The oleander plant (Nerium) is a shrub from the Kutrov family. Its homeland is considered to be the Mediterranean tropics, as well as Morocco. Oleander is related to gigantic tropical trees, as well as parasitic vines. In the natural environment, the bushes of this plant can also reach very large (up to 5 m in height) sizes.
The evergreen bush has only one species - the common oleander, known as Nerium oleander. This plant is often used for landscaping in warm seaside regions where there are no harsh winters. In more northern latitudes, oleander can only be grown in a greenhouse or at home. Due to the impressive size of the bush, which can exceed 2 m, its growth will have to be restrained by periodic pruning. The annual growth of the green mass of oleander is about 30 cm per year. With constant formation, you can maintain its size at the level of 50 cm or higher.
With proper care, a home copy can live for more than 15 years. The flowering of the bush lasts from mid-summer to October. During this period, beautiful bright flowers of various colors are formed on it, collected in corymbose inflorescences. To choose a certain variety from the modern selection variety should be based on the location of the future location of the bush. Along with the universal varieties, there are varieties specifically designed for home or garden cultivation.
Features of oleander
A pot with an oleander bush should not be kept in a home with children or pets. All parts of this plant contain strong poison. Due to the high toxicity, all work with the flower, including the simple transfer of the pot, should preferably be carried out with gloves, and then wash your hands thoroughly. In addition, you should not put a bush in the bedroom - the sweet smell of the flowers of this plant can sometimes cause a headache. At the same time, different varieties of oleander can have a smell of varying intensity - from light and pleasant to strong and rich. That is why varieties with a more subtle and unobtrusive aroma should be selected for the home.
The main reason for growing oleander is the high decorative effect of the bush. The appearance of the flowering plant helps to overcome the autumn depression caused by lack of sun. Bright flowering shrubs are also used by landscape designers. Besides being attractive, oleander is able to purify the air by releasing phytoncides. Its essential oils are even used in perfumery.
Brief rules for growing oleander
The table shows brief rules for caring for oleander at home.
| Lighting level | Bright light is preferred, but on the south side, the bush is slightly shaded. |
| Content temperature | The temperature in winter can be cool (from 5 degrees), but the plant should not be kept near the batteries. In summer, oleander is kept at 18-28 degrees. |
| Watering mode | In summer, the soil should not dry out; in winter, you can slightly dry the soil between waterings. One irrigation per decade will be enough. To do this, use warm and soft water. |
| Air humidity | The humidity level should be above average. If the room keeps above 20 degrees, it is necessary to humidify the air next to the flower more often, using sprayers or a tray with wet pebbles. |
| The soil | The optimal soil is a mixture of peat, turf, humus and sand in equal proportions. If necessary, use any nutrient soil with a good level of drainage. |
| Top dressing | From late spring to early autumn, liquid complex formulations are introduced twice a month, reducing their dosage by half. |
| Transfer | Young plants - as they develop, adults - every 3 years. The pot must be large enough. |
| Pruning | With the help of pruning, they regulate the size of the bush, as well as the formation of the crown. |
| Bloom | Flowering begins from mid-summer to late September. |
| Dormant period | The dormant period begins after flowering - from mid-autumn to early spring. |
| Reproduction | Seeds. Also, in spring or in August, you can cut apical cuttings from a bush. |
| Pests | Spider mites, scale insects, aphids and scale insects. |
| Diseases | Errors in care lead to the weakening of the plant, as well as the development of diseases. |
When growing oleander at home, you should be prepared for the regular formation of its crown. At the end of summer or at the end of flowering, the branches of the bush are cut in half, and the side stems are cut by about 10 cm. All work with oleander is carried out only with gloves.
The bush is very fond of the influx of fresh air, so the room with it needs to be regularly ventilated, or the plant should be taken out onto the street or balcony, choosing a place for it, sheltered from drafts.
Oleander home care
Providing oleander with proper home care can be challenging. A tropical handsome man is quite demanding and requires a lot of knowledge and patience from the owner. The health and pace of development of oleander largely depend on compliance with its requirements for lighting, moisture and temperature.
