In order for aloe to grow and develop, you need to study its characteristics, and also know what it likes and what is categorically not recommended for it.

Lighting

Aloe is demanding of light. It is best if the plant is constantly in the sun. During the cold period of the year, you need to periodically move the plant to more illuminated places, and if there is not enough sunlight, then supplement the plant with artificial light.

Watering

The flower is not picky about the frequency and abundance of watering. It is better not to water this plant too much than to oversaturate its soil with moisture.. In cold months, aloe needs to be watered as the soil dries out; watering should be moderate; it is best to use sprinklers that disperse water.

In warm weather, you can water aloe every day, but the procedure itself should be carried out through a tray. Pour water into the tray of the plant pot and leave for 20-30 minutes, and then drain the remaining water. This way the soil will not take on more moisture than it needs.

You will find more information about the rules for watering aloe in.

Where to put it in the house?

When asking the question “Where to put aloe?”, you need to choose windows on the south or east side. There the plant will not freeze and will receive a lot of light. If it is not possible to place a pot with a plant on a warm window, then you can choose any available option, but then it is necessary to maintain proper lighting and temperature conditions for normal growth and development of the flower.

Temperature

The ancestors of the plant come from Africa. Because of this, the plant is biased towards sunlight and heat. Aloe, which we are used to growing at home, feels good at the room temperature people are accustomed to, but during periods of sharp drops in air temperature, it may begin to hurt or disappear completely. It is not recommended to keep the flower at temperatures below +15 °C.

What kind of soil is needed?

• turf land;
• leaf soil;
• humus;
• river coarse sand.

We talked in detail about how to choose the right soil for growing aloe in.

Broken stones are suitable for drainage. Immediately before planting, you need to treat the aloe roots with charcoal.

Which pot should I plant it in?

To plant aloe, the size of the pot must be determined based on the size of its root part. Before planting or replanting, you need to evaluate the width and length of the roots.

You need to choose a pot in such a way that the roots of the plant can fit freely in the soil. Aloe grows quickly, and the roots grow accordingly, so the container for growing the flower should be changed frequently.

Feeding

Like any indoor plant, aloe needs feeding. When fertilizing, you need to take into account the following points::

For aloe you can use the following products: Power of Life, Bona Forte, Agricola.

Fertilizers must be applied exclusively in liquid form onto moist soil or through a tray.

How, with what and how often you need to fertilize aloe, you will learn from.

Trimming

Root pruning is required during planting or replanting of an adult plant.. It is necessary to trim the length of the plant's roots so that in the future the aloe can grow a strong root system in the new soil and new container.

Pruning leaves allows you to control the width of the plant's growth. To ensure that the plant begins to grow upward or does not rest against the walls of the pot, it is worth removing the side shoots.

You can familiarize yourself with the step-by-step algorithm for pruning aloe, as well as the nuances of caring for the plant after the procedure.

Transfer

A plant needs a transplant when it stops growing in an old container., and also if it begins to deteriorate externally. Taking aloe out of an old pot, you can see the root part tightly woven into a lump of earth, this means that the container for the flower is cramped and there is nowhere for the roots to grow.

Replanting is important due to the fact that the soil composition loses its useful substances over time, its structure ceases to be saturated with air, and a whitish coating harmful to plants forms on the soil surface.

You can study step-by-step instructions for transplanting aloe, as well as the intricacies of the procedure.

Humidity

The plant does not like excess moisture in the soil, but also does not tolerate dry indoor air. If it is not possible to place the plant in a room where the air is constantly humidified, then once a week it is necessary to spray aloe and the space in the room with it, this should be done with clean water from a fine sprayer.

Caring for a plant trunk

Aloe stems and leaves require additional care. Leaves should be periodically wiped from dust with a damp cloth.. During dry periods and in dry rooms, it is necessary to humidify the air around the plant, and also spray aloe once a week.

Does he like the cold?

To make it easier for indoor plants to endure winter, you should:

• insulate the windows on which the flowers are placed to avoid drafts;
• if necessary, place a sheet of foam plastic or other warm elevation on the windowsill so that the flower does not receive hypothermia through the lower ball of soil, as this can lead to rotting of the roots;
• if the plant is sick, carry out all therapeutic and preventive measures;
• carry out all necessary pest control methods;
• trim parts of the plant if necessary.

During the winter period, it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules in care:

1. limit the plant’s watering and carry it out only when the substrate is completely dry;
2. water for irrigation should not be colder than room temperature, but preferably warmer;
3. Avoid exposing the plant to direct drafts;
4. the need to illuminate the plant due to lack of sunlight;
5. Do not place the flower on northern windows.

Bloom

Aloe blooms for a long time. The peduncle appears in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are cylindrical, bell-shaped, on long stalks.

Most often, aloe blooms in winter, but there are exceptions. If the plant does not bloom, then pruning is required.

