Updated at: 04-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Oleander cuttings simply require two simple procedures to get started. You can rest easy knowing that oleanders are easy to propagate because of their rapid growth. As long as you’re providing the right circumstances for your cuttings to support rapid root development, you’re good to go!

In the greenhouse, for example, you may simply maintain the conditions necessary for oleander cuttings. Rooting might be hampered if temperature and humidity swings are avoided. As an added benefit, the cuttings are shielded from the elements in the greenhouse.

How To Propagate Oleander From Cuttings

Oleander cuttings can be started in the spring when the vegetative phase is complete. The plants will be ready to be transplanted into the ground by fall if you use this method. However, if you have a greenhouse or a different environment, you may be able to prepare the cuttings at various times of the year.

How to grow Oleander from cutting - YouTube

In addition, don’t forget to use gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the oleander’s toxic sap. You don’t want youngsters or dogs in the area because the sap can be dangerous for them. You don’t have to be afraid of the poisonous oleander, but you need to be careful and aware of your surroundings.

Step #1. Collecting and preparing cuttings

For cuttings, you need to get the plant ready for harvesting. Keep in mind that a balanced diet is essential if you want to avoid stress in the long run. A six-inch portion of a branch can be safely removed from the tree with sterile shears.

Rooting should be done on portions that have not yet bloomed, but are also not very woody. It is essential that the cutting has at least two leaf nodes in order to root. The lowest leaves should be removed so that the cuttings do not decay when they are rooted.

If you clip some of the oleander’s leaves, it will be able to devote more energy to root development. When it comes to increasing surface area of the cutting, some gardeners propose slicing the bottom of it. As a result, the cutting’s roots have an easier time absorbing the nutrients they need.

Step #2. Rooting and transplanting

Oleander cuttings can be encouraged to grow roots by immersing them in water. It’s best to use a glass with at least three inches of water in it so that the cutting blade is completely submerged. After a few weeks, you should expect sprouting, but remember to change the water every two days to keep it clean.

Mist the medium with water before planting to aid the roots, and then set the pots in a sunny location to promote growth. Soil should always be kept moist, but not waterlogged that the cuttings sit in it. The cutting can be replanted in a larger container or outside in spring and fall after a year.

To avoid injuring the cuttings’ roots, it’s critical to stress how delicate you should be when handling them. The cutting can be dipped in rooting hormone before planting in soil if water rooting is skipped. Then, in the spring, after the risk of frost has passed, plan on transplanting the plants, and keep them protected in the greenhouse until then.

Propagate Oleander Safely

From the brightly colored blossoms to the latex-like sap, the oleander plant is toxic. Plan ahead while growing these plants from cuttings if you don’t want to take any risks when working so closely with them. Preparation of an outdoor workspace is necessary to prevent toxic substances from contaminating indoor areas. If you’re cutting oleander stems, make sure you’ve got rubber gloves, a face mask, and a plastic trash bag handy to dispose of any infected debris. After working with oleanders, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands and clothing.

Keep in mind that the plant’s health and well-being should also be taken into account. Washing the shears in hot, soapy water and wiping the blades with rubbing alcohol or home disinfectant can eliminate any microorganisms that could hurt the plant and spread disease.

Propagate Oleander From Cuttings

Oleander cuttings root readily from both winter hardwood cuttings and summer green wood at the tip of the stem. No active buds or flowers should be found on the cuttings. The leaf nodes, from which the roots will develop, should be exposed by taking 6-inch cuttings and removing the leaves from the bottom half of the stem, according to the International Oleander Society. Reduce water loss by cutting the remaining leaves in half while the cutting roots are still attached. Rooting hormone powder is sprinkled on the stem’s bare ends.

Root oleander cuttings in a plastic nursery planter packed with damp sand. Using the sand, press the stem of the cutting into the sand up to the bottom two leaves of the cutting. Place the pot in a well-lit, warm spot that is out of the reach of pets and children. Misting oleander cuttings while they root is recommended by the University of Florida Department of Environmental Horticulture. Check for roots every two to eight weeks by moistening the soil.

To Transplant Oleander Cuttings

According to the Clemson Cooperative Extension, oleanders can grow up to 2 feet a year, so cuttings can be used right now. When the oleander cuttings show indications of growth, transplant them into a 1-gallon nursery pot filled with moist potting soil, taking care not to injure the new roots. For the next year, keep it in a sunny location and water it daily. A week of gradual exposure to direct sunlight should be enough to harden off the oleander cutting.

Oleanders thrive in full sun and in healthy, well-drained soil, which is ideal for their growth. Spring and fall are the best times to plant if your climate experiences moderate winters. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you should avoid planting oleanders in areas that are particularly susceptible to waterlogged soil. You should avoid placing oleanders in situations where children and dogs are likely to come into touch with them.

