Oleander is a flowering plant of the Kutrovy family, growing in areas with a subtropical climate in the form of luxurious and spreading shrubs.
Nowadays, it is customary to actively use this culture in landscape design, decorating it with alleys, parks and gardens. And although in our homeland such a pleasure is provided mainly to residents of the Crimea, any citizen of Russia can enjoy the bright flowering of an oleander at home.
Yes, for some time this wonderful plant has been cultivated in such an environment. Therefore, a logical question arises: how are oleander maintained and grown at home? Is it possible to independently reproduce and reproduce it? If so, in what ways? This and much more will be discussed in our article. Illustrations and photos of the oleander flower will also be served. Home care, vegetation, appearance will also be considered.
First, let's briefly find out what this beautiful thermophilic plant is and what makes it remarkable.
Culture Description
Oleander is a rather large evergreen shrub with densely branched stems of light brown color. The leaves of the plant are narrow and lanceolate, located on short petioles. In length they reach ten, less often - fifteen centimeters, in width - no more than three centimeters.
Bright and large flowers, consisting of five petals, form beautiful and lush inflorescences at the end of each shoot.
Breeders have deduced a wide variety of shrub varieties that differ from each other in color and shape of flowers, as well as the peculiarity of their structure.
The plant is considered a poisonous crop, therefore, in the process of reproduction of the oleander at home (cuttings, layering, etc.), some precautions should be taken to prevent the juice from entering the human or animal body. For example, when in contact with the plant, it is important to use gloves.
How to carry out an effective transplant of culture?
What is cuttings
First of all, it should be noted that there are several options for the propagation of oleander: cuttings, seeds or aerial layering. In this article we will talk about the first method, since it is considered the easiest and most common.
A stalk is a specially separated part of a plant that can be used for propagation. After it is planted on a substrate, the young seedling will have roots and buds, after which it can be rooted at the planned place of growth.
How to choose the right planting material
In our case, it will be a young tender shoot or an unbroken branch from a bush. Why are such processes suitable for propagation of oleander by cuttings at home? The fact is that green elastic stems will take root sooner than their stiff counterparts.
The cuttings for vegetation should be young, but well ripened, without visible damage and disease.
So, planting material is found. What to do next?
Seedling preparation
What are the general rules for the propagation of oleander by cuttings?
First of all, the cut branch should be shortened to a length of ten to fifteen centimeters. It is important to sprinkle the trimmed edges with charcoal and give time for drying. It is necessary that the open wound heal slightly and heal.
Then it is recommended to remove the lower leaves from the planting material, and trim the upper leaves (a little more than half).
These manipulations are of great importance, because thanks to them I will take less moisture and nutrients from the leaves. Then all the useful elements will be spent on rooting the plant, and not on growth or flowering.
Can oleander be propagated by cuttings in the summer? This time of the year is not recommended for vegetation, since in a hot season it will be difficult for a plant to cope with two tasks at the same time: rooting in a new place and combating unpleasant growing conditions.
The best season for oleander propagation by cuttings is spring. Also, this procedure can be carried out in the fall.
Below are photos of oleander propagation by cuttings.
The first way to root
What to do after planting material is prepared for propagation? There are two options for planting a seedling.
The first of them is the reproduction of an oleander by cuttings in water. In accordance with this method, planting material is placed in a container with water. It is recommended that you add a few pieces of charcoal to the liquid.
A jar with a handle (it is desirable that the glass is dark) is best placed in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight. Every week, water must be changed.
The second way of rooting
What is the second way to propagate oleander by cuttings? First of all, it is the grounding of the shoot into a mixture of sand and charcoal, taken in equal amounts. It is recommended to water the substrate regularly, but it is important not to overdo it, since excess moisture will cause rotting of the planting material.
This option is not as good as the previous one, since it does not imply regular monitoring of the development of the root system.
Further actions
Within what period of time should the cuttings take root? Usually this process does not exceed four weeks.
