"Natural beautician" aloe: how to grow it so it grows fast? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and things to note

Everyone knows aloe has many benefits: it is not only ornamental but can also be used for beauty and eaten, and aloe is even a “natural beautician.” Growing aloe indoors can absorb harmful gases and purify the indoor air, so how do you grow aloe so it grows well? Below, the editor will give you a detailed introduction to aloe cultivation methods and things to note.

1. How to grow aloe

Aloe is the easiest plant to grow: when it dries out, just water it a little. This is a plant for lazy growers. Aloe has very strong vitality and is extremely easy to grow. Its growth characteristics are that it likes sunlight but fears scorching sun; likes moisture but avoids waterlogging; tolerates high temperatures but fears severe cold.

1. Reduce watering, watering 1 to 2 times a week.

2. Do not let the leaves touch the soil.

3. Protect from freezing.

4. Let aloe get plenty of sun, but do not expose it to blazing sun.

2. Aloe cultivation methods

(1) Specific cultivation of aloe

Soil and fertilizer: The ideal aloe growing soil is mainly swamp soil and sand, with leaf mold, plant ash and shell pieces added. Clay is not good for drainage and should be avoided as much as possible.

If the soil already contains fertilizer, then no fertilizer is needed at all in normal times.

Watering aloe: When growing aloe, the most important thing is that there must not be too much water, otherwise the medicinal components will become weaker, and in severe cases the roots will rot.

In spring, generally water once every 5 days; in hot summer, water once a day after the sun goes down; in autumn, the watering method is the same as in spring; in winter, aloe almost enters dormancy, and at this time it is enough just to moisten the surface soil.

How aloe overwinters: The safe overwintering temperature for aloe is above 5 degrees. Below zero degrees, the water in the leaves will quickly freeze. When this happens, it is the end of its life.

(2) Aloe care methods

1. Environmental requirements for growing aloe

Soil selection:

Aloe likes to grow in loose soil with good drainage that does not easily compact. Ordinary soil can be mixed with some sand, gravel and ash residue, and if leaf mold and plant ash can be added, even better.

It should be noted that only soil with good drainage and aeration can be used, otherwise root breathing will be blocked, causing root rot and death. However, soil that is too sandy often causes loss of water and nutrients, making aloe grow poorly.

Temperature requirements:

Aloe fears cold, as it has long grown in frost-free environments year-round. It stops growing at around 5°C, and at 0°C its life processes will be impaired; if below 0 degrees, it will suffer frost damage. Its most suitable growth temperature is 15 to 5 degrees, and humidity is 45 percent to 5.

2. Fertilizer and water management for growing aloe

Fertilizer is indispensable for any plant. Aloe not only needs nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but also some trace elements.

In order to ensure that aloe is a green, natural plant, use fermented organic fertilizer as much as possible. Cake fertilizer, chicken manure and compost are all acceptable, and earthworm manure is even more suitable for growing aloe.

Like all plants, aloe also needs water, but it most fears waterlogging. In rainy and humid seasons or under poor drainage conditions, the leaves easily shrivel and the stems and roots easily rot, and it may even die. In summer it has a relatively short dormancy period, so watering needs to be controlled and it is best to keep it dry.

In particular, young plants that have just been potted are not tolerant of high temperatures and rain, so they should be slightly shaded. After autumn, move them indoors for care, preferably in a sunny and well-ventilated place, and watering must also be strictly controlled.

3. Pot care for growing aloe

Preparation of potting soil: Because the root system of potted aloe is limited by the container, it can only maintain life activities in the limited potting soil. Generally, aloe potting soil is required to be loose and fertile, with good drainage, fertilizer retention and aeration, so that after watering the surface crust is not sticky when wet and does not crack when dry, and can retain appropriate water, fertilizer and rich nutrients.

The raw materials for mixing potting soil should be widely available; materials that are low-cost, free of pests and diseases, and pollution-free can be selected, and each place can use local materials according to specific conditions. For potted aloe, besides flower pots, other containers can also be selected according to local conditions, such as boxes, baskets and buckets. It is best to use clay pots, and not advisable to use porcelain pots or plastic pots, because they have poor aeration and easily cause root rot.

