The evergreen oleander blooms profusely between June and September with pretty, five-petaled flowers in soft shades of pink or purple. The bushy shrub, originally native to the warm regions around the Mediterranean, is a very popular ornamental shrub in this country, but is not sufficiently hardy. For this reason, keeping them in buckets is recommended - perfect for patios and balconies.

In the warm season, the oleander is allowed on the balcony

Always plant oleanders alone in a bucket

In its natural habitat, the oleander grows up to five meters high and grows very wide and bushy. Of course, the shrub does not reach these dimensions on the balcony at home, where it stays well below it and can also be kept in shape quite easily with pruning measures. Nevertheless, the oleander belongs alone in the largest possible planter so that it really comes into its own. Oleander needs space and does not tolerate any companion plants, which is why the very vigorous plant does not belong in a balcony box.

Proper care of the oleander

First of all: Oleander loves the sun and warmth. Therefore, you should only consider planting oleanders if your balcony is both sunny and sheltered - south-facing is ideal. In addition, the location should not be drafty - oleanders do not tolerate drafts particularly well. Also keep in mind that oleanders need a lot of water and should be watered at least once or twice a day, especially in the hot summer months. The regular supply of nutrients is also immensely important for the heavy feeder. Fertilize the oleander once or twice a week during the growth season with a fertilizer for flowering plants. To be on the safe side, however, use a slow-release fertilizer that only needs to be applied once at the beginning of the growing season.

Overwintering oleanders on the balcony

Since oleander is not hardy, you should overwinter the shrub in the cold season in a cool (ideally around five degrees Celsius) and bright room. If you don't have such a possibility, you can also store it in a nursery. If you live in a region with rather mild winters, it is also possible to spend the winter on the balcony - provided you pack the shrub well. But be careful: oleanders can only tolerate a maximum of minus five degrees Celsius and only for a short time.

tips

In the spring you can cut the shrub back by about half.

Category:

Trees