Butterflower (oleander) is a beautiful plant that is dangerous. This plant is highly toxic if ingested, but if properly cared for, it will make a beautiful, lively, and powerful addition to your garden. Butterflowers are usually grown from established grafts, and once planted in the ground, these plants require little maintenance.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Plant butter flowers in warm climates
Butterflower plants can survive temperatures that sometimes drop below freezing, but they thrive in climates where temperatures are above freezing all year round. If your area experiences harsh winters, you may not be able to grow butterflower bushes outdoors.
- Butterflower can only experience temperatures as low as -9.4 degrees Celsius. But at that point, the leaves will be damaged.
- Even if the top of the plant is damaged, it can still grow back if the roots are not damaged.
- If you live in a colder climate, you will need to grow butterflowers in a heated greenhouse or in a container that can be moved. Each container should be at least two to three times wider and deeper than the root ball of the plant you are planting. Place the container outdoors during warm weather, and place it indoors during winter.
Step 2. Choose spring or fall
Plant healthy butterflowers in spring or fall. Don't wait until summer (its main growing season) or winter (its dormant season).
- Usually, the ideal time to plant butterflowers is August or September, right after the flowering period ends. If you plant later than that, the flowering period may be shortened.
- Butterflowers planted in spring may not produce as many flowers in the first year, but the leaves will remain healthy and new flowers will appear the following season.
Step 3. Choose a location that is exposed to the sun
Most butterflower varieties grow well in full sun, but can also tolerate moderately shady conditions. For best results, find an area in your garden that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight on a regular basis.
- When planted in a slightly shady place, butter flowers tend to be thin, open, and not lush.
- Note that in hot, dry climates, partial shade is preferable to full sun.
- Also note that butterflower bushes also work well as "walls" against wind and can protect more sensitive plants, but damage from severe winds can damage flowers and buds that season.
Step 4. Mix the soil with the compost
Butterflower can live in soil under just the same conditions, but if you have soil that is lacking nutrients, you can mix a few handfuls of compost with 30.5 cm of soil to improve the situation.
- The best soil for butter flowers is one that drains well. This plant is quite adaptable, hardy, and usually survives well in dry soils and marshy soils.
- In addition, soil content will not make much difference. Well balanced, nutritious soil is certainly best, but butterflowers can still do well with soils with a high pH, high salt content, and other similar problems.
- Although you don't have to, you can also add peat humus to sandy soil if you want to increase the soil's ability to hold water.
Step 5. Choose healthy butterflower plants
Choose an established butterflower plant for grafting. Preferably plants that have thick stems and dark green leaves. In general, the plant should look lush.
- Avoid plants labeled "double white," "single red," and so on. Just choose a plant that is labeled with the name of the type of plant on offer.
- Check the plant before buying. Make sure there are no aphids, mealybugs, or other insects.
- Choose plants that don't "tie pots." The roots should not be too developed and popping out of the planting medium.
Part 2 of 3: Planting
Step 1. Dig a large enough hole
The hole should be as deep as the root ball but at least two or three times as wide.
- Planting the plant too deep can cause the base of the main stalk to stay underground, which can cause moisture damage.
- If the hole dug is not wide enough it will be difficult to fill the hole with a sufficient amount of soil.
Step 2. Carefully move it into the ground
Slowly tilt the container to the side. Press the rim of the container with one hand while carefully lifting the entire plant, roots and everything, with your other hand. Once removed, place the plant upright in the center of the hole you dug.
- When using rounded or wrapped plants, carefully cut the rope or material that wraps around the roots before placing them in the hole.
- Avoid damaging the roots when unwrapping or moving the plant.
Step 3. Fill half the hole
Fill about half the space around the root ball with garden soil.
Return the digging hand back into the hole slowly. Do not tamp down the hole with your hands, as doing so can damage the roots
Step 4. Water well
Pour enough water over the soil until the surface of the soil in the hole drops slightly.
Wait a while after watering. You need to let the water get rid of all the air pockets and hit the whole soil
Step 5. Fill in the remaining space in the hole
Fill the remaining free space with additional garden soil.