Read about the characteristics of aloe flowering.

Photo

The photo shows an aloe flower, which even a novice gardener can care for at home.

Diseases and pests

The five most common aloe problems are:

• Root rot- if several leaves are found on the plant that have darkened or become limp, then you need to immediately dig up the flower and inspect its roots; they could have rotted. This usually happens due to frequent or excessive watering.

  If several healthy roots were found, then all damaged ones need to be cut off and the flower replanted in new soil. And when there are no healthy roots at all, then you need to completely remove the diseased roots and re-root the plant.

• Dry rot− this disease is completely opposite to root rot. The leaves and root system of the plant dry out completely during the disease. It is possible to save the plant in rare cases, since the disease progresses very quickly.
• Shchitovka is a pest that is located on the back of the leaves of the plant in the form of waxy shields, 2 millimeters long. The pest forms large columns on plant stems. The scales of the scale insect are yellowish or grayish-white in color.

  It is enough to wipe the aloe leaves once a day with a cloth soaked in a vinegar solution. There are no chemicals or insecticides to combat scale insects.

• Mealybug- this is the largest and most noticeable pest, it can be removed from the plant mechanically using a brush or tweezers, and the affected areas can be treated with alcohol tincture of garlic (70% alcohol). At this time, you need to shade the plant for a couple of days. In the most difficult cases, the use of insecticides will be required.
• Spider mite- the pest is very small in size and difficult to detect. He does not like cold water, so in summer the plants can and should be sprayed with cold tobacco infusion or soapy water. Garlic tincture is very effective against ticks. Chemical preparations will require the use of acaricides.

Conclusion

In fact, the flower is very easy to care for, but still requires a little attention. Knowing all the intricacies of caring for aloe, even a novice gardener can easily grow such a useful plant at home.

Aloe is the name of a genus of perennial leafy herbaceous, shrubby, tree-like xerophytes and succulents belonging to the Asphodelaceae family. Distribution area: Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula.

Mention of aloe (akhal) is found in the Bible. In Russian, some species of this genus are called agave. The fact is that when growing at home, it rarely produced inflorescences, hence the name - blooming once every hundred years. Although today, if the plant must be looked after, this exotic phenomenon can be observed annually.

Since ancient times, the plant has been considered a home healer, a symbol of health and longevity.

The plant consists of a stem with fleshy, slightly curved leaves, connected into a rosette in a spiral. They are smooth, jagged (sharp spines, soft cilia), elongated, lanceolate, xiphoid and deltoid. The color ranges from bluish to dark green, sometimes with dark or light spots and streaks.

The leaves store water reserves by closing the pores in unfavorable conditions, so the plant is drought-resistant.

On a high peduncle there are funnel-shaped flowers of various shades from yellow to red.

Types of aloe

The aloe genus has approximately 300 varieties.

Arborescence (tree-like) is especially popular for indoor cultivation.

Caring for aloe at home

Since aloe is a succulent, caring for it involves the same steps as for all similar plants.

Planting, replanting, soil, choosing a pot, pruning

After purchasing a plant, it needs adaptation within two weeks.

The pot is chosen depending on preference.

1. Clay allows the soil to breathe, which allows excess moisture to evaporate. But in the sun, when its walls heat up, the roots of the plant begin to develop towards them, entwining them, while drying out.
2. Plastic ones allow you to water the plant less often, but there is a risk of flooding it.

Soil composition: leaf and turf soil, coarse sand (2:1:1).

Young plants are replanted annually in spring. Five year olds - after 2. Adults - after 3 years.

The day before transplanting, water the aloe. Then perform the following actions:

• Prepare a new pot, lay 1/5 drainage (expanded clay, broken brick), add soil.
• The container with the plant is overturned, carefully removed, placed in the prepared pot, soil is added, and carefully compacted (with a stick with a blunt end, using a clockwise rotational motion).
• Water it a little, if soil gets on the leaves, carefully remove it with a damp sponge, while trying to prevent moisture from getting inside the outlet, this can lead to rotting.
• Place the flower pot in a slightly darkened place. Leave for three days without watering.
• They try not to move the transplanted plant for about a month.

Reproduction

There are four methods of propagating aloe: seeds, leaves, shoots and children.

Seminal

This way you can get a plant only after a year. Obtaining seedlings and caring for them requires a lot of attention.

Sheet

Quite a simple method. Planting material can be obtained very easily by pinching off a leaf from the mother plant; it is better to treat the cut with activated carbon. It is dried for about 5 days. Then plant it in a small pot with a damp substrate, pressing it down 5 cm. Cover the top with a glass container. It should take root in two weeks.

Cuttings

Cut a cutting with about 8 leaves. Dry for 5 days. Planted in moist soil so that the lower leaves are in contact with it. Place on the windowsill on the sunny side. Rooting occurs within a month.

