Oleander Care

Oleander is a moisture-loving plant. However, excess water can affect it. In the summer, water your greenie only when the topsoil dries out. In winter, you can reduce the watering to once every ten days. We recommend using warm, settled water. If the air temperature is high, a slight accumulation of liquid in the pallet is acceptable. If you keep the plant in a cool place, try to prevent moisture stagnation.

You can prune Oleander to control its size and maintain the beautiful decorative crown. Flowers are formed only on fresh nodes, so we recommend shortening the main sprouts by half in spring and fall. Remove the oldest ones.

Nerium Oleander needs fertilizer to grow. Feed your green pet twice a month with liquid solutions for flowering houseplants during the period of active growth. Apply the solution medium half-strength. The best time to fertilize your Nerium is in the evening of a cloudy day. You can also use bloom-inducing mixtures. In winter, stop feeding your plant until the following season.

The abundance of future flowering depends on the level of illumination. The lack of light can result in the absence of buds and dropping foliage. Make sure your Oleander gets some morning and afternoon sun. Watch out for sunburn! It's best to put your greenie next to an east-facing window.

Use neutral or slightly alkaline soil (7-8 pH). Your green friend will thrive in ready-made soil. You can also prepare a mix of humus, turf, peat, sand, or perlite in equal proportions. As soon as the potting mix begins to deplete and clod, renew it! You should also provide your Oleander with a drainage layer.

You can germinate Oleander from seeds. Remember, they quickly lose their germination capacity, so use them in time. Alternatively, you can propagate the plant from cuttings in spring and fall. Simply plant them in wet sand or perlite, and add coal or brick fragments. Your greenie will grow roots in about a month. After propagation, transplant young plants into separate pots.

This flowering plant is very heat-loving and reacts negatively to temperature changes. If something goes wrong, it can drop some of its foliage. The best conditions for your Nerium would be 64-80°F (18-27°C). You can place Oleander in a cool, bright room for overwintering. The ideal temperature for the cold season is 41-50°F (5-10°C).

You can plant young plants in medium-sized containers. If you use a large pot, the bush will grow roots to the detriment of the top part. The pots that are too small might cause the roots to deform. So make a wise choice! Don't forget to make sure the vessel has a drainage hole.

This plant got its name because of its resemblance to Olea olive (with which it doesn't have much in common).