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Once there is an oleander on the balcony or terrace, you will soon want more. In order to fulfill this wish, you do not have to buy new plants, you can multiply your oleander. This takes a bit of patience, but success almost always occurs when propagating. The following instructions will help you to successfully propagate your oleander.
multiply
Oleander can be propagated in a number of ways. Depending on the level of difficulty and effort, a distinction is made between propagation with:
- cuttings or offshoots
- seed
The easiest way to propagate the oleander is with cuttings. In comparison, the cultivation of young oleander plants is more difficult. You should also note that only when propagating with cuttings do the young plants look and flower completely identical to the mother plant. The advantage of propagating with seeds is that any diseases of the mother plants are transmitted only very rarely.
tip: Since failures can occur with both types of propagation, you should always grow several young plants.
cuttings/offshoots
Propagation with cuttings is not only the easiest way to grow new oleander plants, but also offers the possibility of obtaining several young plants at once. In principle, you can take cuttings all year round, but the ideal time for cutting is between May and August. Since the oleander is pruned back during this time, many potential cuttings end up as waste, so to speak.
tip: One to two year old shoots as well as complete branches are suitable as cuttings.
Propagating oleanders with cuttings: instructions
So that the cut shoots can also be used as offshoots, they should be about 20 centimeters long. Once the cutting has been obtained, you should check it for diseases and pests, because only a healthy shoot is suitable as a cutting. When preparing the cutting, proceed as follows:
- remove all leaves at the bottom
- leave only the top two pairs of leaves
- Cut offshoots at the lower end with a sharp knife
- Then put the cuttings in a container with lukewarm water
- To avoid rot formation, change water daily
- After about four weeks, the first fine roots should have formed
tip: If you use a dark container or one covered with aluminum foil, the cuttings will develop roots more quickly.
Alternatively, you can also put the cuttings in a seed tray potting soil or poor substrate. Then water the substrate lightly. In the next few weeks you should make sure that the substrate is evenly moist and that there is high humidity. You create this by placing the cuttings and planter under a transparent hood. Examples of suitable hoods are:
- a cut plastic bottle
- a tall mason jar
- a construction of sticks and foil
tip: It is important that there is no contact between the cutting and the plastic cover, otherwise rot can occur. You should therefore choose a larger hood.
location
Whether seed tray or glass, the ideal location for the cutting is:
- warm (20 °C and more)
- bright (no direct sun)
- without draft
tip: Cuttings root best in the summer months.
Once the offshoot has formed roots that are one to two centimeters long, it can be moved to a smaller pot with soil. So that he feels really comfortable in his new home, you should put something under the substrate long-term fertilizer give. After inserting, water the cutting carefully. Once the smaller pot has rooted through, the young plant can move to a larger pot.
tip: The young oleander shows the first flowers after one to two years if it comes from top cuttings. If it was grown from a woody branch, it will take longer to flower.
seed
Propagation with seeds requires a little patience until it is crowned with success. You can remove oleander seeds from any oleander after flowering. The seeds arise in bean-like fruits and are parachuted. The seed pods are ready for picking when they
- are brown and dry
- already bursting at the edges
Since the oleander belongs to the so-called light germination belongs, the seeds may only be covered with an extremely thin layer of soil. They must also be kept constantly moist during germination. The ideal location is bright and warm. Therefore, it is best to dress the oleander indoors.
tip: Increase humidity by covering the seed tray with transparent film or placing it in a small greenhouse.
If the seeds have grown into small plants, you can move them to smaller pots. Be careful not to damage roots and plants when moving. It is best to make a planting hole in the substrate with your finger or a stick before planting. After inserting, press the soil lightly and water the tender plants lightly.
tip: Use only the strongest plants for transplanting.
When propagated by seeds, the young oleander plants flower in their third year at the earliest. Then you can see what color the flowers are. Because with this method, the young plants do not necessarily have to resemble the mother plant in color and appearance. This is because pollination is by insects, and the new plants also contain the genetic material of the "father".