How to grow oleander plant from cuttings | you can grow oleander from this cuttings method - YouTube

Things You Will Need

  • Gloves made of rubber
  • Goggles
  • Face mask
  • Bag of trash
  • Pruning shears are needed for this task.
  • Alcoholic swabs
  • Hormones that stimulate the growth of roots
  • Nursery pots in plastic
  • Sand
  • A mister for plants
  • A 1-gallon pot for a baby’s nursery
  • Soil for growing plants

How To Maintain Oleander

Although oleander plants can be used in a variety of ways, it is important to keep in mind that they will thrive in a favorable climate. Consider utilizing a greenhouse if you need to protect your plants from adverse weather conditions. Oleanders need well-draining soil above all else, although once established, they can withstand drought.

If you live in a place where the weather is very harsh, you could harm the foliage of oleanders. Oleanders, on the other hand, often bounce back in the spring if their roots are well-protected. Because frost can damage new growth, you should avoid cutting at the end of the season.

If you prefer the usual mound and huge shape of oleander, you can train it into a small tree. Pruning at the start of spring will help them thrive and encourage a longer bloom time. After the flowering season, it is also traditional to remove the tips to encourage oleander to grow more branches.

What is the best season to collect a stem for cuttings?

When cutting oleanders, August is the traditional time to do it. Because the shrub has just concluded its spring vegetation period, now is the best time to harvest it for the highest success rate.

If the weather permits, cuttings can be started as early as June and continued until September if the conditions are right.

Oleander cutting preparation technique

Obtain a sliver of wood for cutting.

Sprigs, as the stems of your shrub are commonly known, number in the tens of thousands.

Stumps that haven’t yet bloomed are the greatest, because their wood hasn’t yet solidified.

Between 6 and 8 inches (20 cm) length is ideal.

The lower pair of leaves should be removed.

There must be no leaves connected to any part of the piece that will be submerged or placed in the ground.

In order to remove all of the lower leaves, you can use a hand pruner or a sharp knife.

You should disinfect your instruments before using them by heating them or rubbing them with alcohol.

In the image to the right, you can see the three apex leaves just beginning to unfold.

Using a knife, sever the stem at the base.

Roots will appear as a result of cutting the base of the plant just a smidgen.

Using a small knife, cut a small slit in the bottom of the stem (maybe 1/8th of an inch).

When you take this simple step, your plant’s roots will grow more quickly since they have more surface area to ingest minerals and nutrients.

Allow the cuttings to soak in water for a few minutes.

Roots will begin to form in a few days, so maintain the cuttings in a glass of water or water for that time period.

This step is optional, as the cutting can alternatively be placed immediately in a pot of soil mix.

However, it has been proven that this soaking period increases your chances of success.

Soil-mixed plant stem cuttings

It is time to pot the sprig once it has produced a few roots.

In order to avoid bruising or breaking the root system, this procedure must be carried out with extreme care.

Soak the cutting in powdered rooting agent if you intend to plant the cutting directly into the soil mix.

For a few weeks, keep the soil mix moist.

Maintaining a high moisture level is critical during the root development phase.

It’s important to water your plants regularly, but only in tiny amounts.

Cuts should be kept dry and protected from freezing during the winter.

It is possible to plant your cutting in the fall if you prepared it at the beginning of summer and it has grown sufficiently by fall and your area has moderate winters.

As a result, it is advisable to keep your new plant in a container and under cover during the winter months.
OLEANDER ROOTING - YouTube

Reduce the frequency of watering and water only when the soil is completely dry.

In the spring of the following year, plant in the ground.

Your plant can be placed outside in a large pot, or you can plant it straight in your garden after the last frost.

Garden soil and planting soil mix, or flower plant soil mix, should be prepared once again since nutrients are needed at the beginning of the plant’s life cycle.

Oleander is sensitive to excessive moisture, so water it carefully to avoid flooding the roots.

Conclusion

Oleander cuttings are an excellent means of propagation. A robust oleander plant may be grown in only two simple stages, and you’ll be ready for planting right away. Select a healthy parent plant and pick a portion with two leaf nodes, just as you would when growing other plants from cuttings.

The lowest leaves should be removed, then the cutting should be rooted in a glass of water. You can move the plants into the greenhouse once they develop two-inch roots for a more stable environment and protection from unpredictable weather. Planting in a larger container or area after a year and fertilizing in the spring and fall are both options.

Oleanders prefer full sun and a well-draining environment. It’s possible to grow it as a mound, but you can also train it into a little tree. Additionally, oleanders react nicely to trimming if you’d like to extend the blooming season or stimulate branching.