How to grow potted aloe? Master these methods to make it grow well
Many friends are asking how to grow potted aloe. To grow aloe well, you must first understand aloe's habits and the conditions and key points it needs for growth. Aloe is a plant that is easy to grow and keep alive, and it is very suitable for potted growing at home. Of course, to make aloe grow fast and propagate abundantly, you must cultivate it carefully according to its characteristics. Aloe is a tropical plant and is rather sensitive to cold by nature. Its most suitable growing temperature is 15-35°C, humidity is 45-85%, and it likes to grow in loose soil that drains well and does not easily become compacted.
Aloe propagation methods
1. Division propagation: Division propagation means separating and planting the short shoots (called offsets in botany) that grow from the root crown of the aloe and from the leaf axils of the aboveground stem near the soil surface. They can be transplanted, or directly peeled off in place and moved after they take root. Division propagation can be carried out throughout aloe's entire growing period, but the temperature conditions in spring and autumn are most suitable. When division propagation is carried out at this time, aloe seedlings recover quickly and the survival rate is high.
2. Cutting propagation: Cutting propagation means taking a plump main stem or side branch during aloe's growing period as a cutting for propagation. When taking cuttings, make sure the wound on the aloe has dried, which can help avoid infection. After it takes root, water it again. 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 make them root earlier.
Aloe planting methods
1. Potting soil preparation: Under potted conditions, aloe is confined to a small pot. Suitable growing potting soil should have functions such as retaining fertilizer, retaining water and draining, and allowing air flow, and its pH should be suitably 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, according to local material sources, appropriate changes can be made without affecting the potting soil's fertilizer, water, and air conditions.
2. Flower pot selection: Before potting, choose a suitable flower pot according to the variety being planted. Aloe vera plants are relatively large. When grown for more than one and a half years, the leaves are 50-80 cm long and a single leaf weighs about 500 grams, so the flower pot should be larger, with a diameter of 25-30 cm. Chinese aloe and Aloe arborescens plants are relatively small, and the flower pot diameter is about 20 cm. Alternatively, when planting, you can first use a small flower pot, and when the aloe plant grows out of proportion to the flower pot, transplant it into a larger flower pot.
3. Planting method: When potting, first fill the pot with two-thirds of the potting soil, place the seedling in the pot, spread the root system, then fill in the remaining potting soil, gently lift the seedling once, and press the potting soil slightly, as long as the seedling does not fall over. Then water lightly to settle the roots, place it in a shaded place, and after the aloe begins to grow, move it to a sunny place. But in summer, guard against strong sunlight. Aloe is more sensitive to sunlight when young, so it should be shaded appropriately. After planting, some aloe leaves may change color. This is aloe's seedling recovery period. When it begins to grow normally, the leaf color will improve.
Daily care for aloe
1. Watering: Aloe potting soil should be kept moist. Too much water is bad for 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 flush forcefully, so that the potting soil does not easily become compacted and affect its air permeability. When the potting soil becomes compacted, loosen the soil in time to a depth of about 1.5 cm.
2. Fertilizing: During aloe's growth process, the nutrients in the potting soil alone are not enough. Proper fertilization is needed to meet its growth needs. Organic fertilizer is better, such as peanut meal (cake), which has good fertilizer effect and is clean and sanitary. Before application, soak it fully in water to ferment, then dilute it with water and apply it. If applying chemical fertilizer, apply it at a concentration of 0.1%. The number of fertilizer applications depends on aloe's growth condition. If the leaves are often needed for use, 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. For Aloe vera, it is better to harvest after it has grown for more than one and a half years. The harvested leaves should be plump, smooth, and have clear, transparent flesh, so that the content of various components in the aloe is high and the use effect is good. When harvesting, work from bottom to top, use a small knife to make a cut on each side of the leaf base, then gently snap it off. The amount harvested should keep the plant with 12 leaves as the baseline.
4. Repotting: Potted aloe cultivation generally needs repotting once every 1-2 years, preferably in spring from April to May and in autumn from September to October each year. When repotting, keep the soil ball intact and try not to damage the root system. After repotting, it still needs to be kept in a semi-shaded place for a period of care, and after it has fully recovered, move it to a sunny place for care.
5. Sunlight: Aloe needs sufficient sunlight to grow. Except that newly planted aloe should not be exposed to the sun (within about half a month of cultivation) and can only get some 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 can use fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and some trace elements. To ensure that aloe is a green, natural plant, use fermented organic fertilizer as much as possible, such as cake fertilizer, chicken manure, compost, and so on.
7. Overwintering: If potted aloe is placed indoors, it can generally overwinter safely. Remember that 5°C is the minimum safety line for aloe overwintering. When the temperature is above 5°C, take some corresponding warming measures. In winter, water as little as possible or even not at all. You can appropriately spray water on the leaves, and let the potted aloe get as much sunlight as possible.
Summary: Aloe is one of the easiest plants to grow. When it dries out, just water it a little. It is very suitable for lazy people to grow, and aloe has very strong vitality and is extremely easy to grow. Its growth characteristics are that it likes sunlight but fears strong sun, likes moisture but avoids waterlogging, tolerates high temperatures, but fears severe cold. Well, that is all for how to grow potted aloe. Next, let us continue to look at what to do when potted aloe leaves turn yellow!