Children

It consists of separating shoots coming from the root from the mother plant. They can be with or without roots. In the second case, the root system will develop some time after planting.

Problems with improper care of aloe, diseases, pests

Mr. Summer resident informs: aloe is a home doctor

The healing properties of agave have been known for several millennia. Medicines based on it have an anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, choleretic, anti-burn, wound-healing effect, they help improve digestion and appetite, treat gastritis and peptic ulcers. Aloe is widely used for pharmacological and cosmetic purposes.

At home, it is used to treat a runny nose. In winter, take fairly large leaves, at least 15 cm, pass them through a meat grinder, filter the juice, and boil for no more than 3 minutes. Place 5 drops into each nostril at intervals of 3 minutes (cannot be stored, the medicinal properties quickly disappear.).

Evaporated aloe juice (sabur) is also used for constipation and to improve immunity. Its use is contraindicated for people with liver diseases, gall bladder, hemorrhoids, cystitis, during the menstrual cycle, and pregnant women.

The aloe flower is just some kind of superhero among plants: it comes to the rescue in cosmetology and the treatment of ailments, and at home it grows unpretentiously and does not require much from the owner. Let's see how to care for aloe at home and achieve maximum benefit from its properties.

Why be friends with this plant? The benefits of aloe are in the juice contained in the fleshy leaves.

• Aloe juice can quickly heal burns and cuts, relieve irritation, moisturize the skin of the face and scalp, and also solve a lot of more targeted cosmetic problems;
• It removes toxins and slows down cell aging;
• Soothes inflammation in the oral cavity;
• Helps in the treatment of stomach diseases;
• It is a mild and effective means of combating runny nose and diseases of the ear and eyes;
• Various elixirs with aloe juice are used to prevent ARVI and improve immunity.

This video shows how to cut an aloe leaf to extract the juice.

Please note that not all people are recommended to drink aloe juice in its pure form. In the early stages of pregnancy, with liver diseases, and problems with menstrual cycles in women, you should not use it. We recommend that you always check with your doctor whether you are making the right decision, even when it comes to harmless houseplants.

By the way, it is useful to remember that among more than five hundred species of aloe, aloe vera and tree aloe (agagave) are most often found on our windowsills. It is they that have taken root among plant lovers as the most suitable for extracting juice for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Tree aloe (agave) at the age of three years

Aloe vera is more like a bush, and agave is more like a tree

Choosing a place for a plant

Aloe will quite like a place reminiscent of his native Africa. Therefore, the plant is welcomed by owners of sunny windowsills where other flowers burn. In this case, direct rays will not be harmful: use them safely, and in winter you can use additional lamps.

Room temperature is optimal for aloe. In general, aloe rarely “complains” about temperature and humidity when in an apartment, for which it has been deservedly recognized as an unpretentious indoor plant.

• In the summer, the pot can be taken out into the open air, but protected from heavy rainfall.
• In winter, it would be good to send aloe to rest: the plant’s dormant period requires a cool place (about 14 degrees). Then the bush will not stretch out in a vain search for the winter sun.

The arid regions of our planet have evolved succulents (plants with specialized water-storing tissues) precisely so that they do not suffer without moisture. This is a really interesting and wise life hack from nature itself:

• The leaves of succulents are covered with a characteristic shell (we feel it to the touch) to reduce moisture evaporation;
• The stems and leaves are filled with moisture, which is clearly visible when broken;
• The rosette shape formed during growth also stores water in the plant;
• The light, coated color of the leaves prevents fading in the sun.

Therefore, our aloe is not demanding in terms of watering, retaining moisture for quite a long time.

• In the cold season, it is recommended to water the plant a couple of days after the visible layer of soil in the pot has dried (about 1-2 times a month);
• In spring and summer, you should moisten the soil a little more often: immediately after it dries.

Do not keep aloe heavily watered all the time, along with other flowers, and do not flood the area of ​​the center of the rosette of leaves: this will often expose the plant to rot.

Top dressing

Before you give aloe care using fertilizers, please read in what cases this should be done. Feeding needed:

• Only for a healthy plant, because the patient must first be cured so that they absorb nutrients;
• Only in the spring and summer (once every two to three weeks);
• Only for a plant that has waited about six months if you replanted it, or after two to three weeks if aloe was purchased;
• Only in the evening or on a cloudy day (to avoid burns);
• Only in regular soil, and not in special compositions for succulents and cacti, since they already contain the necessary elements;
• Only be careful when applying, without touching the leaves and stems (for this it is convenient to pour the fertilizer into the pan of the flowerpot).

Manufacturers make it easier for us to choose fertilizers: we look for them marked “for cacti and succulents” or check with the seller. Aloe loves to live in soil enriched with nitrogen.

• Be careful with the dosage, follow the instructions and it is better to underfeed than overfeed, since the compositions have a strong concentration, which can only be harmful to aloe.

