In summer, the magnificently flowering bushes with their long, narrow and shiny leaves can be admired in many gardens, but also on balconies and terraces: oleanders. Since the shrub, which comes from the Mediterranean region, is not reliably hardy in our country, it should be cultivated in large containers. In order for the plant to feel comfortable in it, it is important to repot it regularly.

Oleanders should be repotted once a year

How often do you have to repot oleanders?

The oleander is a heavy feeder, i. H. it needs a lot of nutrients and therefore not only has to be fertilized regularly, but also supplied with fresh soil. Since the shrub also grows very quickly and - depending on the variety - can become very tall and wide, it also needs a new, larger planter every year - at least if it is a younger plant. Older specimens, on the other hand, only need to be repotted every five to ten years. Instead, it is sufficient to fill the existing container with new soil every spring. So you should

  • young, not too big oleanders every year
  • and older, difficult-to-manage specimens every five to ten years

transfer to a new planter. Fresh soil, on the other hand, is used up during the growing season and must therefore be refilled again and again in the spring.

When is the best time of year to repot the oleander

The best season for repotting the oleander is spring, as soon as possible after clearing out the winter quarters. You can also combine this measure with a pruning of both the upper parts of the plant and the roots. Make sure to protect the freshly pruned and repotted plant from possible late frosts - an oleander that has just been fetched from the cellar does not belong in the blazing sun right away. In principle, however, the oleander can be repotted throughout the season until it is put into the winter quarters, if necessary.

Which soil should you use for repotting oleanders?

Although the oleander needs a lot of nutrients, it does not tolerate - typical for many Mediterranean plants - soil rich in humus. Therefore, do not use commercially available potting soil, but mix the substrate yourself if possible. For this you mix

  • 5 parts potting soil
  • 1 part clay or clay powder
  • 1 handful of garden lime

and, if you repot the plant in spring, a good slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants. Alternatively, you can also mix potting soil and conventional, loamy garden soil in a ratio of 1:1, or buy a substrate that is specialized for Mediterranean potted plants.

Which pot to use for oleanders?

Oleanders need a rather wide than deep planter, which is preferably twice as large as the root ball. After all, it should be possible to store plenty of water there during the hot summer months, and the roots also need space to grow - the plant grows and flowers all the more beautifully above it. Which material you use is entirely up to you; The only important thing is that the pot has drainage holes on the bottom and that it is placed in a deep saucer.

Repotting oleanders - That's how it's done

Proceed as follows when repotting the oleander:

  • First of all, get the oleander out of its previous planter.
  • Now loosen up the roots and tear the ball apart if it is firm.
  • If the root ball is very large, remove part of the roots.
  • Then, however, you should also prune the plant above ground accordingly.
  • This measure promotes the growth of the oleander.
  • Now mix the substrate according to the recipes described above
  • or fill in the ready-made substrate mixture for Mediterranean potted plants.
  • Don't forget to mix in the slow-release fertilizer.
  • Put in the oleander and water it well.
  • In the period that follows, it must be supplied with water with particular care,
  • because this promotes the formation of new roots.
  • Perform a plant cut and remove overly long shoots
  • as well as overaged, dried up or frozen plant parts.

Incidentally, with oleanders you can safely do without the drainage layer that is otherwise necessary for potted plants, because "wet feet" do not harm these plants at all - quite the opposite. However, you should cover one of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot with shards of pottery so that the freshly filled soil is not washed out.

Tips and tricks for repotting very large oleanders

Repotting older and therefore very large oleanders can be difficult. Here, for example, you can do without repotting and instead simply refill fresh substrate from above every spring - if necessary, the used up substrate can be carefully removed beforehand. These tricks can also help you if the oversized shrub needs a new bucket:

  • Get help and have two people repot the plant.
  • Tie the shoots carefully with a rope.
  • This reduces the risk of accidentally damaging the plant.
  • It is easier to get the large oleander out of the pot if you put it on its side.
  • In addition, you can wrap the plant with ropes just above the ground
  • and use them to pull the oleander out of the pot more easily.

tips

Ideally, the new plant pot is about 20 percent larger than the previous one.

Category:

Trees