How should potted oleander be pruned and shaped

Oleander leaves are borne in whorls of three and it has typical three-forked branching: each time it is pruned, 3 new shoots grow from the stem nodes. People often use this branching trait to shape and prune it, so that each plant keeps 3 main branches on the trunk, and each main branch keeps 3 more branches, the tree form commonly known as "three forks and nine tops".

After a potted oleander has established, the first pruning can generally be done according to the plant's height and personal preference, choosing and keeping a trunk of 30-40 cm and pinching it to encourage side branches. When the new shoots grow to 4-6 cm long, choose 3 appropriately positioned thick branches and remove the rest; at this time, strengthen fertilizer and water management. The second pruning depends on the plant's growth; it is best done in July, pinching each side branch at 10-15 cm and keeping 3 branches on each side branch. After such pruning, it becomes the popular "three forks and nine tops" tree form. After pruning, it can be planted in the ground in summer, then moved into a flowerpot in early autumn; in this way, by the time it blooms profusely the next year, the flowers are evenly distributed and the crown is neat and beautiful.