The name of the genus is translated from the Greek "nerion" as "wet", "raw" and is due to the need for oleander in the active use of groundwater. The name of the species is made up of the words "olso", which in translation means "odorous", and "andros" - Greek islands.
Oleander refers to poisonous plants, since it contains cardiac glycosides, for example oleandrin. From the leaves receive preparations of cornerin and neoriolin, which are widely used in medicine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The flowers of oleander are very fragrant, but one should not inhale their fragrance for a long time, as this causes headaches. In phytodesign this plant is used both as a single plant and for creating groups of compositions. They are often decorated with interiors of public premises.
Rules of care of a plant
Lighting. Houseplants oleander prefer very bright, sunny places with good ventilation. It is recommended to put them on the southern windows. On windows of the northern direction, leaves are often discarded because of a lack of light. In this case, you need to create additional lighting using fluorescent lights. In summer it is recommended to take out on the veranda or balcony, leave in a sunny place with good ventilation. Beware of rainfall on the oleander. If there is no possibility of carrying the plant to the open air, then this procedure can be replaced by regular airing of the room. In the winter, oleander is also demanding for bright lighting. Install for this purpose small fluorescent lights: 60-70 cm above the plant. Include them for 7-8 hours a day. In the autumn-winter period, the rooms should also be ventilated, avoiding drafts. If the oleander begins to discard the foliage, this indicates a lack of illumination. Remember that if the plant has previously grown in low light, then it must be gradually accustomed to intense light.
Temperature regime. In spring and summer, the plant loves air temperature in the range of 20-27 ° C and constant access to fresh air. By autumn, the temperature is gradually lowered to 15-18 ° C, and in winter they are kept in cool (8-15 ° C), but well-lit places. In the middle of March, a temperature of at least 16 ° C is preferred.
Watering. From spring to autumn, oleander should be watered abundantly as soon as the top layer of soil has dried. In the hot season it is recommended to leave water in the pan. Watering is carried out by soft water. Its temperature should be about 2-3 ° C above room temperature. In the autumn-winter period, the plant is recommended to water moderately, not allowing soil to sink and root rot. Water should be every 2-3 days after the top layer of the substrate dries. Remember that the oleander is susceptible to the drying of the earthy coma. In winter, it is desirable to spray the plant with water at room temperature, since in dry air conditions the tips of the leaves dry out.
Top dressing. To feed oleander is recommended in the spring-summer period, using liquid organic and mineral fertilizers. They are used alternately every 1-2 weeks. Top dressing should be done on cloudy days after half an hour after watering.
Pruning. From pruning depends on how lush oleander will bloom. It is performed after flowering, shortening twigs about half. This makes it possible to grow one-year-old shoots, at the ends of which flowers are formed. Cropped twigs can be cut and planted, they take root well. Flowering oleanders under flower buds appear vegetative shoots. They need to be plucked, as they interfere with the development of the kidneys. If the plant does not bloom for a long time, it speaks in favor of weak pruning, insufficient light, and lack of nutrition and moisture. For the transplant, the best time is between the end of May and the beginning of June. For young plants it is carried out every year, for adults - every 2-3 years. For better flowering, oleander should be somewhat reduced by earthen litter, because when replanting old roots are shortened. Transplantation of an adult plant of large size is difficult. In this case, a procedure is used to replace the topsoil with new or transshipment. Sliced roots should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal. The soil used for transplantation is loamy, acidity is about 6. Sometimes a mixture of 1 part leaf, 2 parts turf ground and 1 part peat, humus, sand, adding horn shavings is used. It is recommended to make good drainage.
These indoor plants are propagated vegetatively (by air layers and cuttings) and rarely by seeds.
Precautions: Remember that oleander plants contain poisonous juice. Take care when working with them and use gloves. It is not recommended to start oleander if there are children in the house. Extremely toxic oleander for poultry. After working with the plant, do not forget to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. It is not recommended to sit for a long time next to the blooming oleander and especially to spend the night in the room where it blooms. Toxic are not only the green part of the plant, but flowers and fruits. Keep children out of their mouths. The use of oleander leads to vomiting, upset stomach, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances, dizziness, pupil dilating and breathing problems. Do not let oleander juice get on the wounds.
Difficulty of care
Oleander - plants that, when there is a lack of light, do not bloom, and in winter they are discarded with leaves. Lean flowering of adult oleander bushes is possible due to lack of light and nutrition, lack of trim and insufficient watering. Suffers from a specific disease, the so-called oleander cancer.
Pests: scutellum, chervets, aphids, spider mites.