A Detailed Guide to the Latest Aloe vera Cultivation Methods
Aloe vera is also known as Barbados aloe, American aloe, and Curacao aloe. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Aloe in the Liliaceae family, native to the Curacao Islands and Barbados in the West Indies of the Americas. Its leaves cluster at the top of the stem, upright or nearly upright, each leaf can weigh up to 0.5 to 1.5 kg, thick and juicy, with extremely high edible and medicinal value. Let us take a look at the cultivation methods of Aloe vera below!
Growth Habits of Aloe vera
Aloe vera prefers soil with good water and air permeability, high organic matter content, and a pH value of 6.5 to 7.2. It likes light and tolerates partial shade, but dislikes direct sunlight and excessive shade. The suitable growing environment temperature is 20 to 30°C, and the optimal nighttime temperature is 14 to 17°C. Below 10°C it basically stops growing, and below 0°C the leaf flesh of the aloe freezes and all wilts and dies. It has a strong drought resistance; aloe removed from the soil can be kept dry for several months without dying. During the growing period it needs sufficient water, but it does not tolerate waterlogging. However, the cultivation ecological environment must not be polluted, and attention should be paid to ventilation.
Propagation Methods of Aloe vera
1. Division: A 2-year-old Aloe vera plant can produce 10 to 15 tillers within 1 year. When the tillers grow to 4 to 5 small leaves and 3 to 5 small roots, they can be separated from the mother plant and planted in the field. Division propagation can be carried out throughout the entire growing period of the aloe, but spring and autumn have the most suitable temperature conditions. At this time, the small seedlings propagated by division revive relatively quickly and have a high survival rate.
2. Cuttings: After Aloe vera grows tall, it can be cut from the top of the stem at 10 to 12 cm, or a young shoot 10 to 15 cm long can be cut from the leaf axil, then hung upside down in a cool place for one week to let the cut shrink and dry, and then inserted into a seedbed covered with a shade shed to promote rooting and survival. After the young shoots are inserted, they root in about 20 days. Keep the soil moist and apply appropriate additional fertilizer to promote seedling growth and cultivate strong seedlings.
3. Leaf cuttings: Cut a small opening of a few millimeters at the base of an Aloe vera leaf, twist it off along the center, dry the tiny wound, and then insert it into sterilized sand and mud. At a temperature above 15°C and in a semi-shaded environment, it will root in one month, and sprout at the latest in five months. This method of propagation is very slow, so it is generally rarely used.
Cultivation Methods of Aloe vera
1. Soil: Aloe vera likes to grow in loose soil with good drainage performance that is not prone to hardening. Soil with poor drainage and air permeability will cause the roots to have obstructed respiration, rot, and necrosis, but excessively sandy soil often causes the loss of water and nutrients, making the aloe grow poorly.
2. Temperature: Aloe vera is afraid of cold and grows long-term in an environment without frost all year round. It stops growing at around 5°C. At 0°C, its life processes are impaired. If it is below 0°C, it will suffer frostbite. The most suitable temperature for growth is 15 to 35°C, and the humidity is 45 to 85%.
3. Water: During the growing period, Aloe vera needs sufficient water, but it does not tolerate waterlogging. Before transplanting, both the seedbed land and the transplanting land should be irrigated first, and the seedlings should be lifted and planted only after the surface soil is slightly dry. In rainy and humid seasons or under poor drainage conditions, the leaves are very likely to shrink, the branches and roots to rot, and even death to occur.
4. Sunlight: Aloe vera needs sufficient sunlight to grow. It should be noted that newly planted aloe is not yet suitable for sun exposure; it is best to let it see sunlight only in the morning. After ten days to half a month, it will slowly adapt and thrive in the sunlight.
5. Fertilizer: Aloe vera not only needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also some trace elements. However, in order to ensure that the aloe is a green and natural plant, fermented organic fertilizer should be used as much as possible. Cake fertilizer, chicken manure, and compost are all acceptable, and vermicompost is even more suitable for growing aloe.