When the root system reaches about three centimeters in height, the seedlings can be grounded in small pots, the diameter of which would not exceed seven to eight centimeters. What soil is suitable for these purposes?
Best of all, cuttings take root in such an earthen mixture:
- thirty percent of turf;
- thirty percent of peat;
- thirty percent humus;
- ten percent of the sand.
How to care for rooted shoots?
Care for young seedlings
First of all, pots with freshly planted cuttings should be hidden from direct sunlight. When the additives grow, they will need to be gradually and carefully accustomed to sunlight. Watering young plants must be done carefully so as not to waterlog the soil.
If the oleander propagation by cuttings occurred in the spring, then in the summer the seedling can bloom. In this case, the delicate buds should be cut off in order to preserve the strength of the shrub for growth and rooting.
How to care for a plant that has taken root?
Room
First of all, it is very important to choose the right place for growing oleander. It should be a spacious and bright room, since the bush has impressive dimensions: it can reach two meters in height and width!
Moreover, the place where the plant will stand must be inaccessible to children and animals. It is very important to observe this precaution, since the oleander has a dangerous toxicity - a drop of shrub juice can lead to cardiac arrest!
It is also not recommended to install the plant in the bedroom or in the immediate vicinity of the relaxation area - the fragrance from the flowers is quite toxic and can provoke a headache and bouts of vomiting.
Light and air
The fruitful care and cultivation of oleander is fraught with some secrets, which we will talk about below.
The plant is very fond of sunshine and fresh air. To do this, it can be taken out in the warm season on the balcony, loggia and even in the yard.
And in winter it is recommended to create additional lighting in the form of a fluorescent lamp. This is important, because if the shrub ceases to receive the necessary light and air, it will weaken, its leaves will fade and become smaller, and the flowers will thin out and wither.
The optimal temperature for the plant is twenty-twenty-five degrees in the summer and ten to fifteen in the winter.
Moisturizing
What else does an oleander flower need? Home care requires regular and proper watering.
In hot weather, watering the shrub is important abundantly, as soon as the topsoil dries. It is also recommended to use a pan filled with water, which can be installed under the bottom of the pot. This is necessary for constant hydration of the root system.
It is very important to irrigate the oleander from a hose or spray gun. This will help its leaves to have a fresh and saturated look.
In winter, shrub should be watered less often, carefully observing the soil so that it does not become waterlogged. Spraying (or sprinkling) during this period should be infrequent and low mobility.
It is recommended to water the plant with well-defended warm water.
Top dressing
It is very important to nourish the oleander in the form of liquid mineral fertilizers. This can be done twice a month, preferably thirty minutes after watering.
The plant really needs such useful elements as nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, as well as sulfur, zinc, manganese, boron.
Pruning
Trimming shrubs is very important. This will help improve its flowering and growth rate. This procedure should be performed carefully, since all parts of the plant are very poisonous and toxic. To prevent juice from getting on the skin and mucous membranes, protective gloves and glasses should be worn.
Trimming oleander is best in the fall, after flowering. First of all, it is important to remove all old and damaged shoots, and young and healthy need to be cut in half. Residues after manipulation can be used as planting material.
During flowering, it is recommended to pluck shoots that may appear under the buds of flowers. This is necessary, since excess shoots always prevent the inflorescences from developing correctly and intensively.
Diseases
Careful care of the shrub necessarily includes a daily inspection of the plant to determine possible diseases and pests.
Most often, the oleander is invaded by parasites such as aphids, spider mites and mealybugs.
If this happens, it is very important to treat the plant with pesticides in accordance with the attached instructions.
Also, the bush can undergo such dangerous diseases as oleander cancer, or other fungal and bacterial ailments. In this case, the affected areas should be removed immediately, and the plant itself should be treated with specialized insecticides.
And finally
As you can see, the oleander is a magnificent shrub with impressive size and beautiful inflorescences. It is quite undemanding and easy to grow.
Observing the simple rules of caring, propagating and transplanting a plant, you can enjoy the flowering of this beautiful, impressive garden culture for many years.