Oleander

Oleander Care

Nerium Oleander

What is the plant

Nerium Oleander is a flowering perennial from the Apocynaceae family. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant all around the world.

Nerium Oleander is a large evergreen shrub with brownish branches covered with rounded lenticels. The plant has narrow leaves up to 5 inches (15 cm) long, arranged on a short petiole. They are leathery, with a light median vein. The blossoms are large, bright, and connected in inflorescences at the ends of the sprouts. Most often, they are white or pink, rarely red or yellow. The flowering time depends on the climate. It can last from early summer to mid-autumn. The fruits are multi-seeded leaflets. Nerium's seeds have feathery tufts.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

10°C - 18°C

Hardiness zone

8b - 10b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

Water
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.
Pruning
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.
Fertilizer
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.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
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.
Soil
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.
Propagation
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.

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

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Popularity
12,950 people already have this plant 2,026 people have added this plant to their wishlists

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