How to propagate aloe at home?
The vitality and endurance of aloe is fully reflected in the variety of ways in which it can be propagated. At home, most often offspring from an adult plant are obtained with the help of:
- cuttings, that is, the separation and rooting of lateral shoots;
- the top of a bush or one of their adult shoots;
- sheet;
- daughter rosettes formed at the base of an adult bush;
- seeds.
One of the easiest and most guaranteed successful ways to propagate aloe is by rooting cuttings. Lateral shoots appearing in the axils of mature leaves can be cut all year round. They easy to root and acclimatize after transplant.
Such "stepchildren" are cut off at the very base, the cut is treated with coal powder. And then they are not planted in a substrate or put in water, but for 2-4 days they are dried at room temperature in a dark place. Only after such preparation are the cuttings ready for rooting. The same manipulations are carried out before planting aloe without a root, for example, after its decay or unsuccessful division of the bush.
For several years of growth at home, aloe can reach almost a meter in height. At the same time, its stem is significantly bare, and the leaves remain only at the top.
You shouldn't part with such aloe. It can be rejuvenated by cutting off the top and planting it in a separate pot. To do this, cut off the upper part of the stem with 6-7 mature leaves.
But how do you transplant aloe without a root? To root such planting material, the top is dried and placed in water. After a few days, roots will appear on the plant, and in the future, the seedling can be easily transplanted into a separate pot.
Description
To date, biologists have described more than 500 species of the plant in question, most of which are of African, Mediterranean and Arabian origin.
Special attention should be paid to aloe leaves, the features of which are listed below:
- great thickness and xiphoid shape;
- arrangement in a spiral with the formation of dense rosettes;
- impressive length, characteristic of many species;
- smooth or jagged edges;
- the presence of sharp spines or soft cilia;
- a significant amount of liquid accumulated in the internal cells;
- the presence of closing pores that reduce the intensity of moisture evaporation in conditions of its deficiency.
If the plant is faced with an excessively severe lack of water, it may shed the lower leaves. Worthy of mention are the tubular flowers of aloe, which are small in size and varied in color.
Most often, it is characterized by bright colors - yellow, orange or red. Particularly noteworthy is the endurance of the described succulent, which allows it to survive in conditions that are detrimental to many other plants. Due to the peculiarities of its structure, it can withstand heat and drought, and its bitter taste successfully protects it from most herbivores.
Varieties
As mentioned above, more than 500 species of aloe are known to science, but only a few dozen of them can boast of popularity. Next, we will consider the most remarkable varieties of this succulent plant, conditionally divided into medicinal and decorative.
Therapeutic
Practice shows that humanity uses about 15 species of aloe for medical purposes. As for the most popular plants belonging to this category, their list is as follows.
Aloe Vera (Barbadian, present).It is characterized by a short stem and large, fleshy leaves that have a variegated color and contain a large amount of gel. Due to its properties, it is widely used in medicine and perfumery.
Decorative
This group is primarily interesting for the appearance of the species included in it, contributing to the spectacular decoration of residential and office premises. The most notable succulents in this category are the following.
Aloe is variegated. It is a bushy plant with a short stem length, reaching 30 cm in height. A characteristic feature is the spotty color of triangular leaves, because of which this succulent is often called tiger and striped. Another feature of the species is its beautiful orange-scarlet flowers.
Features of growing and caring for aloe
The general principles of caring for all types of aloe are the same, but some varieties have their own specifics, especially when it comes to reproduction.
Choosing a place for aloe
When choosing a place where it is better to put flowerpots with aloe, lighting and temperature considerations are priority.
Like all succulents, aloe loves bright light, and it is better to place it on the windowsills of rooms located on the sunny side, that is, facing south, southeast and southwest.
Aloe tolerates some shading in winter quite well, so that artificial lighting with a lack of natural light can not be taken care of.
In summer, it is better to put flowerpots on the balcony, loggia, where the plant will get stronger and hardened. In extreme heat, it is better to rearrange the aloe so that in the maximum sun the rays do not fall on it.
The temperature can vary depending on the season, in winter 10 degrees is enough, and in summer aloe prefers a temperature of 22-26⁰, you need to try to adhere to this framework.
Aloe substrate and feeding
The soil in a flowerpot with aloe should be fertile enough, its looseness and good air permeability are very important.
You can purchase a ready-made substrate for succulents or prepare the desired composition yourself, taking 2 parts of soddy-clay soil one sheet and one sand and adding a little expanded clay for drainage, charcoal and peat.
Top dressing is required for aloe during the period of active growth, which falls on April - September, and it should be carried out once or twice a month, using a complex of mineral fertilizers.
