- Fruiting robs the plant of its strength
- Propagating oleanders from self-collected seeds
- Caution: Fruits are highly poisonous!
From June to September, the oleander blooms tirelessly - provided, of course, that it is sufficiently fertilized and watered. When the weather is right - i.e. in very warm and sunny summers - the shrub often develops follicles that are up to ten centimeters long.
The seeds in the fruits of the oleander can be used for propagation
Fruiting robs the plant of its strength
These fruits are quite long, narrow and turn brown when ripe. If they were able to mature, they contain numerous seeds. However, the formation of the fruits of the plant costs a lot of energy, which in turn is not available for flower formation. For this reason, you should think carefully about whether you remove the fruit buds in good time - and thus encourage the oleander to continue flowering - or actually leave the fruit on the bush and hope that you can harvest the seeds.
Propagating oleanders from self-collected seeds
Oleander can be propagated very well from self-collected seeds. To do this, spread the seeds on nutrient-poor potting soil and keep the substrate evenly moist. Oleander belongs to the light germs, which is why the seeds should not be covered with soil. Instead, a transparent cover comes over the planter, since high humidity increases the ability to germinate. However, stratification is not necessary. The first tender green tips of the new oleander plants can be seen after about four weeks. As soon as the little plant is big enough - i.e. at least ten centimeters high - pot it in a container with nutrient-rich oleander soil, i. H. a mixture of potting soil, loamy garden soil and some sand.
Caution: Fruits are highly poisonous!
Always be careful when handling oleanders and wear gloves: the fruits are just as poisonous as any other part of the plant. Serious symptoms of poisoning are possible even with mere skin contact, for example if the plant sap gets into open wounds or onto the mucous membranes and thus into the bloodstream. Also, do not eat the fruit or seeds of the oleander!
tips
If you have pets or small children, you should avoid oleanders: cats, for example, like to nibble on the leaves, although the mere sharpening of their claws on the trunk of the oleander can have dramatic consequences.