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Oleander: Advice on over-wintering, how & when to prune

watts.trevorwatts.trevor Posts: 14
in Garden design
I have two small oleanders (red and white) in a pot. They have had a "good year" sofar and I would like your advice on (1) how to over-winter...does it need fertiliser?? and (2) how and when to prune?.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Trevor 

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I've had 3 oleanders in pots for several years now and have over wintered them either in a frost-free greenhouse or in my back porch, which is like a mini conservatory. I have never pruned them, but have potted on regularly. I water occasionally with liquid feed, seaweed for leaf growth and tomato feed for flowers. The two larger ones loved the hot weather this year and flowered really well.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Agree with the above and also please don't forget that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
  • watts.trevorwatts.trevor Posts: 14
    Hi Buttercupdays,

    A question: we have a tomatofeed but where would I get a seaweed feed. Any help would be appreciated.

    Best regards,

    Trevor
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited September 2020
    Mine just came from the garden centre - think it was made by Vitax. (Only just seen this and it's too dark to check now!)
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited September 2020
    I leave my pink one out over winter as we live near the sea. If you do then it's best not to let the compost stay too wet. Alternatively a frost free porch or greenhouse is ideal. I find that the standard pink one is a little hardier. I have a white one with a pale pink centre and that one does need some protection.

    Pruning should be done in February taking out about a 3rd of the long growths in turn each year. This keeps the stems in flower each year. I always dead head the spent flowers. Don't prune before this as in cold weather there could be die back and you need something left to cut back to if that happens. I give a general organic fertilizer in April then some tomato food during the summer. 
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited September 2020
    floralies said:
    Agree with the above and also please don't forget that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
    Indeed, and whatever you do, don't burn the pruning. The smoke from it is very toxic. 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Many of the major tomato feeds like Tomorite now include a seaweed feed already.
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