Aloe - home care

This home doctor is in almost every home. The plant is valued not for appearance, but for the benefits it brings. Caring for aloe at home is not difficult, but an ambulance from many diseases will always be on hand.

Aloe care at home

This plant belongs to succulents. It grows in southern and tropical Africa, on Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula. It is hot and dry, aloe is perfectly adapted to such conditions. In a drought, his skin pores close, retaining moisture inside the leaves. Aloe can survive where other plants die. In home culture, as a medicinal plant, aloe vera and aloe vera are most often grown.

What conditions does this exotic prefer?

Illumination, temperature

There is a lot of light in the habitats of aloe. Therefore, the plant loves him very much. But the spring and summer hot sun can be fatal for him. At this time, it is better to shade it from bright sunlight. For growth in the apartment, any window sill, except the north one, is suitable for him. There, aloe will have to be clarified. In summer, the plant will feel good on the balcony or loggia, if they do not go north. You can take it to the garden, where you can choose a place with a shadow in the afternoon. Outdoors, you will have to take care of protecting the plant from rain, since excess moisture is not good for him. So that the tree-like aloe does not stretch, and its trunk does not bend, turn the pot from time to time around its axis. The plant tolerates this procedure painlessly.

If you recall where the aloe comes from, it becomes clear why it loves warmth so much. In summer, he is comfortable in the heat.The temperature should be at least 25 degrees. In winter, during a period of relative dormancy, aloe preferences change. At a temperature of about 10 degrees, the plant does not deplete and spends its energy economically.

Requirements for the substrate and top dressing

At home, aloe does not grow on humus-rich soils. No need to pamper him and the grower. Soil is chosen not too nutritious, but loose, breathable and well-retaining water. The soil for succulents is quite suitable. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself.

Its composition:

• 2 parts of turf land;
• one part of leafy soil, humus and coarse sand;
• ½ part of charcoal and crushed brick.

Aloe loves slightly acidic soil, so you can add a little sour peat to the mixture.

They are fed with fertilizer intended for succulents. Feeding is carried out from the beginning of spring to the beginning of autumn no more than once a month.

Watering and spraying

The severe arid climate in his homeland taught aloe to go without water for a long time. It will completely forgive the forgetful grower rare watering. But for good development, the plant needs to be watered regularly. In summer, this is done 1-2 times a week, as soon as the topsoil in the pot dries. In winter, all life processes in the plant slow down, so it absorbs moisture slowly. It is enough to water the flower once a month. Frequent watering at this time can cause moisture stagnation and, as a result, root decay.

For aloe, the method of watering is also important. Moisture can be applied from above, watering the soil in a pot or pouring water into the pan. The latter method is preferable. Suction roots are located near the bottom of the pot near the plant, so when lower watering it is more likely to be saturated with moisture and use it more efficiently. Top watering, especially excessive watering, can lead to decay of the central rod root.

Half an hour after watering, the water remaining in the pan must be drained.

It is watered with soft, settled water with a temperature close to room temperature or slightly higher. You can immerse the pot completely in water so that it saturates the whole earthen lump well, but the leaves should not touch the water. This flower is always better to underfill than to overfill.

The plant tolerates dry air well, so it is better not to spray it. It also does not like water falling on leaves during watering, especially when it accumulates inside outlets. But the flower will react very favorably to wiping the leaves with a damp cloth. Leaves free from dust and dirt can breathe better.

Transplant and pruning

With good care, aloe can reach impressive size, growing both in width and in height. Such a large specimen will be very uncomfortable in a small pot. Aloe is transplanted in the spring - young plants annually, more mature once every couple of years.

If the plant brought from the store is in the transport soil, it must be transplanted immediately, regardless of the season.

Basic rules for transplantation.

• The diameter of the pot for planting should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.
• Transplanted by transshipment without disturbing the earthen lump. The day before the transplant is watered.
• The pot must have a layer of drainage from expanded clay or small pebbles. It is laid to the bottom at 1/5 depth.
• A layer of soil is poured onto the drainage.
• Carefully remove the aloe from the old pot, remove the earth with undeveloped roots with a stick and place it in a new pot so that the root neck is 2 cm below its edge. If the plant has root rosettes or an additional trunk has formed, it must be planted in a separate pot.
• They fill the voids with soil, slightly compacting it.
• Water the flower a little and put it in a shaded place for several days. Watering at the time of rooting is stopped.

