Oleander

Family. Apocynaceae.

Where does it grow? Mediterranean.

Description. The Oleander genus consists of only 2 species of evergreen shrubs. Stems are branched, woody. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, leathery, dark green, matte, up to 25 cm long. Flowers appear in summer at the ends of the shoots, with a long flower tube, can be simple, semi-double or double, red, peach, pink or white, with a diameter of 2 up to 5 cm. Many varieties of oleander have an intoxicating aroma.

Height. The shrub can reach 6 meters in height in its natural environment; in indoor cultivation it rarely exceeds 1.80 m and is well regulated by pruning.

Care at home

Flowering time 

Flowering occurs from May to September.

Growing and pruning

An easy-to-care-for indoor plant, suitable for beginner gardeners. Annual pruning after flowering helps to form a compact, abundantly branching tree with a rounded, dense crown. Ideally, each branch that has just finished flowering should be cut by 2/3 of its length. If pruning is done in February - early March, the bush will bloom closer to autumn, but the flowering will be more abundant. There is no point in pruning in autumn - the resulting shoots will remain thin and unattractive. Remove weak and diseased shoots of the plant in a timely manner. In the spring, take the plant outside and return it back before night temperatures drop to 13 ° C.

Reproduction 

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in early summer - stem apical cuttings 8-15 cm long are rooted. The lower leaves are removed from them, the bases are washed from the secreted milky juice and immersed in moist nutritious soil to a depth of 4-5 cm. You can root the cuttings in a simple glass of water. Planting in the ground is carried out when the roots grow to 2.5 cm. Oleander is also easily propagated by air layering. Seed propagation is also possible, but this process is more likely to be done by professionals.

Soil 

A mixture of 2 parts garden soil, 1 part leaf humus, 1 part peat with the addition of coarse sand to improve drainage is suitable.

How to replant a shrub

In the spring, when the root system fills the pot and the tips of the roots peek out from the drainage holes. When the oleander becomes large and replanting becomes difficult, simply renew the top layer of soil every year. 

Diseases and pests 

Foliage falls off due to lack of moisture.

Among the harmful insects, mealybugs and aphids are common, the plant is especially often attacked by scale insects, and sometimes spider mites appear.

Containment temperature

The ideal temperature ranges from 21 to 29 °C, from spring to autumn. Oleander easily tolerates the most intense summer heat. In winter, give the bush a cool rest period, which it should spend at a temperature of about 13 - 15 °C. Some varieties tolerate short-term frosts.

Watering 

Water deeply during growth, but allow the soil surface to dry out between waterings. In September, reduce the amount of watering and keep the soil barely moist in winter.

Fertilizer 

Feed only during the growing season, 2 times a month. To begin flowering, the plant should be fed with phosphorus; with an excess of nitrogen, the oleander begins to abundantly grow green mass and does not bloom. 

Lighting

The indoor plant likes brightly lit places with light shading on summer days. Sufficient lighting promotes the appearance of a large number of flowers. Rotate the pot by 1/4 turn every week to prevent the tree from leaning towards the light source.

Spraying 

From late spring to early autumn, you can spray the leaves with water at room temperature. 

Purpose

Mature plants have quite impressive dimensions and need a lot of space for growth and development. 

Note

Oleander can live for many years if properly cared for. All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested, and the poisoning is so severe that it can be fatal. The juice can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin - use protective gloves when handling the plant. Representatives of this genus will make the air in the room cleaner.