In addition to chemical fertilizers, gardeners often use simple household fertilizers. This can be sweet water, a decoction of onion peels, an infusion of eggshells, water in which cereals were soaked (rice, buckwheat, etc.).

A plant has to “change its living space” if:

• The soil needs to be renewed, as it has already been depleted by years of aloe growth;
• Aloe roots have rotted due to excessive watering;
• It has grown excessively, sits very tightly in the pot and is sprouting roots outward.

Young aloe plants grow very quickly at home, so they need to be replanted once a year. Over time, the growth rate of the plant slows down and upon reaching 5 years of age, adult aloe plants are replanted only once every 3 years.

The new pot should be taller and wider than the previous one. Attach it visually to the plant: let the flowerpot be the same height as the aloe itself from the ground to the top (see photo below).

It's great if you already have soil for cacti and succulents: it's perfect for aloe. If the house only has universal soil, it is better to mix it with sand in a ratio of 1:4.

• Another important nuance: it is advisable to replant aloe only in spring or summer. Otherwise, the plant may not survive the stress and die.

Here are step-by-step instructions for replanting aloe.

How to replant aloe at home

Step 1. Place drainage pebbles on the bottom of the new pot.

Step 2. Pour a few centimeters of soil (not to the top).

Step 3. Carefully “handle” the aloe and remove it from the pot, trying not to injure the roots.

Step 4. Install it in a new flower pot, clearly in the middle and without tilting it to the side.

Step 5. Holding the base with one hand, fill the voids with earth.

Step 6. Move the aloe to partial shade for a couple of weeks.

Step 7. Water three days after transplantation, without touching the leaves.

In case of root rotting, under no circumstances should we plant from an old pot into a new pot without treating the root system. To do this, we carefully clean off the soil, inspect the roots, remove the diseased ones, wash the healthy ones, and only after that we replant.

Aloe propagation

Waiting for the seeds to sprout requires patience. But if you have an adult healthy aloe, the process will go faster. Let's look at how to propagate aloe at home using three popular methods.

Method 1. Propagation of aloe by root shoots

If we free an adult aloe from a pot of soil, we will see where the young shoots begin, attached to the base of the plant. Gardeners lovingly call them “babies.” The children are not at all capricious, they already have their own root system, which goes into the ground along with the roots of the mother plant, and quite easily take root in the new land.

To separate the shoots less traumatically, it is convenient to moisten the soil to make it loose and place the aloe on the table. Carefully separate the shoots from the main plant with your hands or a sharp knife, preserving their small roots.

Next, we plant the shoots in pots with soil (it is better to take not temporary small trays, but pots the size of the growth), thoroughly squeeze the soil on all sides, be patient and care for them in the ways already known to us, waiting for new strong aloe.

Here's a great video tutorial on how to root aloe babies.

Method 2. Propagation of aloe by cuttings

In this case, we need to cut off the top of an adult aloe with several leaves and the side cuttings formed on the trunk. They should be placed in jars of water, making sure that the leaves themselves are not submerged. Some gardeners pre-treat the cutting areas with powdered charcoal and also add rooting compounds to the water. In general, this method assumes that some cuttings may rot or simply fail to take root.

We also gain patience, wait for the roots to appear, and check how the plant feels. If the leaves remain elastic, then the aloe’s chances of developing a root system are high. Those plants that begin to weaken and wither, and their underwater part turns black, will have to be thrown away. After the roots appear, we plant new shoots in the prepared soil and take care of the new addition to your aloe family!

Method 3. Propagation of aloe leaf

The amazing vitality of aloe allows it to be propagated even with the help of leaves! They are cut from the mother trunk (sheets about 8 cm long are suitable), put away in a dark, warm place for several days to dry the cuts. Then the leaves are planted cut side down in moist soil. This is the case when you should not allow the soil to dry out: keep the soil moist enough so that the leaves can take root. But only later, when the plants develop, follow the scheme already familiar to us: let the soil be better dry than overwatered.

Aloe diseases

Most often, homemade aloe begins to hurt due to too much and frequent watering. Having the ability to accumulate water in the leaves, the plant does not have time to drink enough from the ground, the moisture stagnates and causes rotting of the roots and shoots. The second common mistake of aloe owners is to pour water into the center of the leaf rosette: it stands there as if in a pool, causing the trunk and leaves to die.

• The main rule is to water aloe when the visible layer of soil has already dried, and when watering you should lift the leaves or use bottom watering (there will be enough water in the pan).
• A problem for the appearance of aloe can be a lack of light: the plant will begin to stretch, become shapeless and resemble an octopus monster. We remember the importance of sunlight and the need for lamps if you live in a city that is not too sunny.
• Brown spots and yellow tips are a consequence of freezing the plant or extremely dry air (for example, if the aloe is behind the battery and touches it).
• Rarely, aloe can harbor insect pests, which are destroyed by special plant treatments.