Planting method: The best planting period is early May, though spring or autumn is basically also acceptable. Care should be taken to avoid the humid plum rain season or midsummer when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees. If the purpose of planting is to enjoy the flowers and growth, choose aloe with thick, sturdy stems. If aloe is obtained by division, choose thick seedlings that root in spring.

Temperature and light: Aloe originated in tropical and desert regions, so its leaves have a good water-storage function and it will not die of drought when dry. It tolerates drought but fears waterlogging, likes light but fears damp shade, tolerates high temperatures but fears cold.

It will not die after being left in the sun for two months, and can still survive scorching exposure under high temperatures, only stopping growth, while at minus one degree it will suffer cold damage. However, Chinese aloe seedlings do not like light, and especially fear strong light. It is best to place them outdoors in a ventilated place with good light, but in hot summer they should be properly shaded, and in winter they should be placed in a sunny place above 5 degrees to overwinter safely.

4. Aloe propagation methods

Aloe propagation commonly uses division and cuttings. The division method is generally carried out in March to April when repotting, by removing the densely grown young plants around the mother plant and potting them. If the young plants have few roots, they can first be inserted into a sand bed, and potted after rooting. Cuttings are done after flowering in May to June. Cut 10 to 15 cm of the short top stem, let the cut dry, then insert it into a sand bed. Generally, after about 2 weeks they can take root.

(1) Aloe division propagation

Two methods can be used for the specific operation of aloe division propagation. One is to directly peel off from the mother plant the young plants grown from suckers at the base of the aloe stem or roots, with young roots attached, and then transplant them to a nursery or production field.

The other method is to use a division tool to separate the young shoots sprouted by the mother plant from the mother plant, but not pull them out; leave the young shoots in place to grow for a period, generally about half a month, to form an independent root system and reach a completely self-supporting state, then transplant the young shoots with soil and set them in the field, watering once thoroughly right away.

(2) Aloe cutting propagation

Aloe cutting propagation uses the characteristic that the lower ends of rootless aloe main stems and side branches can produce adventitious roots, separating and propagating new aloe plants. This is especially suitable for aloe species and varieties with well-developed division and stem nodes that easily elongate.

After removing the terminal bud, the side buds develop rapidly, and the many branches that grow can be used as cutting propagation material. Aloe cuttings mainly use stem cuttings and root cuttings, while leaf cuttings are difficult to succeed with. Aloe cuttings can be done in the open field, or in protected sheds or greenhouses.

3. Things to note when growing aloe

(1) Choosing flower pots

The process of removing aloe from the ground or a seedling container and putting it into a flower pot is called potting up. Before potting up, a suitable flower pot must be selected according to the size of the aloe seedling. If the aloe seedling is large but the pot is small, it will restrict the growth of the aloe; if the aloe seedling is small but the pot is large, then it looks top-light and bottom-heavy and lacks beauty. In addition, because the seedling is small and the pot is large, after each watering the soil does not dry, which easily causes root rot.

(2) Selecting seedlings

Before potting, there is another very important task: carefully selecting all aloe seedlings. Healthy aloe seedlings should be chosen, and their morphological characteristics should be short and thick leaves, sturdy stems, dark green color, and more than 4 self-roots.

(3) Repotting

Separate the soil into coarse and fine parts, take out the aloe, carefully shake off the soil, and be careful not to damage the roots. Cut off unnecessary roots, and the other roots can be shortened by one third of their length. First place a metal mesh over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and put in coarse soil, stand the aloe on it, hold the aloe upright while pouring in fine soil, and at the same time press and fix the soil beside the plant, making sure no gaps remain between the soil and the roots. After pressing the soil in the flower pot firmly, keep the height about 2 cm below the rim of the pot; finally slowly water thoroughly into the pot, place it in semi-shade for care, and after it recovers move it to a sunny place for care.

Aloe is a “natural beautician,” and many people want to grow aloe at home. So how do you grow aloe so it grows fast? The above introduced aloe cultivation methods and some things to note. Of course, more important is still to be attentive. Only with careful nurturing and watering with love can you grow aloe, or any kind of plant, well.