How do you grow aloe vera at home so it thrives?
Quite a few readers have reported: summer is almost here and they want to grow an aloe vera to wash their face, but no matter how they care for it, the aloe vera just will not do well. So how should aloe vera be grown to thrive? Here is an introduction to how to grow aloe vera: aloe vera is a plant extremely popular with women, not only because its shape and leaves are lovely, but also because it has edible, medicinal...
Quite a few readers have reported: summer is almost here and they want to grow an aloe vera to wash their face, but no matter how they care for it, the aloe vera just will not do well. So how should aloe vera be grown to thrive?
Here is an introduction to how to grow aloe vera:
Aloe vera is a plant extremely popular with women, not only because its shape and leaves are lovely, but also because it has edible, medicinal and beauty benefits. A small potted aloe vera for the home can also be placed on a desk or writing table, giving it ornamental value.
For potted aloe vera, choose a clay or tile pot with good breathability. If you use a new pot, soak it thoroughly in water, otherwise after potting, watering will not easily penetrate the pot, and a half-dry, half-moist pot wall will damage the new roots.
If you use an old flowerpot, wash off the leftover soil residue and moss from the pot, dry it in the sun and then use it; this both increases the pot's breathability and helps prevent pests and diseases. The process of planting a strong aloe vera seedling into a flowerpot is called potting up.
Potting up is the beginning of container growing, and how well this step is done is closely related to the later growth and development of the potted aloe vera. Before potting up, first place a piece of broken tile in the bottom of the pot, pressing it over the drainage hole at the bottom, which both maintains drainage and prevents the potting soil from leaking out.
When potting up, first set the aloe vera seedling upright in the center of the pot, let the root system spread out as much as possible, fill in soil to cover the roots, then gently lift the seedling upward a little and press it down slightly, so that the roots are in close contact with the potting soil above, below, left and right, and firm the potting soil, and finally slowly water thoroughly into the pot. A freshly potted aloe vera should be kept in a semi-shaded place for care, and after it has recovered from transplanting, move it to a sunny place; only after it has taken root can it receive more sunlight.
Aloe vera has an especially strong tolerance for drought; it will not die of dryness even if not watered for a long time, but its growth is inhibited, the leaves become shriveled with no juice, and its usefulness decreases. If watered excessively, however, and the potting soil stays damp and shaded for a long time, the roots will rot and the plant will eventually die.
Therefore, watering should be handled flexibly according to the plant's different growth and development stages and the natural conditions. If the surrounding air humidity is high and evaporation is low, water less; if the air is dry, the temperature is high and air circulation is strong, water promptly to prevent the potting soil and leaves from losing water too quickly.
In spring and summer, watering should be done in the early morning and in the evening; in winter, it should be done at noon. After watering, loosen the soil to reduce water evaporation, which helps new roots grow.
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