Lighting
The abundance of the future flowering of oleander largely depends on the level of illumination. Lack of light will lead to a lack of buds, and sometimes to shedding of foliage.
Houses for the bush choose a brightly lit place - this should be the case both in summer and in winter. Adult plants should preferably be placed on the east or south side with light shade in the afternoon. At the same time, such large plants often do not fit on the windowsill, so you have to choose other places for them. Northern rooms will require additional lighting. In the summer, you can take the oleander pot outside or on the balcony, choosing a place sheltered from the wind for it.
If the oleander was bought recently, you should not put it on a brightly lit windowsill immediately after purchase. Such a plant is gradually accustomed to a new lighting regime.
Temperature
Oleander belongs to heat-loving plants, but reacts sharply to temperature changes in the room, shedding part of the foliage. In winter, it can be kept cool, but it should not be colder than 5 degrees in the room. In summer, the flower will feel good both in moderately warm (18 degrees) and hot enough (27 degrees) weather. But in extreme heat, the plant slows down its growth rate. The main thing in its content is to avoid sudden temperature changes, as well as periodically ventilate the room even in the cold season.
Watering
Oleander is hygrophilous, but overflows can be destructive for him. In the warm season, it is watered when the upper part of the soil begins to dry out. For this, warm and well-settled water is used. The moisture requirement can be partially compensated for by increasing the moisture level. In winter and autumn, watering is carried out much less often - about once a decade. Mulching will help preserve the soil's water reserves. If the bush is kept in a cool place, no water should remain in the pan.
Humidity level
The hotter it gets in the room, the higher the humidity level should rise. To make the oleander feel more comfortable, in the heat its foliage should be regularly sprayed with warm and always soft water. The same measures are taken in winter, when the heating is turned on in the apartments. In this case, the flower should be kept away from the batteries. The rest of the time, you can moisten the oleander foliage only periodically. You can put the flower on a tray filled with damp pebbles. The leaf blades are periodically washed to remove dust.
Capacity selection
For full growth and abundant flowering, oleander needs the right pot. It is selected based on the age of the plant. Small oleanders can be planted in small containers. It is not worth using a voluminous pot right away - the bush will begin to grow roots to the detriment of the aboveground part. Pots that are too small will also not work - the roots in them will begin to deform.
The need for a transplant can be judged by looking at the drainage holes in the pot. If roots begin to appear in them, the capacity needs to be changed. The new pot should be full of plant roots and leave some room for fresh soil. In addition, an adult oleander bush weighs a lot, so the chosen pot must be able to safely support its weight and not topple over. Particularly large oleanders move into tubs over time.
The soil
For growing oleander, neutral or slightly alkaline soil (pH 7-8) is suitable. You can use both ready-made soils and mix humus, turf, peat and sand or perlite on your own.
Oleander needs nutritious soil and a good drainage layer. As soon as the soil begins to deplete and crumble, it must be renewed. In addition, periodically, the soil in the pot must be slightly loosened, breaking the resulting crust, but not touching the roots.
Top dressing
Fertilizers are needed to maintain the normal growth of the oleander, but their excess can disrupt its internal clock and shift the timing of flowering.
During the period of more active development, from the beginning of spring and all summer, the bush is fed twice a month using liquid solutions for home flowers. In this case, the dosage should be halved. Cloudy days or evenings are best suited for this procedure. At the beginning of the budding process, you can use formulations to stimulate flowering.
In winter, feeding is not carried out - at this time the plant is resting and gaining strength before the new season.
Transfer
Young, more actively growing oleanders are replanted annually. Adults - as needed, about once every 3 years. Transplanting is carried out before the beginning of budding - in spring or summer, if the roots of the plant have already completely mastered the soil lump. The oleander is carefully taken out of the pot and its roots are examined. The tangled ones must be straightened, and the affected or damaged ones must be removed and the cuts must be treated with crushed coal.
