A look at oleander flowers evokes a strong association with the exotic of the Crimea and warm subtropical summer. These evergreen shrubs of the Kutrovaceae family grow in abundance here.
Many people know that they are extremely poisonous, especially a lot of toxins in plant sap. But if this does not scare you, then you can grow purple or white oleander at home - the flower will remind you of summer and delight you with its beauty and aroma. Paniculate inflorescences come in a wide variety of colors and bloom from July to early autumn.
Features of oleander
This plant has been cultivated since ancient times, and its images are often found on frescoes and carvings decorating temples. This is a heat-loving shrub, sensitive to coolness (especially terry varieties). When the temperature drops below twelve degrees Celsius, adult plants freeze and die.
In a warm area in sunny places protected from the wind, they grow well. They like moist and fertile soils. They respond well to the formation of a bush by pruning, quickly restore the crown, and are resistant to pests. On very wet soils and in shading, they can be affected by a fungus, a worm, and aphids. Oleander flowers -beautiful decoration of Crimean parks. It is often planted along embankments as a single plant, as well as in group plantings to decorate alleys. Shrubs are propagated by cuttings, as well as layering, seeds.
Delicate oleander flower - care and cultivation on the windowsill
Growing it in a pot is pretty easy, all it takes is regular pruning. Varieties such as Hardy Red, Petit Salmon, Soleil Levant take root best on the windowsill.
Oleander flowers will not keep you waiting long as it is a fast growing shrub. Place the plant in well-drained soil (one part peat, compost and humus, two parts loam and cleaned sand), you can use ordinary manure as a fertilizer. For watering, place the pot in a dish of water. During the period of intensive development, you can also spray. After pruning, you need to reduce the amount of moisture, and in winter it should be completely minimized. The shrub does not like sudden changes in temperature and drafts - because of them, oleander flowers can even fall off.
Propagation by cuttings and seeds
Perform this procedure in the summer months, after the shoots get stronger. The cuttings must be cut up to fifteen centimeters long, the leaves removed. Cut the stem carefully at an angle. Place the cutting in the water. Then root in a mixture of peat and purified river sand. Propagation by seeds is much more difficult. Mainly because they retain good germination for a short time. Therefore, at home it is still more convenient to propagate by cuttings.
Oleander diseases
The mealy worm does the most damage to shrubs. These insects are able to form entire colonies and weaken the plant by sucking the juice out of it. The infected bush must be isolated from other indoor flowers and treated with chemicals. Sometimes it's worth planting a worm's natural enemies - ladybugs - on an oleander.
