Aloe SAPONARIA

Aloe SAPONARIA - Soap Aloe, Spotted Aloe, Zebra Aloe, Aloe MACULATA.

Aloe is a genus of very popular succulent plants belonging to the Asphodelaceae family. This genus contains approximately 400 species and includes a large number of plants that possess fleshy, very juicy leaves with fairly soft spines located along them. There are shrubby, tree-like, herbaceous forms, as well as lianas. In the wild, aloe can be encountered in Africa, with a large number of species growing on the Arabian Peninsula and in Madagascar. Translated from Arabic, "aloe" means "bitter".

These plants have moderately sized tubular flowers, typically colored red, orange, white, or yellow. The flowers sit on an elongate peduncle in a terminal multi-flowered raceme. Indoors, it practically never blooms. Aloe lives in a flower pot for 5-20 years, for which it is also known as the "century plant".

Virtually all cultivated species of aloe are suitable for indoor keeping and can even be used to green children's rooms. It is frequently used as a "home doctor". The plant is very unpretentious, and problems related to its care generally never occur. This plant can easily endure a lack of light, moisture, as well as warmth. Species that were once rarely cultivated now increasingly adorn winter gardens. The century plant will make an excellent addition when composing arrangements that include slow-growing plants.

Aloe SAPONARIA is a shrubby plant with a thick, branched stem, often forming numerous rosettes consisting of 12-20 leaves. The leaves are lanceolate, 45-60 cm (18-24 in) long and 5-7 cm (2-2.8 in) wide at the base, tapering from the middle to the apex, green with white spots, flat on the upper surface, and convex below. Leaf margins are spiny-dentate. The spines are horn-shaped with a brownish-red apex, up to 0.5 cm (0.2 in) long. The peduncle is 50-70 cm (20-28 in) tall. Racemes are short. The flowers are bright yellow or reddish-yellow. Flowering occurs in May-June.

Seeds are pre-soaked for 4-6 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide with the addition of stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon), then sown into a moist substrate consisting of leaf mold and river sand layered over expanded clay pre-scalded with boiling water. A sowing substrate identical to that for adeniums can also be used. The sowing is moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a propagator or covered with plastic wrap, and germinated in bright light but not direct sun at a temperature of 21-26 °C (70-79 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Excessive moisture and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

When propagating aloe from seed, cultivar traits may segregate. Seeds usually germinate within 3-4 weeks to 2-3 months, depending on conditions. Pricking out is carried out after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves. Young plants are gradually acclimated to lower humidity and brighter lighting.

An alternative method of germinating seeds in distilled water or a 10% solution of growth stimulants is possible. The seeds are placed in a small container with water, where they initially float but then sink. Germination occurs unevenly starting from 4 weeks, but can take several months. The water is changed every few days. Seeds are removed individually as they germinate and placed into a substrate of equal parts sand and compost.

The critical point of this method is embedding the seed into the substrate with the root oriented strictly downward, as the root can push the seed outward instead of developing inward. Seeds that lift upward are not pressed back down, but are sprinkled with a teaspoon of soil over the top. For 4 weeks, each seed must be carefully monitored and sprout orientation managed to anchor the root.

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Aloe, like almost all succulents, is undemanding in care. The century plant loves light very much, and therefore it is best placed on windowsills of windows located in the southern part of the room. However, it can also be grown in shaded places, but keep in mind that with severe light deficiency, the aloe leaves will stretch out and turn pale. In summer, the plant can be moved outdoors, but rainwater must not be allowed to fall on it. A century plant that has spent a long time outdoors has clear advantages over one grown exclusively indoors: it develops sturdier spines and a well-formed stem.

In summer, aloe needs fairly abundant watering. In winter, however, watering should be very infrequent, using exclusively room-temperature water or slightly warmer. If watering is too meager, the leaves will become very thin and contain little sap. Because the roots of the century plant are very thick and fill the pot completely, watering causes water to run through into the saucer almost without delay. For this reason, it makes sense to water the plant by pouring water into the saucer rather than directly into the pot. Moreover, the finest roots capable of absorbing moisture are located at the very bottom. To avoid root rot, pour out any remaining liquid from the saucer 30 minutes after watering. Air humidity does not matter for aloe. Occasionally, however, it benefits from a warm shower to clean dust off the leaves.

In summer, the century plant requires moderate air temperatures, and with the arrival of winter, it should be moved to a cooler room. The plant tolerates abrupt temperature shifts well. Most species are capable of enduring drops in temperature down to 6 °C (43 °F). However, there are also species that require a temperature of at least 15 °C (59 °F).

You can prepare the potting mix yourself by mixing leaf mold and turf soil with sand and humus in a 1:2:1:1 ratio. Also add charcoal and crushed brick. Peat should not be included in the composition. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction. You can also purchase a ready-made soil mix for cacti. Adding a little crushed brick and charcoal to it is recommended. While the plant is young, repotting is carried out annually. Mature aloe needs repotting much less frequently, once every 2 or 3 years. Deep flower pots are chosen, with good drainage provided.

Feeding is carried out only once every 4 weeks, and only during the spring-summer period. A mineral fertilizer for succulents and cacti is used (mixed as a very weak solution). Feeding must be stopped in mid-autumn and omitted until spring.

Scale insects may infest the plant. To eliminate them, wipe the leaves as frequently as possible with a cloth moistened in soapy water.