Grow aloe with love, and these unpretentious plants will repay you with kindness in a variety of everyday situations, “stretching out” a useful leaf!

In this video you can get comprehensive and visual information on caring for tree aloe.

Botanical name: Aloe.

Aloe domestica - family. Liliaceae.

Homeland of the plant. North Africa.

Description of aloe. The genus contains more than 300 species of succulents, as well as hybrids, small and large, rosette plants. These are evergreen perennials, shrubs or small trees with a very modest root system.

Agave are slow-growing succulents found primarily in the African bush and vary in size and shape.Many of them have fleshy thick leaves have hooked teeth or spines, even in the middle of the leaf.

Leaf color ranges from green to blue-green, with some aloes even being reddish in color. Variegated forms have blotches, spots, or stripes on the leaves. The leaves reach 30 - 60 cm in length and 5 - 8 cm in width.

Spikes vary in size and shape depending on the variety of aloe.

Throw away tall slender peduncle up to 90 cm in height from the center of the rosette, it can be branched.

Flowers vary in size but are generally tubular and range in color from white to bright red, yellow and orange. Seeds are produced in dry capsules as soon as the flowers disappear. home blooms only 3 - 4 years after planting

, but its flowers have a pleasant sweetish aroma. For flowering it is necessary to keep during warm periods outdoors and provide the plant with sufficient sunlight indoors.

Aloe vera is a long-living indoor plant that lives up to its popular name - agave, and its juice has an amazing healing effect when rubbed into wounds, bruises and even hair. It can also be used to relieve pain from burns.

Aloe has been cultivated for a long time and is acclimatized in many countries around the world, where it is used both in medicine and in cosmetics.

Height. Up to 1 m.

2. Aloe at home

2.1.Air humidity

A very undemanding plant that easily tolerates a fairly dry atmosphere in residential premises - suitable for growing it fairly dry air.

Aloe does not need spraying, and the ingress of water droplets into the leaf rosette can cause rot.

2.2.Water aloe

The plant is a succulent, its leaves contain up to 96 percent water, it tolerates drought well.

Between waterings, even in warm months, be sure to dry the substrate. In spring and summer, when the plant is actively developing, it is worth watering so that the soil dries out to a depth of about 2 - 3 cm between waterings.

In winter, water very rarely and each time make sure that droplets of moisture do not fall into the rosette of leaves - the plant will rot. In some species, during prolonged drought, the edges of the leaves begin to curl - this sign will be a signal for the need for regular watering in the winter months.

Low varieties can be watered by immersing the pot completely in a large container of water at room temperature. Of course, excess moisture from the pan should be drained immediately after watering.

For irrigation, use only well-settled water at room temperature.

2.3.Aloe propagation

Leaf cuttings with a petiole can be rooted quite easily in spring or summer at a temperature of about 20 ° C, but be sure to dry them out for several days before planting. Sprinkle the cut area with crushed charcoal before drying. Leaf cuttings are placed in the substrate to a depth of no more than 2 cm.

Stem And apical cuttings separated from the mother plant in such a way that each cutting has 4 - 5 leaves.

The lower leaves from rooted stem or apical cuttings should be removed - this way they can be planted in wet sand at a greater depth, which, in turn, will allow for a stronger root system and reduce the area of ​​​​moisture evaporation.Leaves are removed by tearing them off with your hands - in this case, the plant does not have any remnants of leaf plates that can rot. Wound surfaces are treated with crushed charcoal and dried in a dark place.

It is worth watering the cuttings very sparingly, but without drying out the substrate, rooting takes a long time - about a month.

The successful completion of rooting will be indicated by small young leaves appearing on the cuttings.

For young plants, the air temperature should be above 20 ° C - when placed in cool conditions, plants die quickly.

Small ones are also used for propagation. daughter plants - babies, which sometimes appear near the mother plant.

Such root shoots are separated with a sharp sterile instrument when they develop their own root system. Rooting can be done in a regular glass of boiled water.

Remember that young plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

For patient plant growers, for whom it is important to observe the entire process of plant development from the very beginning, reproduction by using seeds.

Seeds are sown in the ground in the spring - when the plant is ready to develop - they are planted in a loose, moistened substrate and covered with a layer of earth about 2 cm thick.

To maintain uniform humidity, cover the container with seedlings with transparent film or glass. With the appearance of the first shoots, the shelter can be removed.

Young plants are kept in a warm place at a temperature of at least 21° C, shaded from direct sunlight.

2.4.Transplanting aloe

As the pot fills, indoor aloe plants are planted in a container of slightly larger diameter in the spring or early summer. The need for replanting can be indicated by roots that appear in the drainage holes of the pot. Young plants are replanted annually, adult specimens - once every 2 - 3 years.