Aloe care necessarily includes pruning. It can be sanitary and performed on the eve of the relative dormancy season. Dry, diseased and brightly colored leaves are removed.

If a leaf for treatment is required, it is cut off completely. Unused residues are stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in polyethylene.

Aloe propagation

This plant is easy to propagate.

To do this, use:

• basal shoots;
• apical cuttings;
• whole leaves;
• seeds.

The vegetative parts of the plant are best rooted during the period of active growth: from May to September. The best time is late spring. It is easier to propagate by root shoots. They already have a root system, so it is enough to carefully separate the process and plant it in a separate pot.

Cuttings about 10 cm long and the tops for rooting are cut with a sharp knife and prepared as follows:

• lower leaves are removed from the stem;
• let him wilt for a few days;
• when the cutting site dries up, it is sprinkled with charcoal and placed in a cuticle with sandy soil;
• before rooting, the stalk grows, covered with a glass jar, the earth must be kept moist;
• as soon as the first new leaf has appeared, the rooted sprout is transplanted into a pot and determine its permanent residence.

The tops and whole leaves also root. The vegetative parts of aloe are able to produce roots if placed in a vessel with soft water. Then the plants are planted in pots with nutritious soil.

Seed propagation is rarely practiced, since it involves great difficulties and is not always effective.

Plant diseases and pests and methods of controlling them

Despite the great vitality, this plant also suffers from diseases and can be affected by pests. Often the oppressed appearance of the plant is a signal of improper care.

Table: Aloe Disease

Aloe is rarely attacked by pests. Plants weakened by poor care are susceptible to this.

Table: Aloe Pests

You can’t immediately take leaves from plants treated with insecticides for treatment. The instructions indicate the wait time. Only at its expiration, it is possible to apply the leaves for medicinal purposes, having previously washed them with water.

At any other time, aloe leaves will help in the fight against many diseases.

Aloe recipes in folk medicine

This plant has a high stimulating biogenic effect, i.e. able to stimulate immunity and accelerate tissue regeneration. And at the same time he has very few contraindications. The healing properties of aloe are recognized not only by folk, but also by official medicine.

Aloe Vera Application:

• to heal ulcers, fistulas and wounds, make an ointment from aloe juice and honey in equal quantities with the addition of a small amount of alcohol;
• herpes relieves lubrication with aloe juice 5 times a day;
• crushed leaves are applied to ulcers, boils and carbuncles;
• erosion and dysplasia of the cervix are fought with tampons soaked in juice;
• with sinusitis and a cold, freshly squeezed juice is instilled into the nose;
• with tonsillitis and pharyngitis, gargling with juice is used;
• recipe for weakened and often ill children: mix 0.5 kg of chopped nuts, 0.5 cups of juice, 0.3 kg of honey and juice of 3 lemons, take a dessert spoon before meals.

Before treatment with any aloe vera medication, you should consult your doctor.

Types and varieties for growing at home

Only a few representatives of this large family are grown in the room.

• Aloe is tree-like. This plant is often called an agave. In room conditions it can grow up to 1 m, giving numerous shoots. The length of the sheet can reach 30 cm, and the width is 6. This species rarely blooms in room conditions. Aloe flower is a pyramidal inflorescence, consisting of many yellow-orange tubules.
• Aloe vera, otherwise called aloe vera or Barbados. It can not boast of large dimensions in room conditions. The width and height of an adult plant is 0.6 m, and the stem is almost invisible. All leaves are covered with small specks, which makes the rosettes decorative. The therapeutic effect of this plant is stronger than that of the aloe tree, and growing aloe vera is not difficult. This is one of the few species for which the temperature in winter does not drop below 16 degrees. Water it more often than other types of plants.
• Aloe motley or brindle. Grows in the form of a small outlet, twisted in a spiral. The leaves are covered with white transverse strokes.
• Aloe spinous. It forms a small outlet with tight-fitting leaves covered with small specks. At the ends of the leaves there are small curved antennae.

Most types of aloe not only have a healing effect. With good care, they are decorative and can decorate a flower garden.