Growing Oleander In Containers
Oleander is a form of a perennial tree or shrub. It is actually a sub-tropical plant that loves to grow in warm coastal regions such as Florida and Texas. Oleander plants can live in hot, arid conditions and can grow to 6-12 feet tall but some successful gardeners have been able to train their trees to grow up to 20 feet tall. The oleander is loved for its lush green leaves and fragrant flowers though the plant can be toxic when ingested, and care must be done in growing oleander in containers for the sap is irritating to some people. For this reason, a lot of people are scared of growing oleander. However, a person must ingest large quantities of the plant in order to be severely affected by its toxicity. Babies, children, and animals are especially susceptible to the toxins, so you may want to delay growing oleanders for a couple of years until they know better enough not to eat something that is so bitter and noxious.
Oleander can be easily found in your local nursery, garden store, and other plant dealers. You can start growing them in several forms such as bare-root, cuttings, and seeds. Flowers can grow vigorously during the summer. The plant can also grow brown fruits which start growing after the flowers have formed.
Starting your cultivation
It is best to start growing your oleander during late spring when soil temperatures have reached 65 ™F. Lower temperatures are known to slow down the development of oleander, and it is among the few plants that can grow wonderfully when the temperature reaches above 100 ™F. The site where you will grow your plant is important when growing oleander in pots. It prefers an area that has full sun or light shade for optimum growth but it does require warmth.
The specifications of your pot or container
You must choose dwarf varieties when growing oleander in containers. Big perennial trees require large containers that cannot possibly fit in your small garden. The dwarf varieties can grow in containers that are at least 18-24 inches in height. You can choose containers such as terra cotta pots, wooden containers like oak barrels, or plastic containers. It is important to consider the zone you are living in when deciding on what container to buy. Warm regions would need light-colored containers made of plastic as they do not retain heat. For colder regions, you need to have a container that is able to insulate your plants well, but light enough to be moved if necessary. Terra cotta pots can be used for these regions as well as dark-colored plastic or wooden containers.
Make sure that your pots have drainage holes beneath them. These drainage holes can help remove excess water to prevent water-logging your plants. If you wish to put a dish beneath your plants to collect the water, it is important to suspend the container holding your oleander with wooden blocks. This will prevent the pots from sucking in the excess water that collects inside the dish. Line the bottom of your containers with small pieces of broken terra cotta pots. Pebbles or small stones can also work to help with draining excess water from the plants.
Preparing your soil or potting mix
Oleanders are known to be hardy plants and do not mind the soil in which they grow. A sandy, well-drained soil is perfect, though for oleanders. A soilless mix made up of sand and perlite is optimal for growing oleander in pots. As always you should avoid using ordinary garden soil as it contains several disease and pests that can harm your plants. The soilless mix can easily be bought in most gardening stores, later you can add in compost to give the soil the necessary nutrition for healthy development.
Seeds
You can grow oleander from seeds, but it will likely be a slow process, and the resultant seedlings often lack vigor for growth. The seeds do not need to undergo cold stratification as other tropical plants for germination. Prepare a seed bed with soil that is mixed with compost. Place the small seeds directly on top of the tray and lightly rake the surface. This will ensure that the seeds will be touching the soil. Water lightly and cover with mulch to prevent the soil from compressing and to protect the seeds from the sun and rain. Always make sure to keep the soil moist but not wet by doing shallow and light watering until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings sprout, reduce the frequency of watering but increase the amount to promote root development. Transplant the seedlings once they are several inches tall.
Transplants or Bare-Root Oleander
You can transplant seedlings in smaller containers until they are ready to be placed inside a bigger outdoor container. Dig a hole that is bigger than the container that your transplant came in and layer the bottom with compost. Place the seedling inside the container and cover with soil then water well.
The roots of bare-root cultivars must be soaked prior to planting. When growing oleander in pots, make sure that you dig a hole and create a mound at the center. This will ensure that the roots will spread in all directions inside the pot. Your hole must be deep enough to accommodate the plant up to the same level that it was grown in the nursery. A change in color of the stems above the roots will be your landmark for the right level of the hole. Cover and water the plant well.
Care and Pruning
Oleander plants are naturally resistant to drought. However, it is necessary to give your plant enough water and nourishment if you wish to have flowers when growing oleander in containers. In areas that have water restriction, a drip hose can be useful for watering oleander. It is usually tolerant to light freezes, but once the temperature hits below 30 degrees, foliage may start to shed. Spring often brings back life to the oleander, but you may want to trim down the dead branches.
Fertilizing is often done during the spring when your plants are starting to grow. You may want to start with a basic organic fertilizer that has a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 ratio. Once the leaves have re-grown, you can now change your fertilizer to promote flower production.
Pruning of the oleander must be done carefully as the plant sap is irritating. Wear good quality gardening gloves and use pruning shears to trim the plant. The shears must be placed at a 45-degree angle to prevent the branch or stem from drying out. The pruned parts must be disposed of carefully and not burned as it can produce a smoke that is extremely noxious and irritating.
Caring for oleanders is quite easy and does not require any special care. Just make sure to protect yourself whenever you touch your plants to prevent irritation, especially if you are known to be hypersensitive.
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