so it is worth providing roofing or moving it to a dry place during rainfall.When watering the oleander, remember not to sprinkle the flowers or leaves
Common oleander - Nerium oleander
Fig. © Sylwia Hennek
Common oleander - fertilization
Common oleander requires fertilizationduring growth and flowering (from May to early September). A multi-component liquid fertilizer for flowering plants should be applied once a week. Fertilizers of this type are dissolved in water for irrigation.
When choosing an oleander fertilizer , it is worth paying attention to the high potassium content, because the deficiency of this element contributes to the drying out of the leaf edges.
Common oleander - trimming
It is also advisable totrim the oleanderonce a year. Young plants are pruned for 2-3 years in order to branch better. Older plants, on the other hand, may require rejuvenation pruning. Oleander pruning is best done at the beginning of spring, towards the end of the wintering period.
Common oleander - transplanting
Due to the lack of frost resistance, in our climateoleanders are planted only in potsYoung plants should be transplanted into larger pots every 2 or 3 years. Older plants only need to replace the top layer of the substrate and refrain from transplanting. The best time to replant oleander is in early spring, at the end of the wintering period. If we are not surewhich soil to choose for growing oleander , usually the best choice will be a ready-made palm soil bought in a store.
Common oleander - wintering
At the end of summerthe oleanders are moved to room , where they will spend their fall and winter months and early spring.Oleander wintering roomshould be bright and airy. Ideally, the air temperature should be around 5-10 ° C. Fertilization is stopped and watering is limited to let the oleander go to rest.
In spring, at the turn of March and April, watering increases again and the plants begin to grow. After hibernation is complete,must acclimatise before transferring the oleander to full sun . For this purpose, the plant should be placed in partial shade for a certain period (several days). We should also remember that we can only putoleander outside when the risk of late spring frostshas passed, i.e. from mid-May. Spring is also a good time fortransplanting oleander to a fresh substrate
Is oleander poisonous?
When deciding to grow oleander at home , remember that oleander is a poisonous houseplant. It contains a glycoside - oleandrin. Ingestion of oleander flowers, leaves, or shoots can cause severe intoxication and even death. Common oleander juice irritates the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes. Therefore, you need to be careful or not to grow oleander when there are small children at home.
Always wash your hands thoroughly after carrying out the care of the plant. Before performing procedures such as cutting oleander, when the plant's sap may leak, it is worth wearing protective gloves.
Oleander is a plant poisonous also for dogs and catsAs long as dogs they tend not to gnaw plants, and if a cat eats an oleander it can have very bad consequences. These can be changes in the rhythm of the heartbeat, damage to the digestive system, and in extreme cases even death of the quadruped. However, the likelihood of a cat accidentally eating oleander is minimal as it is extremely bitter.
MSc Eng. Katarzyna Żywot-Górecka