1. To disembark, select a little cramped potty with large drainage holes, the diameter of which should be half the length of the leaves.
2. Strongly overgrown specimens are difficult to remove from the pot - such plants can be soak in warm water for 1 - 2 hours, and before planting in a new pot, lightly dry the root system in air.
3. The walls of plastic pots with an earthen lump tightly braided with roots are lightly kneaded with your hands and, if necessary, cut.
4. When planting a plant at the bottom of the pot, it is worth placing a thick enough drainage layer from brick chips, polystyrene foam or expanded clay.
5. The root system is carefully cleaned of old soil and the plant is placed in a new container at the same depth at which it was previously located.
6. Old and rotten roots are cut off when transplanting. with a sharp sterile instrument.
7. After replanting, the soil around the stem should be lightly compacted with your fingertips to remove air pockets.

Instead of transplanting, you can use gentle transshipment- preserving the lump of earth and the root system - simply sprinkling the plant with fresh soil around the edges.

After transplanting into fresh soil, stop watering for 7 - 10 days and place the plants in shade from direct sunlight.

2.5.Soil

Any suitable soil for cacti and succulents with a little sour or neutral pH ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 and adding plenty of coarse river sand or perlite to improve drainage.

The composition of the soil may include turf and light leaf soil, peat. You can add a small amount of charcoal to the growing soil - this will disinfect the substrate and make it looser.

2.6.Growing temperature

Aloe indoors - plants that are tolerant to any temperature residential premises. The optimal temperature is 21 - 26 ° C, the flower tolerates temperature drops to 10 ° C well.

Aloe does not like extreme heat at home; wintering should take place in a cool place with a temperature of about 12 ° C.

A cool winter is very important for flowering to occur.

2.7.Lighting

Prefers very bright light, but not direct sunlight.

In autumn and winter, if there is no dormant period, the plant may need additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

Do not move plants from indoors to open sun right away - let the leaves gradually adapt to the change in lighting.

2.8.Pests and diseases

Most often, keeping aloe indoors does not cause any particular difficulties - most diseases of this plant will be caused by improper care.

Plants may be affected mealybugs. Inspect the leaves regularly for these pests, and if the plant appears weak, remove the top 1 to 3 cm of substrate and make sure the roots are not affected.

2.9.Feeding

In spring and summer, during the growth period once every two weeks fertilizer for succulents and cacti at half concentration.

In autumn and winter, when the plant is resting, no fertilizing is carried out.

Remember that aloe is a succulent and stores a large supply of moisture and nutrients in thick leaves.

If you plan to use aloe juice for medicinal purposes, then of course you should use only organic fertilizers.

Fertilizer is applied only on wet soil - after watering. If a nutrient solution gets on the roots in a dry substrate, it can cause a burn.

2.10.Blossom

Blooming aloe in cultivation is a rather rare phenomenon; flowering occurs only in the presence of a good light source.

Maintaining a cool dormant period will be very important for the formation of buds.

2.11.Care, pinching

Aloe plants are undemanding in care and are suitable for beginning flower growers. It is important to provide them good drainage and enough sun.

Promptly remove flower stalks and old leaves after flowering.

High grades are often require support for good growth.

Take out the plants for fresh air in the warm season, using shelter from the rain.

Some tall species need pinching to form a compact, beautiful plant or as a support for vertical development.

Pruning long stems are carried out in the spring, with the beginning of new growth, and old, drying leaves are also promptly removed.

Wipe the leaves with a slightly damp sponge from time to time to remove dust.

2.12.Purpose

An aloe flower in a pot is a showy decorative foliage plant, and aloe juice has many beneficial properties and is widely used in cosmetology and folk medicine. Aloe with honey and lemon strengthens the immune system and is used as an expectorant.

2.13.Note

Aloe juice and especially aloe vera is used in cosmetic lotions, creams, ointments, and shampoos. It is believed that Cleopatra used it. Agave juice has tonic, bactericidal, wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties- There are many recipes for its use, but there are also contraindications. For respiratory diseases, aloe juice is taken orally mixed with honey; in addition, the plant juice can strengthen the immune system and increases the number of red blood cells in the blood - it is used for anemia.

Plant poisonous for cats and dogs. An amazing feature of this plant is that its juice is used for rooting cuttings and for soaking seeds of other plants - this is the percentage of rooting and seed germination. The plant has phytoncidal properties and is capable of killing pathogenic microorganisms in the air, and in addition very effectively cleans the atmosphere of harmful gases such as formaldehyde.

3.Types of aloe with photo

3.1. Aloe tree - Aloe arborescens

The most common species in indoor culture, with long, very juicy, green or bluish leaves. Almost 99% of aloe leaves consist of water. Along the edges of the leaves there are short but strong spines. In the natural environment, this species blooms with large pink or red flowers located at the tops of peduncles, but at home, flowering rarely occurs.