Watering and spraying
Watering depends on the season - in the summer it should be plentiful enough. When caring for aloe in winter, you need to limit yourself to moistening the soil and re-water the plant only when the substrate is completely dry. The water should not be cold.
In summer, watering is required once a week and more often, depending on the weather, you need to focus on the moisture content of the substrate, it should dry out slightly before the next watering. In winter, the interval between waterings can be 3-4 weeks.
It is important to remember that overflow for aloe is worse than underfilling.
Moreover, the accumulation of water is harmful both in the sump, leading to rotting of the root system, and in the outlet. Therefore, it is better not to water the plant from above, but to lower the flowerpot into the water for 10 minutes.
Avoid the accumulation of water in the outlet when spraying. In winter, it is not required, since aloe is insensitive to dry air, and in summer you need to spray the plant, keeping the sprayer away from the leaves.
Transplant and reproduction
It is necessary to transplant aloe in the spring, the same period is the best for reproduction. Young plants are transplanted annually, more mature ones - every 2-3 years, choosing a pot with a volume of 20% more than the previous one, since the aloe root system is constantly developing and increasing.
To transfer to another flowerpot, you need to remove the plant along with the earth from the old one; for this, draw a knife along the walls of the flowerpot, separating the substrate from them.
Drainage is poured onto the bottom of the new flowerpot, a little substrate, the extracted plant is transferred along with the substrate and the free space is carefully covered with earth.
If two trunks are formed (in aloe tree), you need to carefully separate the roots of the two plants and plant them in different flowerpots.
If root shoots have formed, they can be used for propagation by separating them from the main plant and placing them in water until roots form, and then planting them.
Child sockets are separated at the very beginning of formation.
Also, aloe propagates by apical cuttings, they are cut and dried, it is possible to plant the cutting in the ground only when the cut is completely dry. Separate whole leaves, also used for propagation, are also dried.
Less commonly, seeds are used for the propagation of aloe, which are sold in specialized stores; after sowing the seeds, a container with earth must be kept under a lamp.
Flower watering rules
For watering the plant, only settled water should be used. It is recommended to use water at room temperature. Spraying a flower is strictly prohibited. If there is dust on the foliage of the plant, it is removed with a damp cloth. In winter, the flower is in a dormant period. That is why a reduction in the number of waterings is required. Experts recommend performing the procedure twice a month.
Since aloe vera has fleshy leaves, moisture is retained in them. That is why the water demand of this plant is quite low. Over-watering aloe vera can cause its roots to rot, leading to the death of the plant. That is why watering is carried out 1-2 times a month with sufficient dryness of the soil. In order to grow plants, it is necessary to use pots, which are characterized by the presence of drainage holes. This will allow excess moisture to leave the pot when watering.
Top and bottom irrigation
Watering aloe can be either top or bottom. A watering can is used to water the flower from above. In this case, the stream of water should be directed under the root of the plant. Watering the plant should only be abundant. If water is added in small quantities, then only the upper layers of the pot will be moistened. If the plant is located in the sun, then spraying it is not carried out in order to avoid burns on the leaves. In summer daytime, it is forbidden to spray water on the leaves of the plant.
Bottom watering of a plant consists in pouring water into a tray on which the pots are installed. This method is good enough. This is due to the fact that when it is used, nutrients are not washed out. With this type of watering, only the small roots of the plant absorb water. With a large layer of drainage in the pot, it is lowered into a deep container and the pot is poured halfway. After that, the water is allowed to escape. The aloe pot is then put in its permanent place. To ensure maximum plant moisture, top and bottom watering must be carried out simultaneously.
Features of liquid feeding
Before watering aloe vera at home, you need to inspect the flower. With its insufficient growth, it is recommended to carry out liquid feeding. It is strictly forbidden to spray fertilizer over the surface of the flower, as this can negatively affect it and cause a number of diseases.
After the plant has been transplanted, liquid fertilizing is not applied for six months. After purchasing a plant, fertilization of the soil should be done after a month. If a nutrient substrate or soil was used to transplant a plant, then fertilizer should not be applied.
Fertilization should be done only after abundant watering. If there is a disease on the plant, then fertilizers are not applied until the diseases are identified and completely eliminated.When a flower is used for medical purposes, it is not fertilized with mineral fertilizing.
Aloe top dressing is carried out in liquid form. That is why watering it at the same time. Care and watering in aloe at home is quite simple. That is why even an inexperienced grower will be able to do this. With good watering, you can grow a large and lush flower.
Write in how you water aloe at home, and watch a video that tells how to care for aloe.
Features of aloe
The aloe leaf plates that make up the rosette grow from the root, they are usually fleshy. There are species that have thorns on the foliage, and there are those that simply do not have them. In some species, a waxy coating is present on the foliage surface. During the flowering period, the bush is decorated with flowers as red, yellow or orange. The shape of the inflorescence, depending on the species, can be racemose or paniculate, often bell-shaped or tubular flowers.