A thick drainage layer of pebbles, expanded clay or brick debris is poured onto the bottom of the planting tank. A little soil is poured over it, and then the bush itself is moved. The soil level should be at least 1.5 cm below the edge of the pot. This will make it easier to water and feed. After transplanting, the oleander bush is watered, covered with mulch and kept in the shade for several days for acclimatization. The first feeding is carried out only after 2 weeks.
When the oleander becomes too large for replanting, the topsoil is simply replaced in the pot. Sometimes the roots of these plants are trimmed a little so that they continue to fit in the pot.
Pruning
With the help of oleander pruning, they regulate the size of the bush, and also maintain the neatness of the crown. In addition, flowers are formed only on fresh shoots, so regular haircuts will contribute to the splendor of the flowering. In the spring, before the start of growth, or in the fall, at the end of flowering, the main shoots of the bush are shortened in half. At the same time, the side branches are cut off by 10 cm. The oldest, weak or growing shoots inside the bush should be removed.The young shoots formed after the shearing will later develop flowers. But the branches that form under the flower buds are usually cut - they will slow down the development of the plant.
Sometimes a bush can be turned into a kind of tree, but most often the plant is left in its free natural form. Contour haircuts are contraindicated for him, because they are bad for the abundance of flowering.
Old bushes, which have bare lower branches, can be rejuvenated. At this time, only half or a third of all the branches of the bush can be left. The plant may not bloom next year, but then it will look neater.
It is necessary to cut the oleander annually. This contributes to its growth and full flowering. But if the pruning is not done in a timely manner, you can not wait for flowering. The shoots remaining from the shearing can be used as cuttings.
Withered flowers should not be removed completely from the bush - only their petals should be removed. New buds may appear on the inflorescences later, and pruning or pinching can prevent this.
Bloom
The oleander bloom is very impressive. From mid-summer to the end of September, elegant inflorescences-brushes or shields are formed at the ends of its shoots. Their bright color is emphasized by the muted green foliage. Oleander flowers are quite large. Their color palette includes white, pink, yellow, pale lilac or red. The structure can be simple (only 5 petals), but there are also terry varieties. The buds look like roses. Due to the fact that the inflorescences do not open at the same time, the flowering period becomes longer. After flowering, fruit-boxes appear in their place.
Correct pruning contributes to the splendor of the oleander flowering. The number of buds also depends on the summer light.
Dormant period
Oleander begins to rest as soon as it blooms - from mid-autumn to early spring. The bush should be provided with a cooler place, where it keeps about +10 degrees, without depriving it of bright light. Lack of lighting can lead to falling foliage and a lack of flower buds. Watering at this time should be reduced, and feeding should be stopped. Only in such conditions will the bush be able to fully recover its strength.
If a flower hibernates in a warm room at a temperature of 15 degrees and above, it will begin to shed its leaves. Sometimes such a bush completely exposes the stems, and then blooms very poorly or does not bloom at all.
Breeding methods of oleander
For propagation of oleander, its seeds are used, as well as cuttings.
Growing from seeds
Oleander seeds quickly lose their germination, so this method of propagation should be practiced immediately after they are harvested. The resulting seed is kept in a manganese solution. It will take several hours to process. After that, they are superficially sown in moist soil. The crops are covered with foil with small holes. The temperature for germination is about 21 degrees. The container is periodically ventilated. Seedlings will start to appear in about 10 days. When the sprouts develop true leaves, they can be dived into individual pots.
The seed method of obtaining new plants requires more time for the development of the oleander bush, in addition, the seedling may not have maternal varietal characteristics.
Propagation by cuttings
Cutting oleander is a fairly simple process. The best time for this breeding method is spring or autumn. A shoot up to 20 cm long is separated from the bush. It must have several buds and at least 3 leaves. Sections are processed with crushed coal. The resulting cutting is planted in wet sand or perlite, where coal and brick debris have been added. Adding sand near the root collar will help prevent the seedling from rotting.
At a temperature of about 20 degrees and in the light, the cutting will form roots for about a month. You can not plant it in the substrate, but keep it in water, where fine charcoal has been added.After the seedling takes root and grows, you can transplant it into your own pot. Flowering will come in the same year.
