The evergreen oleander blooms tirelessly between June and September with pretty, five-petalled flowers in delicate 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, a container is recommended - perfect for terraces and balconies.
How do you care for oleander on the balcony?
Oleander in a pot on the balcony thrives optimally in a sunny, sheltered location without drafts. Regular watering, fertilizing with flowering plant fertilizer and frost-free overwintering at around 5 °C are important for successful care.
Always put oleander alone in a pot
In its natural habitat, the oleander grows up to five meters high and has a very wide, bushy growth. Of course, the shrub does not reach these dimensions on the balcony at home, where it remains significantly smaller and can also be kept in shape quite easily through pruning. Nevertheless, the oleander alone belongs in the largest possible planter so that it can be shown to its best advantage. Oleander needs space and does not tolerate companion planting, which is why the very vigorous plant does not belong in a balcony box.
The correct care of the oleander
First of all: Oleander loves the sun and warmth. Therefore, you should only consider planting oleander if your balcony is both sunny and protected - it is ideal if it faces south. In addition, the location should not be drafty - oleander does not tolerate drafts particularly well. Also remember that oleander needs a lot of water and should be watered heavily at least once or twice a day, especially in the hot summer months. A regular supply of nutrients is also extremely important for heavy eaters. Fertilize the oleander once or twice a week during the growing season with a fertilizer for flowering plants (€13.00 on Amazon). However, you can be on the safe side with a long-term 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 a cool (around five degrees Celsius is ideal) and bright room during the cold season. If you do not have such an option, you can also store it in a nursery. If you live in a region with mild winters, overwintering on the balcony is also possible - as long as you wrap the shrub well. But be careful: Oleander can only tolerate a maximum of minus five degrees Celsius and only for a short time.
Tip
In spring you can cut the bush back by about half.
