In its Mediterranean homeland, the oleander prefers to thrive in sunny locations near river banks. We can't conjure up the typical Mediterranean climate in Germany, but with the right choice of location we can make the shrub very comfortable here too.
Which location is best for oleander?
A sunny and warm spot is ideal for oleanders, as plenty of light leads to beautiful and long-lasting blooms. Avoid drafts and protect from downpours by placing it under an eaves.
Oleander needs a sunny and warm place
As in its homeland, the oleander also needs a location in the blazing sun. The more light the plant gets, the more beautifully it blooms - and the sunnier the summer, the longer it will show off its blooms. However, sun is not enough for the sensitive plant to feel comfortable: it should also be warm, because the oleander also has difficulty with drafts. You should also make sure that varieties with double flowers do not get any rain. A heavy downpour can ruin the entire flower and also result in a fungal infection. For this reason, it is best to place your oleander under an eaves or similar to protect it from downpours. Of course the plant must not be in the shade.
Flowering often fails in rainy summers
If the oleander doesn't really want to bloom, it's usually due to the weather. If the summer is rather cold and rainy, the shrub lacks the warming sun and refuses to flower. In such a case, you don't have much choice, unless you put the pot in the winter garden (€219.00 on Amazon) and provide more light with additional plant lights. Unless you have a winter garden, your only option is to protect the oleander from the rain.
Don't put it in the sun immediately after wintering
Even if oleander is a true sun worshiper: After overwintering, you should still not put it in the blazing sun straight away. The plant is no longer used to this after the long time in relative darkness and could suffer from sunburn, in which the leaves quickly turn brown and dry out. Such damage no longer regenerates in the evergreen plant (unless the leaf is shed and a new one grows back) and should therefore be avoided for visual reasons. So initially place the oleander in the shade so that the hours of sunshine can slowly increase from day to day.
Tip
To clear out your winter quarters, we recommend waiting for a day with mild temperatures but cloudy or overcast skies.
