A little story about the oleander The oleander (Nerium oleander) is the only plant species of the genus Nerium. The Mediterranean plant originally comes from arid regions in Morocco and southern Spain. It was already a popular plant in ancient times. About 500 years ago, the oleander finally came to Germany and was initially only cultivated in the orangeries of the nobility and rich citizens. The appearance of the oleander In nature and with good oleander care at home, the plant can reach a height of two to four meters. In addition to the flower, the elongated, fleshy, leathery, dark green leaves on the oleander are also characteristic, and they can grow up to 20 centimeters long. The flowers are at the tips of the shoots. Originally these bloom in pink and white. However, through breeding, the oleander has acquired a wide range of colors, which includes over 400 varieties. Image source: eynel Cebeci, Nerium oleander - Zakkum 02, CC BY-SA 4.0 The right oleander care: location, fertilizing, cutting etc. Proper oleander care should be skillful. With these helpful tips we are at your side with words and deeds: Oleander location: Lots of sun! Since it is used to warm and sunny temperatures from the mild regions of the Mediterranean, you should therefore place it in a location with these characteristics. You can remember a simple rule: The more sun there is at the location of your oleander, the more flowers it will form. Overwintering oleanders: find suitable winter quarters Since the oleander does not tolerate low temperatures (down to minus five degrees Celsius), an unheated greenhouse is ideal for wintering outside. In the cold season, you should move the oleander to its winter quarters and care for it there until April. Since the substrate should not dry out even in winter, you have to water the plant occasionally. In the dark, the oleander sheds a lot of leaves, but don't worry, they will grow back in the spring. Tip: If your cellar has very dry air, always check the plant regularly for scale insects. The oleander is very susceptible to these pests. Oleander soil: it can be calcareous The humus content of the soil should not be very high but rather medium to low. Loamy, calcareous and structurally stable properties are well suited for proper oleander care. Simply mix ordinary pot plant soil with clay in a ratio of 1:5 and also enrich it with a bit of garden lime. Water oleanders: Plenty of water for your plant Although the oleander does not tolerate rain very well, it needs a lot of water, especially in summer. In contrast to other plants, you can leave the excess irrigation water that collects in the saucer there, as the plant needs a lot of water on hot days. On particularly dry days, you may even have to water up to two or three times a day to quench the oleander's thirst. Tip: If the oleander gets yellow leaves, the root ball is probably dry. This happens when the potting soil dries out completely between waterings. Make sure the earth never dries out completely. Image source: Evaldo Heber, Nerium oleander (Oleandro), size by botanicly, CC BY-SA 3.0 Fertilize oleanders: regularity promotes flowering If you want your oleander to flower vigorously, you should fertilize it regularly during the main growth phase between spring and September. You should preferably use organic fertilizer or normal flower fertilizer, once or twice a week. Then nothing stands in the way of flowering. Pruning the oleander If you see dried flowers, you can easily pluck them off carefully to make room for new flowers. The right time to cut back is after the first flowering. Regular pruning is definitely recommended for the formation of new petals. In doing so, laterally growing branches inside the bush should be removed. If you discover shoots close to the ground, cut them back as well, otherwise they will grow beyond the pot and hang down. Tip: Always use gloves and clean the tools well, as the oleander is a poisonous plant. Repot oleanders: preferably every year It is recommended to repot young plants every year, as they grow very quickly. The new pot should be about five centimeters larger than the previous one. It is best to first fill the container with conventional potting soil and clay and then add a little lime. This guarantees healthy plant growth. Is the oleander poisonous? Yes, as beautiful as the oleander looks, unfortunately all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals. Image source: Alexxx Malev from Taganrog, Russia, Flower 108 (9669990697), CC BY-SA 2.0 Discover our plant shop.
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