3.2.Aloe white

There are no pure white varieties of aloe yet, but there are several subspecies whose leaves have light shades, as close as possible to white, for example, Somali aloe - Aloe somaliensis, short-leaved aloe - Aloe brevifolia, Aloe Descoingsii - Aloe descoingsii and Aloe dhufarensis.

3.3. Aloe variegated, striped or tiger - Aloe variegata (Tiger Aloe)

A small succulent evergreen plant forming a rosette or large, succulent, triangular, sessile leaves. The leaves are painted in a dark green shade with transverse light stripes and a light border along the edge of the leaf blades. During the flowering period, it produces tall erect peduncles, on top of which there are many pinkish-red tubular flowers with small petals.

3.4.Aloe ferox

In its natural environment it reaches 2 - 3 m in height. Based on the name, it becomes clear that this subspecies is equipped with strong spines, and they grow not only on the ribs, but also in the center of the leaves. The leaves are oblong - triangular, green, with a bluish waxy coating; in bright light they acquire a pinkish - purple tint. The peduncles are borne on the tops of inflorescences - candles, which contain a very large number of orange flowers with a long floral tube.

3.5.Aloe Barbados or Aloe vera - Aloe vera

familiar to all of us agave. It is a succulent evergreen shrub up to 1 m high. The stem bears long, succulent, light green leaves with thorns on the ribs, arranged in a spiral. Young leaves sometimes have lighter or darker spots on their surface, but these disappear with age. When kept in direct sunlight, the edges of the leaves become pinkish. It is widely used in medicine and cosmetology.

Aloe multifolia, living in the mountains of Lesotho at an altitude of about 2500 m above sea level, tolerates frost and snow cover for quite a long time. U aloe bulbiferous in the lower part of the inflorescence, instead of flowers, “bulbs” develop, which also serve for vegetative propagation.

3.6.Aloe albiflora

Compact succulent with thick, succulent, long leaves collected in a rosette. The leaves are almost rolled into a tube, colored dark green with light green or yellowish specks. When grown in a well-lit place, the leaves appear burgundy. The edges of the leaves are equipped with small, sharp, light-colored teeth. The peduncles are thin, erect, often branched towards the apex, 30 - 35 cm high. The flowers are white, bell-shaped, drooping, with a thin greenish stripe in the center of the petals, reaching 1 cm in diameter.

3.7. protruding - Aloe squarrosa

An attractive decorative foliage succulent that develops a thick, often drooping stem with age. The leaves are broadly triangular, thick, juicy, colored green or dark green with small light specks, reaching a length of 8 cm. Small light spikes form along the edges of the leaves, and sometimes right in the center. Peduncles are leafless, thin, 10 - 20 cm high. The flowers are small, tubular, orange with greenish tips.

3.8.Aloe cap-shaped - Aloe mitriformis

An amazing plant that, with age, forms long lodging, branched stems up to 2 m long, and the plants develop quite quickly. The leaves are thick, succulent, triangular, green or pinkish, sessile. On the edges of the leaves there are rows of short thick spines of white or yellowish color. Peduncles are thin, leafless, branched towards the apex. The flowers are tubular and salmon-colored with brown or gray tips. Flowering is very abundant.

The smallest stemless species of aloe with widely triangular, thick, fleshy leaves collected in basal rosettes. The leaves are dark green, often with small light specks, reaching a length of 4 cm. Peduncles are leafless, erect, 12 - 18 cm high, each capable of bearing up to 15 bright, orange, tubular flowers.

3.11.Aloe plicatilis

Very spectacular succulents that, with age, form thick, powerful, branched trunks covered with brownish-gray bark. In its natural habitat, this species reaches a height of 3 - 5 m. The leaves are belt-shaped, juicy, flat, green, often covered with a bluish waxy coating. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and reach a length of 30 cm. The peduncles are thick, short, powerful, and bear tubular orange flowers at the tops.

3.12.Aloe haworthioides

Low-growing, attractive succulent plants that form basal rosettes of thick, succulent, triangular leaves, colored in dark green or brownish shades. The height of the plant does not exceed 10 cm. The leaves are abundantly covered with long, thin, often curved, light-colored cilia. Each rosette is capable of producing several erect peduncles with bright, orange flowers.

3.13.Aloe shortleaf - Aloe Brevifolia

Miniature succulents with thick, triangular leaves gathered in basal rosettes. With age, this species forms low, thick stems. The leaves are triangular, green, often covered with a bluish waxy coating. On the edges of the leaves there are short, thick teeth. The leaves of some specimens can acquire a pinkish tint. The peduncles are tall, erect, forming long, tubular, orange flowers at the top.