Some species have healing properties, so they are used in alternative medicine. Aloe juice helps to quickly cure abscesses and burns. It is also used to make masks because it has regenerating and rejuvenating properties. The foliage is used to obtain a substance that has a laxative effect. In culture, not only many types of aloe are grown, but also varieties.
Plant diseases and treatments
When root rot appears, plant growth is delayed, the leaves dry. To save the flower, you need to remove the affected parts of the root, sprinkle the healthy roots with charcoal and transplant into a fresh substrate, generously adding coarse sand to it.
Did you notice that the aloe started to dry quickly? It may have been struck by dry rot. It is necessary to spray with a fungicide and change the entire substrate by transplanting the plant into another container.
When damaged by pests (mealybug, aphids, scabbard), the leaves dry out, the presence of insects will be visible to the naked eye
The affected leaves need to be removed, the flower should be sprayed with garlic and soapy water, insecticides can be used, but be extremely careful if you are growing the plant as a medicinal one.
Care rules
If you need an unpretentious plant, then you should choose aloe tree. Caring for it at home comes down to observing the following rules.
- Lighting. Loves bright light and sun. The flower pot is placed on the south side. No shading required. After a dormant period, aloe is gradually adapted to bright light to avoid burns.
- Temperature. During the day, they are kept within 25 ° C. At night they lower it - open the window. In winter, they create conditions of low temperatures, make sure that the thermometer does not fall below 10 ° C.
- Humidity. In the fleshy leaves of aloe, a lot of moisture is stored. The flower calmly withstands the dry air of apartments. Aloe is not sprayed. Dust is removed by hand with a damp soft cloth.
- The soil. To restrain growth, weakly acidic soils, poor in organic matter, are used. The ideal option is a ready-made soil for succulents. Independently, the soil mixture is prepared from turf, humus, sheet earth, perlite, coal and crushed brick.
- Watering. Watering is carried out as needed - when the topsoil dries out. Use a small amount of warm soft water. In winter, watering is minimized.
- Top dressing. Use fertilizer for succulents. Application frequency - no more than 3 times during the active growing season.
- Transfer. Transplanted immediately after purchase. Transplantation of young, actively growing bushes is carried out annually. Adult specimens do not disturb for 3-4 years.
- Pruning. The shape of adult plants is corrected by pruning. Trim the tops and side shoots to rejuvenate the bush. The cut off shoots can be used as cuttings for new young plants.
Advice! To keep the stem even, the tree is turned to the light with the other side every 2 weeks. The loss of decorativeness is corrected by pruning and rooting of new plants.
Flowering and dormant period of the plant
Aloe blooms at home infrequently. To wait for flowering, you need to recreate the annual cycle of the plant in conditions as close as possible to its natural habitat, providing it with impeccable care. In nature, the flowering period of aloe is up to six months. Coloring, depending on the species, varies from scarlet to pale yellow and white.
Note! Most ornamental aloe varieties only begin to bloom at the age of ten or later, so don't rush to expect flowers. To enjoy blooming next spring, you need to prepare in advance:
To enjoy blooming next spring, you need to prepare in advance:
In the month of March, start feeding aloe regularly in accordance with the rules described above.
In the summer, when the nights are warm, take it out into the fresh air, gradually increasing the time spent on the veranda or balcony. Do not forget about timely watering.
Starting from the September cold snaps, it is necessary to stop "external forays" and place a pot of aloe on a well-lit windowsill
It is important to raise the temperature of the water for irrigation six to eight degrees above the temperature in the room.
In winter, you need to prepare a cool and dry place for the plant where it could wait out the dormant period, so the window sill above the battery is not the best place for wintering. At the same time, the lighting level can be maintained with fluorescent lamps.
With the arrival of spring, the temperature in the room should be increased, stimulating the awakening of the flower.
At this time, it is advisable not to disturb him with any movements and turns of the pot. Watering should be done twice a week.
How aloe blooms
The aloe flower looks like a spike on a tall arrow growing from the center of the rosette, and is vaguely similar to a hyacinth flower with its many small buds. When the plant has faded, you need to remove the peduncle arrow to prevent the formation of seeds. This is a lot of stress for the aloe, and it is better to prevent depletion, but maintain care, as in preparing the plant for flowering.
Aloe Vera - description of the species
Aloe Vera means "True Aloe". The Latin word aloe is translated as "bitter", the Greek άλός - salt (the juice of the plant tastes like sea water), the Arabic alloeh - a substance with a pronounced bitter taste.
