How to grow oleander from cuttings is a common question for anyone with a passion for the outdoors. This beautiful flowering plant can be found all over the United States in states from Alaska to Hawaii. It grows best in full sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade as well. The plant is sensitive to dryness, so you should not plant it near fences or other areas that are subject to high levels of moisture. It is an evergreen tree with a hardy growth habit and makes an excellent wood cutting. You will find this tree in most wooded areas.
The process of learning how to grow oleander from cuttings starts with collecting a variety of healthy, strong cuttings. Cuttings can be taken from many different locations-old roadsides, abandoned fields, thickets, old-growth forests and even dead limbs of trees that are no longer growing. Many gardeners have found that taking cuttings from near their gardens, trash cans or other areas that have good root development is the best way to collect them. The roots on cuttings are strong and will usually establish themselves with very little work if they are taken from a healthy tree.
If you choose to cultivate oleander from cuttings then you will need to purchase a special root rake. These root rakes are specifically designed to dig up and gather oleander leaves and stems. You will also need to have a knife and saw to slice the stems. Once the stems have been sliced you can separate the individual leaf buds, or pods, from the roots. The individual leaves and buds can be individually plucked and used in a variety of recipes.
It is important to know that although the plant grows relatively fast, it does not do so very well in damp soil. Cuttings taken from the ground should be planted directly into a sunny or partially sunny location and kept in an area that gets around six to seven hours of sunlight. Cuttings taken from forested areas should be planted into containers with moist but not wet soil. It is recommended that when learning how to grow oleander from cuttings that you use a light acidic fertilizer to help prevent the roots from rotting.
There are several different cultivars of oleander. The Texas Melaleuca is one of the most popular varieties grown. This particular variety produces long, thin stalks with a dark green color, and has a noticeable oil scent. Learning how to grow oleander from cuttings takes some time, but once you have established a good planting site, the hard work is only just beginning.
Different varieties can be found in the nursery, but there is a great deal of variety in quality and price when purchasing them. The easiest way to tell if the soil is adequate for growing oleander is by seeing how it responds after being planted. It should be noted that some varieties are more difficult to grow than others. For this reason, it is wise to plan your planting carefully and find a location that is best for you. Some of the best places to plant oleander are along roadsides, outside walls, around trees and in thickets.
To learn how to grow oleander from cuttings, you must first know what type of tree you are getting. Different varieties are known for their distinctive beauty, so depending on where you find the cuttings, you will want to consider how they affect the overall landscape. Certain varieties need to be grown under different light conditions than others. Cuttings can be taken from all kinds of trees, but two of the most popular include the white-tailed deer tree and the black-eyed Susan tree. Both of these species grow well in dry soil that is not sandy, rocky or acidic.
In the wild, oleander grows in thickets. However, you can easily train your cuttings to grow in a variety of containers, including planters and planter boxes. Cuttings from the wild have a tendency to be very large and branched. However, with container gardening, you can train your cuttings to grow in a smaller and straighter shape. Providing your tree has a nice shallow root system, you will find it relatively easy to prune your new cuttings.
