The oleander is one of the most popular container plants for the garden and terrace and is also very robust. Besides the right location, the plant does not need much more care to thrive and reward the gardener with a lush bloom. However, there are some care mistakes that can result in a lack of blooms. Is your oleander not blooming? Take a look at the possible reasons and what you can do to get the plant blooming again.
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When does oleander bloom?
The oleander is popular because of its very long flowering period. It displays its beautiful flowers in a wide variety of colors from early summer through fall, as long as the conditions are right. With proper care, the shrub blooms tirelessly and graces our gardens from June to September. Some reasons, such as radical pruning in the spring, can cause delayed flowering, but if the plant still does not produce flowers or buds in August, then you should find the cause and fix the problem.
The oleander does not bloom: what is the reason?
Oleander shrub is known for its beautiful flowers, but with improper care, the Mediterranean plant can punish with weak or lack of flowering.
The most important facts in a nutshell
The most common reasons why oleander fails to bloom are over- or under-watering and too much fertilizer. Insufficient sunlight, nutrient competition, improper pruning, pests and plant diseases can also cause oleander to fail to bloom.
Oleander does not bloom properly in the wrong location
This Mediterranean shrub loves sunny spots and needs plenty of light and warmth to thrive. If it’s in the wrong location and doesn’t get enough sun and heat, it may not bloom or bloom sparsely. Since the oleander is usually cultivated as a container plant, changing its location is usually not much of a challenge. Pick a sunny spot in the garden, for example, on the southern wall of the house or stone wall, where the plant will receive sufficient heat and light.
Lack of flowers as a result of overfertilization
To bloom profusely, the Mediterranean shrub needs not only sun, but also a lot of nutrients. Many, but not excessive, and the right ones. If the location is right, then overfertilization may be the reason for the lack of flowering. If the bush gets too much nitrogen, it puts its energy into the growth of leaves. To determine whether you fertilize the oleander too much or incorrectly, look closely at the leaves: in that case, their edges will turn brown.
Not enough fertilizer or water
If the oleander grows luxuriantly, but does not form flowers, then the plant may also suffer from a lack of nutrients or water. During the flowering period, oleander needs to be fertilized once a week and given plenty of water. In normal summer temperatures it is enough to water once a day, although in the hot days of July and August, and during heat waves, the shrub should be watered two to three times a day.
Oleander does not bloom: incorrect pruning as the cause
When the first flowers of flowering plants fade, many resort to scissors and cut off the whole inflorescence, including flower buds. However, this is a big mistake that can cost the oleander the subsequent flowering. In this shrub, the new flowers form at the top of the old inflorescence, so it should not be cut off under any circumstances. Withered should be plucked off only to make room for the new flowers .
No flowers because of too much pruning in the spring
If you have cut back your oleander radically in the spring , then this can lead to vegetative growth . That is, the plant invests its energy in new shoots and forms fewer or no flower buds. Although the new shoots may flower as well, this may not occur until late in the season, so you may observe a lack of flowering in mid-summer.
Competition for nutrients and water
If you plant other garden plants and oleander together, the roots of the other plants may invade the oleander’s root zone and compete for nutrients. This can result in poor flowering or no flowering at all.
If possible, avoid interplanting with competing plants or with plants that spread their roots too far. Rather than plant oleander in an outdoor bed, leave it in a container. This way you can more easily control watering and fertilizing.
If branches of another tree overshadow the oleander, cut them back to allow sunlight to reach the Mediterranean plant.
How to get your oleander to bloom
Because oleander is a heavy grower (meaning it has high nutrient requirements), it needs to be fed regularly with the appropriate fertilizer. In addition to special oleander fertilizer, you can also fertilize the plant with coffee grounds once every two weeks. This natural fertilizer contains valuable substances such as potassium, nitrogen and also phosphorus, which is responsible for flower formation.
Please note: From the end of August, you should not fertilize the oleander to avoid frost damage. From this time until wintering only watering.