Pests and diseases
Mistakes in the care of oleander often lead to the weakening of the plant, as well as the development of diseases and the appearance of pests. The requirements of a flower can be judged by external signs:
- Lack of flowering - lack of lighting or heat, insufficient watering or feeding, untimely or too much pruning, lack of air movement. Bush care needs to be adjusted.
- The buds remain closed - the oleander is cold, the bush needs to be moved to a warm place.
- Dropping buds - the bush is watered with too cold water or it freezes.
- Falling leaves - lack of light in the cold season, or the bush freezes. For correction, use additional lighting or move the bush to a more suitable place. If the foliage dries up at the same time, too little watering may be the reason.
- The foliage has become mottled - a sign of a fungal disease. Such diseases spread very quickly, in order to prevent the death of the plant, it must be treated with a fungicide as soon as possible, after removing the affected leaf plates.
- Yellowing of the leaves - the wrong choice of fertilizers or overflow.
- Black spots on the foliage are a sign of a fungal disease; fungicide treatment is needed.
- The foliage turns pale and shallow, the flowers do not bloom or look bad - lack of lighting, the bush needs more sun or the use of lamps.
- Drying of the tips of the leaf plates - dry air, the bush should be sprayed or other methods of moisturizing should be applied.
It is the dryness of the air that often becomes one of the reasons for the appearance of pests. In combination with overflow and lack of light, the flower can become a victim of spider mites, worms, aphids or scale insects. It is quite difficult to remove them, therefore it is easier to prevent the appearance of insects with appropriate care.
The healing properties of oleander
Although oleander is considered a poisonous plant, it can also be used for medicinal purposes. Its foliage contains valuable glycosides that can help treat several heart conditions. Infusions of the leaves are used in folk medicine as a remedy for migraines, nervous exhaustion, insomnia and heart rhythm disturbances. Oleander also helps veterinarians: funds based on it are used to treat stomach or heart diseases in animals. But self-medication is by no means worth it.
Types and varieties of oleander with photos and names
Common oleander (Nerium oleander)
At home, varieties of common oleander, also known as fragrant or Indian, are successfully grown. Its forms differ in different colors of inflorescences and their size.
Oleander pink terry
Forms a neat bush no more than a meter in height. The elongated foliage is green and resembles willow. Up to several dozen flowers can bloom on one bush at the same time. They have a double structure and a white-pink color. Flowering continues until November.
This oleander is light sensitive and requires frequent ventilation.
Oleander white
Differs in unpretentiousness and is often found in workrooms and offices. The bush can reach 2 meters in height, but easily tolerates pruning. The foliage is leathery, dark green, lighter on the seamy side. The flowers are white, they can be simple or slightly double and have a pleasant smell. Flowering lasts from early summer to October.
Oleander red
Simple flowers of this oleander can be colored in tones of red, burgundy or crimson. Sometimes in the center of the flower there is a small white speck or light streaks.
Oleander yellow
Forms yellow flowers resembling a bell. The seeds are similar to those of a chestnut, with several plants developing from one seed.
Hello. In the spring, they planted oleander in the open ground at the dacha. It took a long time, but luckily everything is fine and we are already enjoying the beautiful flowering. But now it's autumn, and soon winter. We live in Uzbekistan, in Tashkent. The dacha is not far from Tashkent. Please tell me how we can protect the plant from frost. It will not work to transplant, it is large. The height of the stems is 1.5 meters. Is it possible to insulate the roots with mulch and sawdust, as well as wrap the stems with plastic or burlap. Thank.
Victor, you can try, but there is no guarantee that the oleander will survive. In winter, oleander needs a lot of light and a temperature of at least 2 degrees. Try it, it won't get any worse.
Is there a severe frost in Tashkent? Do not be afraid to minus 10-15. I live in Baku. Sometimes, in two or three years, there are frosts, but oleanders do an excellent job. Do not be afraid of anything. Well, if you really want to be on the safe side, then cut it at a meter from the ground and wrap it up with rags or a straw mat. But only for the time of frost, after you need to open it. And it is better not to interfere with him at all.