3.14. Juvenile aloe - Aloe juvenna

Succulent plants with long, lodging stems branched at the base, up to 30 cm high. Thick, succulent leaves are triangular in shape and abundantly cover the stems. In appearance, the leaves of this plant resemble faucaria. The shade of the leaves will depend on the degree of illumination - when grown in partial shade, the leaves will remain green with small white specks; in direct sunlight, the plant acquires a delicate pinkish tint. The small, light-colored teeth along the edges of the leaves appear sharp, but are actually soft. During the flowering period, tall peduncles with many tubular, salmon-green flowers appear at the tops of the shoots.

3.15.Aloe spiral - Aloe polyphylla

Stemless plants that form a very impressive, symmetrical, basal rosette of leaves. The leaves are succulent, green, triangular, arranged in a spiral. Often the surface of the leaves is covered with a bluish waxy coating. An interesting feature of the plant is that the leaves can be arranged either clockwise or counterclockwise. The edges of the leaf blades are equipped with small greenish teeth, and at the tops of the leaves there are already sharp brownish teeth. In spring or early summer, the plants produce flower stalks with tubular red or salmon-colored flowers.

3.16.Aloe Rauh - Aloe rauhii

A beautiful decorative foliage plant that forms a leaf rosette with a diameter of 10 to 20 cm. With age, some plants can form low stems. The leaves are thick, juicy, sessile. Young leaves are dark green with small silvery specks on the surface. With age, when grown in direct sunlight, the leaves may take on a pinkish or purple hue. During the summer months, the plant can grace itself with an erect, tall flower stalk bearing tubular salmon-colored flowers.

3.17.Aloe Marlota - Aloe marlothii

In their natural habitat, these plants can form tall stems bearing the remains of old leaves and in this case their appearance will resemble yucca. Very large succulents with thick, fleshy leaves that can reach a length of 1.5 m. The leaves are narrowly triangular, green, often covered with a blue waxy coating. When grown in good light, some plants may take on a bright orange or pink hue. In the warm season, the most gorgeous branched inflorescences with many orange or yellow flowers appear.

3.18.Aloe spinous - Aloe Aristata

An evergreen dwarf species that is a stemless leaf rosette resembling a haworthia. The leaves are dark green, triangular, up to 15 cm long, covered with small light tubercles. Old leaves at the base of the plant may take on a pinkish-bronze hue. The entire surface of the leaves is covered with small light spines. The vertical flower stalks bear a multitude of bright orange flowers at the tops.

3.19. Soap aloe - Aloe saponaria

An evergreen perennial plant forming rosettes of thick, broadly triangular leaves of dark green color. Light green or bluish specks run across the leaf blades. When grown in full sun, the leaves may turn pinkish-red. Vertical flower stalks reach a height of 90 cm and bear tubular coral flowers at the top.

You will never meet a superstitious Turk chewing chewing gum at night, because it is believed that after midnight it turns into the flesh of dead people.

What awaits you in the near future:

Find out what awaits you in the near future.

Aloe in the house: signs and superstitions

The main part of the signs about aloe is related to whether this flower can be kept at home or not, where exactly it is best to place it, and what the metamorphoses occurring with it mean for household members.

Is it possible to keep aloe at home - what do the signs say?

Miracle first aid kit

If you ask this question to any grandmother over 70 years old, you will get an affirmative answer - keeping aloe at home is not only possible, but necessary! After all, this is not a flower, but a real home first aid kit. Leaves with juicy pulp cut lengthwise heal any wounds and burns, the juice cures gastrointestinal diseases, saves from arthritis and arthrosis, cough and runny nose, and a good two to three dozen other ailments. This is how this flower grows on grandmothers’ windows for decades, growing and delighting housewives with numerous shoots and spreading powerful stems.

Energy in the house

By how well aloe feels in the house, one can judge whether everything is good with the energy of the home. If aloe blooms, omens interpret this as a very good sign - your home is under the protection of higher powers, and everything in your family will be fine. Signs about blooming aloe are few and very clear - one can only rejoice at this event.

It’s bad if the flower begins to turn yellow, dry out and wither. If, with all this, it is planted in a spacious pot, in good soil, you water it on time, it has enough light and warmth, then signs of dried aloe at home interpret it as a great danger - a stream of negative energy has fallen on your house. The flower reflected it, taking the blow upon itself. But you should look for the source of evil in your immediate environment, otherwise next time you yourself may be hit.

If a flower feels good, does not bloom, but produces new shoots, grows quickly and turns beautifully green, it means that the atmosphere in the house is positive and there is no threat from outside.

• If you come across the opinion that it is impossible to keep aloe at home, then you should look for its roots not in signs, but in the teachings of Feng Shui.

It does not welcome thorny plants in the house. But he admits that it is still possible to keep them on windowsills - this way the thorns of the flower will reflect negativity that can penetrate into the home from the outside along with envious or unfriendly glances.

Where to put aloe in the house

It is believed that the best rooms for an aloe flower will be