Aloe as a medicine has been with humans for four thousand years. This is confirmed by the cuneiform script on the Sumerian tablets dating from 2100 BC. NS. However, the image of this plant was also found on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples built 4 thousand years BC.
Everything, including the appearance and biological characteristics of the Aloe itself, suggests that the plant first appeared in hot and arid Africa, and then spread to all other continents. In the wild it meets on the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, Canary Islands, North Africa.
Aloe Vera forms a shrub with a short stem. The roots are poorly developed. The leaves are long (up to 60 cm), fleshy, covered with thorns at the edges. Many people mistakenly call this succulent a cactus, as it can also store and store water supplies. Thanks to this ability, Aloe Vera survived severe climatic changes on Earth and today still serves humans. In extreme situations, the pores on the skin are closed, moisture is retained in the leaves for a long time.
There are 500 species of aloe in nature, but only 5 of them are considered medicinal. Aloe Vera occupies a leading position in this top five, it brings the maximum benefit to humans. Growing it is a lucrative business. Whole plantations of plants are planted, there are processing plants.
Aloe vera is considered the most valuable for medicinal properties of more than half a thousand species of aloe
Today it is the only plant that heals burns from the strongest light radiation that occurs during an atomic explosion. Thus, an ancient natural remedy can be called a miracle of our time.
Aloe Vera in nature and at home
Before the aloe conquered our window sills, settling there under the name "agave", its habitat was hot countries - South America, Africa and the island of Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula.
True, we might not recognize the plant if we met it in its natural environment - it is very different in appearance from the flowers we are accustomed to with watery green leaves. Wild specimens reach fifteen meters in height, release a long arrow from the rosette of leaves, at the end of which you can see a fiery red or bright yellow flower. Unfortunately, some species, such as Helena's aloe and Suzanne's aloe, are threatened with extinction.
In nature, aloe reaches 15 m in height
Botany has more than five hundred plant species. At home, we can grow aloe vera, tree and others. In care, they are about equally simple.
Aloe species
- Aloe Vera (Barbados). The plant has a short stem on which there is a rosette of juicy and hard leaves. Forms an inflorescence like a brush and forms a peduncle up to 90 cm long. It blooms with yellow and sometimes red flowers.
- Aloe is tree-like. The tall stem of the plant forms many shoots, has narrow and rather succulent leaves.
- Aloe folded. A small tree with a short trunk on which 10–16 elongated leaves grow.
- Aloe is terrifying. The plant is distinguished by fleshy and thick leaves, with small reddish-brown thorns. It blooms with scarlet flowers, collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence;
- Aloe spinous. The plant is characterized by large, numerous and thick leaves with soft and transparent thorns. A white border runs along the edge of the leaf blade.
Species characteristics and features of flowering
Aloe vera or present aloe is a perennial succulent. Leaves are fleshy, thick, green with a matte bloom. Small and rare purple thorns along the edges. The leaves reach 50 cm in length. The bush is formed from branching erect stems. Their surface is covered with recesses from fallen leaves. In wild natural conditions, the shrub is larger - it reaches 3 meters in height.
The roots are straight, powerful, covered with many small roots. In nature, it produces a long peduncle. A racemose inflorescence is formed from the flowers. How aloe vera blooms, you are unlikely to see, since it is usually not possible to achieve flowering in an apartment.
In rare cases, attempts can be successful. In winter, a dormant period is organized at low temperatures of about +15 ° C. Daylight lamps artificially create extended daylight hours. In the spring, they are transferred to a warm place and await flowering. Shrubs bloom at the age of at least 10 years.
The homeland of the flower is the semi-desert regions of Africa and India. In European countries, it is cultivated as a medicinal plant. It is valued for its anti-inflammatory, wound healing, emollient properties.
Aloe vera is often confused with an agave. The centenary is a tree-like aloe. The main difference between aloe vera and agave is its appearance. The agave has longer stems, aloe vera forms a neat bush. Otherwise, they are very similar.
Other pests
Even with good home care, aloe can suffer from mealy worm. This is one of the largest and most visible pests. As a rule, it is mechanically removed from the plant. To do this, just use a brush and tweezers. After removing all the worms, it is necessary to treat the affected areas of the plant with garlic broth (bring half a liter of water to a boil, add 4-5 cloves of garlic, leave to cool).During this period, it is recommended not to expose the plant to direct sunlight. Better to move it to the shade. In the most severe situations, an insecticide can be used.
Also, spider mites can periodically attack aloe. These are very small pests that are almost impossible to notice. They do not like cold water, so in the summer you can spray the agave with a very cold solution of soapy water or tobacco. The spider mite simply does not tolerate these components. Garlic broth also shows high efficiency. If all else fails, then chemical preparations can be used.
