What conditions does an aloe need to flower, and will it bear fruit after flowering?
When we talk about aloe, a green, pointed, fleshy leaf comes to mind, and we may never have imagined that an aloe can also flower. It is said that aloe really does flower, but aloe flowering is rarely seen. So some friends may then ask: does an aloe bear fruit after flowering?
Aloe (scientific name: Aloe vera), of the genus Aloe, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family. Its leaves are clustered, large and thick, growing in a rosette or at the top of the stem; the leaves are often lanceolate or short and broad, with sharp tooth-like spines along the edges. The inflorescence is umbel-like, raceme-like, spike-like, or panicle-like, in red or yellow or with reddish spots, with six petals and six pistils. The base of the perianth is mostly fused into a tube.
It can be seen that aloe really does flower. But why have we grown aloe for many years without ever seeing it flower?
It is said that aloe flowering is rarely seen because the environmental requirements for it to flower are quite high.
Aloe grown in tropical regions usually flowers around May, with the flowering stalk reaching a height of 30-40 cm; aloe grown in temperate regions often flowers with difficulty, and will only flower when temperature, humidity and light are all suitable. For an aloe to flower, the following conditions are necessary:
1. Planting for more than 3 years. An aloe planted for more than 3 years can produce beautiful yellow or red flowers. Unfortunately, many aloes that people have cultivated for years never flower, which shows that getting an aloe to flower is not very easy.
2. Full sunlight for one year; cut off water for one month in summer (August), which is an absolute condition for flowering.
3. It must grow in a warm environment in winter.
4. After autumn, add some phosphate fertilizer such as oil residue, chicken manure, or rice bran about every 10 days, until November.
Experts explain that aloe flowering is indeed very rare. The flower stalk can reach up to one meter tall. With good care, the flowering period can last up to 4 months! Although it cannot be linked to any auspicious omen, it shows that the grower takes good care of it, and that climate, humidity, environment and other conditions are suitable, which is why this rare flowering phenomenon occurs.
As for whether an aloe will bear fruit after flowering, some say it will, but sunlight and nutrients must both be sufficient; some say only some aloes will bear fruit, and most wither after flowering with no fruit to be seen; and some say it will not bear fruit at all. Opinions vary widely, and the reason may be precisely that aloe flowering is described even by experts as rarely seen, let alone fruiting.