How to Grow Potted Aloe Vera: A Complete Guide to the Latest Care Methods
Many friends are asking how to grow potted aloe vera. To grow aloe vera well, you must first understand its habits and the conditions and key points it needs for growth. Aloe vera is an easy-to-grow, hardy plant, very suitable for potted cultivation at home. Of course, to make aloe vera grow fast and propagate abundantly, you must cultivate it carefully according to its characteristics. Aloe vera is a tropical plant, somewhat sensitive to cold by nature. Its most suitable growing temperature is 15-35°C, with humidity of 45-85%. It likes to grow in loose soil with good drainage that does not easily compact.
Propagation Methods for Aloe Vera
1. Division propagation: Division propagation means separating the short shoots (botanically called offsets) that grow from the root zone of the aloe vera and between the stem and leaf axils near the soil surface of the pot, and planting them. They can be transplanted, or directly separated in place and moved after they take root. Division propagation can be carried out throughout the entire growing period of aloe vera, but the temperature conditions in spring and autumn are most suitable. When division propagation is carried out at these times, the young aloe seedlings revive relatively quickly and have a high survival rate.
2. Cutting propagation: Cutting propagation involves taking a plump main stem or side branch from the aloe vera during its growing period as a cutting for propagation. When taking cuttings, make sure the wound on the aloe has dried, which can prevent infection. Wait until roots form before watering. Before that, you can spray water on the potting soil to keep it moist. In addition, treating the dried aloe cuttings with a rooting agent can increase the survival rate of the seedlings and promote earlier rooting.
Planting Methods for Aloe Vera
1. Potting soil preparation: Under potted conditions, aloe vera is confined to a small pot. The suitable growing potting soil must have functions such as retaining fertilizer, retaining water and draining well, and allowing air flow, with a pH suitable at neutral. Materials commonly used to prepare potting soil include field mud, garden mud, humus (fermented and composted fallen leaves, rice straw, wood shavings, etc.), river sand or coal ash. The preparation method is field (garden) mud, humus, and river sand (or coal ash) at 4:4:2 respectively. When preparing, based on local material sources, appropriate changes can be made as long as they do not affect the potting soil's capacity for fertilizer, water, and air.
2. Flower pot selection: Before potting, choose a suitable flower pot according to the variety being planted. Cuilye aloe (Aloe vera) plants are relatively large. After growing for more than a year and a half, the leaves are 50-80 cm long and a single leaf weighs about 500 grams, so the pot should be larger, with a diameter of 25-30 cm. Chinese aloe (Aloe vera var. chinensis) and tree aloe (Aloe arborescens) plants are relatively small, and the pot diameter should be about 20 cm. Alternatively, when planting, you can first use a small pot, and when the aloe plant grows out of proportion to the pot, transplant it to a larger pot.
3. Planting method: When potting, first fill the pot with two-thirds of the potting soil, place the seedling in the pot, spread out the root system, then add the remaining potting soil, gently lift the seedling, and lightly compact the potting soil, just enough so the seedling does not fall over. Then water with a small amount of settling water and place it in a shaded area. After the aloe begins to grow, move it to a sunny spot. But in summer, guard against strong sunlight. Aloe is quite sensitive to sunlight when young, so it should be properly shaded. After planting, some aloe leaves may change color. This is the aloe's seedling recovery period. Once it begins to grow normally, the leaf color will improve.
Daily Care for Aloe Vera
1. Watering: The potting soil of aloe vera should be kept moist. Too much water is unfavorable to the aloe's root system, because aloe is drought-tolerant and afraid of waterlogging. When watering is needed, water gently along the edge of the pot, but do not pour forcefully, so the potting soil does not easily compact and affect its air permeability. When the potting soil becomes compacted, loosen the soil promptly to a depth of about 1.5 cm.
2. Fertilizing: During the growth process of aloe vera, the nutrients in the potting soil alone are not enough. Proper fertilizing is needed to meet its growth needs. Organic fertilizer is better, such as peanut bran (cake), which has good fertilizer effect and is clean and hygienic. Before application, soak it fully in water to ferment, then dilute it with water and apply. If applying chemical fertilizer, apply at a concentration of 0.1%. The number of fertilizer applications depends on the growth of the aloe. If the leaves are needed frequently, apply more often, about once a month.
3. Harvesting: The standard for harvesting aloe leaves is to harvest when the plant has grown for one year or has more than 12 leaves. Cuilye aloe is better harvested after growing for more than a year and a half. The harvested leaves should be plump, smooth, and have clear, transparent gel, so that the various components in the aloe are high in content and effective in use. When harvesting, work from bottom to top, use a small knife to cut a slit on each side of the leaf base, then gently snap it off. The amount harvested should keep the plant with 12 leaves as a baseline.
4. Repotting: Potted aloe vera generally needs repotting once every 1-2 years. It is best to repot in spring from April to May and in autumn from September to October each year. When repotting, keep the soil ball intact and avoid damaging the root system as much as possible. After repotting, it still needs to be kept in a semi-shaded place for a period of care, and only after it has fully recovered should it be moved to a sunny place for care.
5. Sunlight: Aloe vera needs sufficient sunlight to grow. Except that newly planted aloe (about half a month of care) is not suitable for sun exposure and can only see sunlight in the morning, at other times it can be exposed to more sunlight. The more sun it gets, the better it grows.
6. Fertilizer: To grow it well, fertilizer is indispensable. Aloe vera can use fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and some trace elements. To ensure that the aloe is a green, natural plant, use fermented organic fertilizer as much as possible, such as cake fertilizer, chicken manure, compost, etc.
7. Overwintering: If potted aloe vera is placed indoors, it can generally overwinter safely. Keep in mind that 5°C is the minimum safe line for aloe overwintering. When the temperature is above 5°C, take some corresponding measures to keep it warm. In winter, water as little as possible or not at all, you can appropriately spray water on the leaves, and let the potted aloe see as much sunlight as possible.
Summary: Aloe vera is one of the easiest plants to grow. Water it a little when it dries out. It is very suitable for lazy gardeners, and aloe vera has very strong vitality and is extremely easy to grow. Its growth characteristics are that it likes sunlight but fears strong sunlight, likes moisture but avoids waterlogging, tolerates high temperatures, but fears severe cold. Well, that is all for how to grow potted aloe vera. Next, let us continue to look at what to do when potted aloe vera leaves turn yellow!