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: oleander. Since the shrub, which comes from the Mediterranean region, is not reliably winter hardy here, it should be cultivated in large containers. To ensure that the plant feels comfortable in it, it is important to repot it regularly.
How and when should you repot oleander?
Oleander should be repotted in spring, ideally after clearing out its winter quarters. Young plants need a larger pot every year, while older specimens should be repotted every five to ten years. Use a substrate made from potting soil, clay, garden lime and slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants.
How often do you have to repot oleander?
The oleander is a heavy feeder, i.e. H. It requires a lot of nutrients and therefore not only needs 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; here it is sufficient to fill new soil into the existing container every spring instead. Ergo you should
- young, not too big oleanders annually
- and older, difficult-to-handle specimens every five to ten years
move to a new plant pot. Fresh soil, on the other hand, is used up during the growing season and therefore has to be replenished again and again in the spring.
When is the best time of year to repot the oleander
The best time of year to repot the oleander is spring, if possible as soon as possible after clearing out the winter quarters. You can also combine this measure with a care cut of both the upper parts of the plant and the roots. Make sure to protect the freshly trimmed and repotted plant from any late frosts - an oleander that has just been brought out of the cellar does not belong in the blazing sun. In principle, however, the oleander can be repotted throughout the season until it is moved to winter quarters if necessary.
Which soil should you use for repotting oleander?
Although the oleander needs a lot of nutrients, it does not tolerate humus-rich soil - typical of many Mediterranean plants. Therefore, do not use commercially available potting soil, but rather mix the substrate yourself if possible. To do this, mix
- 5 parts pot plant soil
- 1 part clay or clay powder
- 1 handful of garden lime
as well as, if you repot the plant in spring, a good long-term fertilizer for flowering plants. Alternatively, you can also mix potting soil (€19.00 on Amazon) and conventional, clay-containing garden soil in a 1:1 ratio or purchase a substrate that is specialized for Mediterranean potted plants.
Which pot to use for oleander?
Oleanders need a planter that is wide rather than deep and, if possible, twice as large as the root ball. After all, plenty of water should be able to be stored there during the hot summer months, and the roots also need space for their growth - the more beautifully the plant grows and blooms above. Which material you use is entirely up to you; The only important thing is that the pot has drainage holes at the bottom and is placed in a deep saucer.
Repotting oleander – This is how it’s done
When repotting the oleander, proceed as follows:
- First get the oleander out of its current planter.
- Now loosen the roots and, if the ball is firm, tear it apart a little.
- If the root ball is very large, remove part of the roots.
- But then 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 finished substrate mix for Mediterranean potted plants.
- Don't forget to mix in the slow-release fertilizer.
- Insert the oleander and water it well.
- In the following period, it must be supplied with water particularly carefully,
- because this promotes the formation of new roots.
- Carry out a plant cut and remove excessively long shoots
- as well as over-aged, dried out or frozen plant parts.
By the way, with oleander 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 does not wash out.
Tips and tricks for repotting very large oleanders
Repotting older and therefore very large oleanders can be difficult. Here, for example, you can forego repotting and instead simply refill fresh substrate from above every spring - if necessary, the used substrate can be carefully removed. These tricks can also help you if the oversized shrub needs a new pot:
- Get help and repot the plant with two people.
- Tie the shoots carefully with a rope.
- How to reduce the risk of accidentally damaging the plant.
- It's easier to get the large oleander out of the pot if you lay it on its side.
- You can also wrap the plant with rope just above the ground
- and use these to make it easier to pull the oleander out of the pot.
Tip
Ideally, the new plant pot is about 20 percent larger than the previous one.