As before, fill the hole again with loose soil, don't compact it with your hands
Step 6. Flush thoroughly
Give more water. This time, you will have to water again to completely wet the soil.
Wait a few minutes and watch the water on the ground surface. The water should sink into the ground, not leaving a puddle. The soil surface should remain moist to the touch
Step 7. Space between plants
If you are planting multiple butterflowers, you should space each butterflower plant 1.8 to 3.7 meters from each other.
For each additional butterflower plant, follow the same instructions on how to size the hole and how to fill the hole again
Part 3 of 3: Daily Care
Step 1. Water regularly during summer
During their active growing season, butterflowers need 2.5 cm of water per week. You may not need to water your plants frequently during the rainy summers, but you should water them during the dry summers.
- While the established butterflower can withstand drought conditions, it will do well when watered with occasional plenty of water.
- However, if the leaves start to turn yellow it means the plant is getting too much water. Remove any leaves that turn yellow completely, and allow the butter flowers to dry for a longer time than before.
Step 2. Mix in the compost each spring
Hard fertilizers are usually not needed, you can give flowers butter fertilizer by spreading compost from the base of the main stem to the soil under the outermost stalk.
You can use a gentle fertilizer with a balance of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen in the spring if the soil is nutrient deficient, but only apply it in the first few years. Once the plant has established itself, use it with a light compost instead of an actual fertilizer
Step 3. Add humus
Put a layer of humus 5 cm thick. In late autumn, remove the topsoil and replace with another 5 cm layer of humus.
- Humus added in spring protects the plant from weeds and keeps the roots moist.
- Humus added in the fall can help insulate the roots and protect the plant from cold weather.
- Use organic humus, such as wood chips and grass clippings.
Step 4. Prune slightly after the main flowering period
Once the clusters of flowers have died, cut them to encourage the entire flowering season. Once the flowers are removed, you can also trim the ends of the stalks to encourage better stem growth.
Don't wait until late fall to prune. It can take several weeks for growth to strengthen before winter sets in
Step 5. Make a big cut
In summer, butter flowers will appear, so it's best to do a major pruning in early spring before the plant begins its period of active growth.
- You should cut stems that have been damaged by cold, pests, or disease. Also remove stems that are too long or intertwined.
- During spring, you can also remove suckers from the base of the plant as they will absorb the plant's resources and reduce their flowering ability.
- Prune the plant to the size you want, cutting it just above one node on the stalk. A leaf node is a section where three leaves emerge from the stalk. Cutting at that point will encourage new stalks to form at the node, you'll get three new branches when the plant grows back.
- Avoid pruning more than a third of the plant whenever possible. Butterflowers can grow back if you prune more, but excessive pruning can weaken some butterflowers.
- Typically, butterflowers grow rapidly, growing in length from 30.5 to 61 cm per year. Left unchecked, butterflowers can reach 2, 4 and 3.7 m in height, and these plants can grow wide and continue to grow taller. The butterflower plant was once rumored to reach 6.1 m in height. But the dwarf type, usually grows to a height of 0.9 to 1.5 m only.
Step 6. Watch for pests and diseases
Butterflower rarely suffers from pests and diseases, but is not completely immune. Treat plants only after you notice any signs of pests or disease.
- The most common disease of butterflower is botryosphaeria dieback, and this usually occurs when the plant is under stress from drought or frost. Stems and stalks will die and become dark brown. Cut off infected stems and throw them away from your garden.
- Butterflower caterpillars are the most common pest. They feed in groups and can crush young stalks. This pest is about 5 cm long with an orange-red body and a black crest. Quickly apply pesticides once you find some caterpillars on your plants.
- Aphids, mealybugs, and scale lice can also cause problems, but are rare. Apply a suitable pesticide as needed.
Warning
- This butter flower is poisonous. All parts of this plant are poisonous, and even a small amount when ingested can be deadly, especially when consumed by children and animals.
- Use gloves when handling butter flowers because touching the skin can cause irritation. For the same reason, you should also wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Do not burn the cuttings of this plant because the smoke can cause a severe allergic reaction.
