How to Grow Aloe polyphylla? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods

Aloe polyphylla, also known as multi-leaf aloe, spiral aloe, and Solomon's jade crown, is an aloe species endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho, with extremely high ornamental value. Seedlings can usually only be obtained through sowing and manual intervention to damage the growth point, so the price of Aloe polyphylla seeds is also among the most expensive of almost all plants. Now let's take a look at how to grow Aloe polyphylla!

Growth Habits of Aloe polyphylla

1. Aloe polyphylla is distributed on high-altitude mountain slopes, growing in loose rocks in basalt rock crevices on steep slopes, and often grows in the cloud belt of Lesotho. The soil in its growing area is well-drained, with ample rainfall in summer.

2. Aloe polyphylla prefers environments with extremely large temperature differences between day and night. During the winter dormant period, the plant can withstand freezing without damage, and in summer daytime it can also endure high temperatures above 40°C. Aloe polyphylla has a very long lifespan and can survive for more than 50 years.

3. Aloe polyphylla does not grow slowly once mature, but because it has a strong apical dominance, it almost never produces offsets under natural conditions. Its flowers are very spectacular and beautiful, but in its native habitat Aloe polyphylla only blooms under special climates, and sometimes when the climate is unsuitable, it may not bloom for many years.

Sowing and Propagation of Aloe polyphylla

1. Method One: Place Aloe polyphylla seeds in the refrigerator for one month (this does not mean quick freezing; as a heat-loving alpine plant, how could it like quick freezing?). Then sow the Aloe polyphylla seeds on the surface of a mixed soil, without any covering, then bottom-water and place in a cool room, keep moist, and wait for germination.

2. Method Two: Sow Aloe polyphylla seeds on pure sand, cover with a thin layer of fine sand, bottom-water and keep moist. The seedling pot needs to be heated (one question: is it heated after sowing or is the medium heated and sterilized before sowing? Personally, I think it is after sowing, because the seeds need heat, and they can be exposed to the sun to achieve the heating purpose). Generally, the first seed will germinate in about 21 days, but it is not ruled out that these little things may take a year to germinate.

3. Method Three: Mix peat and perlite in a 2:1 ratio, place in a pot, then cover with a thin layer of small gravel particles, about 1-2 mm thick. Sow the seeds on the gravel, place the seedling pot in a 20°C environment, and cover with newspaper (newspaper has much better breathability than the plastic film we commonly use) until germination (germination may take 6 weeks).

4. Method Four: Carefully rub off the seed coat of Aloe polyphylla seeds with sandpaper (be careful not to rub too hard), then use the paper towel germination method to promote germination, and they will germinate in 3-4 days.

Cultivation Methods for Aloe polyphylla

1. Watering: Timely watering is especially important to pay attention to in hot summers. Aloe likes light and tolerates heat, but in summer when temperatures are high and rainfall is low, drought prevention is also necessary. Proper watering can achieve higher yields. The watering process should not be excessive; generally watering once every 5-10 days is sufficient. In autumn, watering should be controlled, and spraying water can be used instead. Even if the soil is relatively dry, it does not matter, otherwise root rot is very likely.

2. Sunlight: In autumn and winter, besides keeping warm, also try to let the aloe see as much sunlight as possible. Indoor potted aloe can be placed in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot. If the temperature is low, it can be covered with a transparent plastic bag, and sun exposure can be done after 9 a.m. and before 3 p.m.

3. Fertilizing: During the vigorous growth period, nutrients in the soil are continuously absorbed by the plant. If fertilizer is not applied in time, it will affect the growth of the aloe. Organic fertilizer generally has a slow effect, so you cannot wait until the aloe's growth has been affected before fertilizing, as it will be too late. Do not apply too much fertilizer at one time, and do not let it contaminate the leaves. If contaminated, rinse with clean water.

4. Loosening the Soil: During the cultivation of Aloe polyphylla, management should be strengthened, with multiple loosenings of the soil and weedings, which can promote soil aeration, accelerate the transformation of soil nutrients, promote developed roots, improve disease resistance, and achieve rapid and healthy growth.

5. Harvesting: Aloe that has been grown for about three years can be harvested. Leaves from plants over three years old have higher medicinal value. When picking leaves, generally start from the lower part of the plant, remove mature leaves smoothly, do not damage the plant, and keep the plant body intact throughout. Because aloe leaves contain more than 96% water, the juice flowing out of damaged leaves is a loss of nutrition, and in addition, damaged leaves are not easy to store and will also affect the storage of other leaves.

6. Disease Prevention: Common aloe diseases mainly include anthracnose, brown spot disease, leaf blight, southern blight, and bacterial diseases. Before diseases occur, or after removing the diseased parts of already affected plants, apply 0.5-0.8 Bordeaux mixture of equal parts lime (that is, for every 100 kg of water, add 0.5-0.8 kg each of copper sulfate and lime) to the aloe leaf surface, which can effectively prevent and inhibit the invasion and spread of pathogens. After diseases occur, systemic therapeutic agents such as thiophanate-methyl and metalaxyl, as well as antibiotics such as streptomycin sulfate, agricultural streptomycin, kasugamycin, and validamycin, can be applied directly to kill the pathogens inside the aloe and control the spread of the disease.