Propagate oleander yourself is not that complicated. The project is particularly easy with freshly cut cuttings, which are either initially rooted in water or immediately put into potting soil. In order for the shoots to form roots successfully, it should be as warm as possible - a lot of moisture (especially high humidity!) is also helpful.
How do you propagate oleanders with cuttings?
To propagate oleander cuttings, cut off young shoots, remove lower leaves, place in willow water and wait for roots to emerge. Then plant the cuttings in potting soil and keep them moist and warm.
When is the right time to cut the cuttings?
In principle, freshly cut shoots can be rooted all year round, but the success rate is particularly high during the summer months - especially in July and August, the branches that are already in the middle of growth root very easily. Early spring, shortly before budding, is also a good time to take cuttings. After all, the plants are geared towards developing new shoots and roots in April or May anyway.
Rooting oleander cuttings – step by step
Oleanders can be rooted in two different ways. You can first place the young shoots in water and let them root there before placing them in potting soil. However, you can save yourself this step and plant the cuttings straight away - but then it makes sense to first place them in willow water for 24 hours or dip them in rooting powder. Experience has shown that the water method offers a significantly higher success rate.
- Cut several young, not yet woody shoots.
- These should be about 20 to 30 centimeters long
- and have at least three to four eyes.
- The shoots should not have flowers.
- The interface to be rooted should be kept as inclined as possible.
- Remove all but the top two or three leaves.
- Place the stems in a container with willow water.
- The cuttings should be kept as warm and bright as possible
- and no drafts.
- However, direct sunlight is not tolerated.
- Pour fresh water regularly, but without completely replacing the contents of the container.
The oleander cuttings will have rooted after about four weeks. Now you can carefully place them in a planter with potting soil – be careful not to damage the brittle roots! – and keep the cutting nice and moist. It's best to cultivate it under glass, for example by placing a cut-off plastic bottle over it. You can either perforate these or ventilate them regularly to prevent mold from forming.
Make your own willow water
To root cuttings successfully, you don't need expensive rooting powder; you can simply place the cuttings in self-made willow water orwater them with it. The auxins contained promote root growth. And this is how you prepare the miracle cure:
- Cut some young, still green willow branches.
- Crush these into many small pieces.
- Put the chopped shoots into a cooking vessel
- and fill them with water until just covered.
- Now bring the whole thing to the boil and let it simmer for about five minutes
- and then steep the brew for 24 hours.
- Pour out the broth and use it instead of irrigation water.
Tip
If your oleander cuttings do not want to root, this could also be due to the wrong water container: Always use opaque containers for rooting or wrap them with aluminum foil. After all, roots sprout in the dark and not in bright sunshine.
