How to Grow Aloe Vera? Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Aloe vera is a monocotyledonous plant in the family Asphodelaceae, and one of the few edible plants in the genus Aloe. Aloe vera has very high economic value and is used in various industries such as food, cosmetics and medicine, and it now has a very wide planting area in our country. So how should aloe vera be cultivated? And what precautions are there? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation methods and precautions for aloe vera. Let's take a look!
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Although aloe vera does not have great demands on soil, when planting it artificially, if you want to increase yield and ensure quality, then the choice of soil is still very important. The soil for planting aloe vera should mainly be soil with sufficient fertility, that is loose and soft, and that drains and irrigates normally. After choosing the soil, do a good job of land preparation. The land preparation should be combined with one application of fertilizer, mainly decomposed farmyard manure, applied at about 1800 kg per mu. Then plow finely and harrow level, then make the beds, controlling the length according to the terrain, with the width kept at about 90 cm. Do not use sticky, heavy soil for planting.
2. Propagation by Division and Seedling Raising
The propagation method for aloe vera is generally mainly division. The division time for aloe vera is in spring, autumn and winter each year, that is, March to April or September to November. Before dividing, first dig out the tillers around the aloe vera, but be careful not to damage the roots, keeping the roots intact, then cut off the underground stem connecting the tiller to the mother plant. After digging out, they can be planted without any treatment. Alternatively, the bud cutting propagation method can be used: select the leaf axils on the mother plant, then cut off new buds of about 8 cm, place them in a cool place to air-dry, and then directly insert them into a shaded seedling bed.
3. Timely Planting Out
The planting-out time for aloe vera also has certain requirements, and the planting-out time can generally be determined according to the division time. So it is also in spring and autumn each year. Whether they are divided seedlings or bud-cutting seedlings, they can only be planted out after they have grown to about 15 cm. When planting out, control the planting density well, keeping the plant-to-row spacing at about 0.5*0.5 m, or 0.4*0.5 m. Plant about two rows per bed, with one plant per planting spot. When planting out, be careful to spread out the roots of the seedlings, then cover with soil and press it firm. If the soil moisture content is insufficient, then be careful to water appropriately.
4. Precautions
In the high-temperature environment of summer, be sure to water in time to keep the soil moist, but the water should not be too much either. Drainage work should also be done well to avoid root rot. During the growth period of aloe vera, do a good job of loosening the soil and weeding. If the rainy season comes, the removed weeds should be promptly cleared out of the garden and can be piled up for composting. Then pay attention to doing a good job of fertilizing. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer before planting, topdressing should also be done about 3 times each year to provide sufficient nutrients for the growth of aloe vera.
The above is a brief introduction to the cultivation methods and precautions for aloe vera. The precautions are also the management work we should do well in planting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can be helpful to everyone!