Aloe Vera Growing Methods and Pruning Techniques Explained in Detail

Everyone is very familiar with aloe vera; what we buy is basically aloe gel that has already been processed, and very few people buy raw aloe to DIY it themselves. Generally, large supermarkets carry raw aloe, and its emerald green appearance is very eye-catching. Aloe vera can also be called American aloe, oily scallion, and so on. So do friends who love green plants know how to grow aloe vera? How should it be pruned?

I. How to Grow Aloe Vera

Growing aloe vera is nothing unusual; many households have aloe vera. The editor has summarized the growing techniques for you:

1. Soil

Aloe vera likes to live in an environment with good air permeability, so suitable soil must be chosen. Generally, field mud and garden mud can be mixed together. This way, drainage is good, and it can also breathe, allowing it to grow quickly.

2. Watering

Aloe vera grows noticeably faster in a moist environment, so if you grow aloe vera, you should water it frequently. Although watering should be frequent, it must not be excessive. Generally, just water along the edge of the flowerpot; do not hold the watering pot and pour it all down at once, as this will splash onto the ground and also affect the potting soil.

Aloe vera is relatively heat-tolerant; without soil it can survive for a short time without dying, but without water the opposite is true.

3. Fertilizing

All green plants cannot do without the step of fertilizing; fertilizing is to let aloe vera grow better. During its growth process, aloe vera needs a certain amount of nutrient fertilizer added, just like us humans; supplementing nutrients naturally leads to better development. For nutrient fertilizer, you can go to a green plant shop on the market to have it mixed, and then ask clearly about the ratio before proceeding.

4. Repotting

Generally, aloe vera bought home can be repotted after about half a year. It is most suitable to choose the transition season between spring and summer each year, or around National Day. Repotting aloe vera is to let it grow better; maintain the soil moisture in the new pot, and for the first week you can place the aloe vera indoors, avoiding direct sunlight. After the aloe vera adapts to the new environment, you can move it outside for normal care.

5. Overwintering

In winter, many people who grow green plants get headaches, because the green plants at home will die due to the cold weather. Aloe vera is the same, and also needs to be moved indoors to overwinter. In winter, the outdoor temperature is low, and if aloe vera stays outdoors for a long time, it will not be able to withstand the cold and will get frostbitten. After taking good warmth measures, water normally, and on sunny winter days move it outside to receive the nutrients of sunlight.

II. How to Prune Aloe Vera?

Friends raising aloe vera for the first time will all encounter a problem: how exactly should you dare to start pruning an aloe vera covered in spines? Let us take a look together:

Decide on the shape before starting. Aloe vera is not like other green plants; once it has grown relatively stably, if you fail to control your cut and prune it into an ugly shape, it is very hard to remedy, so everyone should be sure first, and then disinfect the tool, so that the aloe vera can be protected from bacterial infection.

Start pruning along the base of the aloe vera leaves, and be careful not to let your hand shake and cut the root stem. After pruning, tidy up the potted plant, and then replenish water.

After pruning is completed, the aloe vera will become more upright and appear especially tall.

Growing aloe vera is already very common in many households. Treat it with an ordinary mindset, do not water and tend it all the time, and with careful care they will naturally live longer.