Oleander calmly withstands frosts down to minus 10 degrees, you can try to cover it both above and below, collecting all the branches "in a heap", but if the temperature jumps up and down, moisture will appear inside, which will lead to rotting of the plant. It would be best to keep the bush in a large pots with large holes, in the summer it can be dug in half on the site, and in the winter it can be dug out and transferred to some sunny and warm enough room, where it will not be lower than minus 10 degrees. season the roots can simply be cut.
I live in Sochi and I know what I'm talking about, here they grow and bloom everywhere, and they don't care about frost up to minus ten. It is also better to prune the crown more in winter, leaving 3-6 buds on each branch, flowering with proper wintering and direct sun will be just fabulous next year. Good luck to you!
My sister says that oleander is a graveyard flower, but I really like it? What to do? Thanks
In different localities, different plants are considered cemetery flowers: somewhere marigolds, somewhere viols, and even gladioli, so it is your choice who to listen to and what to grow.
Hello. They gave me an oleander, it grew and made me happy. A friend came to visit and said that this plant is poisonous.
Can you tell me, is it really better not to keep it at home?
The plant is really poisonous. but only when ingested! You're not going to eat it, are you ?! After working with it (pruning, transplanting), just wash your hands well. And so it is absolutely safe!
sometimes children eat leaves and flowers. be careful!
all parts of it are poisonous and it often causes allergies, I threw it out, although it bloomed very beautifully .. threw it out because of allergies.
Why oleander leaves have become dry in rusty spots and are crumbling. Grows in a room. In summer it grew on the street. Transplantation suffered norms.
hello. My oleander leaves have become dry as paper, covered with rusty spots and are crumbling. Why. in the summer it grew up on the street. in the winter I dug it out and planted it in a large pot and grows at home.
It is dangerous for animals, and if the juice gets on the mucous membrane, it will burn. Do not drag it into your mouth and carefully with the living creatures, and everything will be fine)
Elena, oleanders are growing around my dacha. So very often I watch the lambs and cows passing by.They don't even look at oleanders :). Here are children, yes, these can drag anything into their mouths. Animals are much more picky about food than people.
Hello, my olindyr is growing and growing when and how to cut it?
Hello! My Aleander decided to release the buds in September. Is it possible to stop branches covered with bark that are not going to bloom, now, at the time of its preparation for flowering, and will the cropped residues let lateral stems go ???
Oleanders can bloom calmly until November. Don't bother him.
Hello. I live in Baku (Baglary shed) Oleander is very large. The bush is probably two and a half meters in diameter. Other plants are planted nearby and he somehow oppresses them. I want to do pruning, but I don’t know how to correctly and beautifully form bush. Yes, and it blooms very much and branches with peduncles are already on the ground. From the side it certainly looks very beautiful, a whole cascade of flowers, but it's hard for the plant. I really love this plant. It's from my childhood. Please tell me what to do.
Hello, I rooted the oleander in June 2015, but only pruned it after the new year. Will it bloom this year?
Are there any species of oleander that will survive the frost in winter? the flowers are beautiful, and the smell is specific, + it is really big, besides, it is a poisonous plant. I would not keep at home. But to find a variety that will survive the frosts and you can admire the flowers all summer and early autumn in front of the house.
Hello, please tell me. I planted an oliander, it grew very quickly to the top, when can I trim it?
Hi everyone! My oleanders wintered at minus 6! It was beautiful flowering and wild growth
And the word "plant" in the description of the plant is also terribly annoying, who writes it like that ??? To plant, not plant, one should know the Russian language, especially to people who write for many, and not for themselves, loved ones.
Less listen to who is saying what)))
Happiness to you
it is a poisonous flower .. all parts of it are poisonous, and it can also cause allergies, in particular, skin ..
Hi everyone. My oleander is 2 years old, gives shoots, but has never bloomed yet, tell me why
Hello, my oleander is an adult height of 1.5-2 m. From June it blooms. But soon we will start freezing. You can share and feed the blooming oleander, thank you.