Aloe VERA

Aloe VERA - Aloe vera, True aloe, Kumari, Aloe BARBADENSIS.

'Golden Line of Ayurveda'.

Aloe is a genus of very popular succulent plants belonging to the family Asphodelaceae. This genus includes approximately 400 species and encompasses a large number of plants that have fleshy and very juicy leaves with fairly soft spines arranged on them. There are shrubby, arborescent, 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 relatively small tubular flowers, usually colored red, orange, white, or yellow. The flowers are located on a fairly long peduncle in a terminal multiflowered raceme. Under domestic conditions, it practically never blooms. Aloe lives in a flower pot for 5-20 years, for which it is also called the 'century plant'.

Absolutely all cultivated aloe species are suitable for indoor keeping and can even be used to green children's rooms. It is often used as a 'home doctor'. The plant is very unpretentious, and there are typically never any problems associated with caring for it. This plant can easily endure a lack of light, moisture, as well as warmth. Species that were rarely grown in the past are now increasingly decorating winter gardens. The century plant will make an excellent addition when creating arrangements that include slow-growing plants.

Aloe vera has a poorly developed root system. The stem is short. The leaf rosette reaches 60 cm (24 in) in diameter. The leaves are variegated, with spines along their margins. Flowers are tubular, orange or yellowish-orange in color.

Seeds are pre-soaked for 4-6 hours (in water or fungicide solution), then sown into a moist substrate consisting of leaf soil and river sand layered over expanded clay pre-scalded with boiling water. A sowing substrate identical to that for adeniums can be used. The sowing is moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 21-26 °C (70-79 °F). Sprouts require ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings.

When propagating aloe from seeds, cultivar characteristics may segregate. Seeds usually germinate within 3-4 weeks to 2-3 months, depending on conditions. Pricking out is performed 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. Seeds are placed in a small container of water, where they initially float but later sink. Germination occurs unevenly starting from 4 weeks, but may take several months. Water is changed every few days. Seeds are removed one by one as they germinate and placed into a substrate of equal parts sand and compost.

A critical aspect of this method is embedding the seed in the substrate with the root pointed strictly downward, which might otherwise push the seed outward instead of developing inward. Rising seeds are not pressed back in, but sprinkled with a teaspoon of soil from above. Over the course of 4 weeks, it is necessary to monitor each seed carefully and guide the sprouts to anchor the root.

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Aloe, like almost all succulents, is undemanding in care. The century plant loves light very much, so it is best placed on window sills located in the southern part of the room. However, it can also be grown in shaded places, but keep in mind that with a severe lack of light, the aloe leaves will stretch out and turn pale. In summer, the plant can be moved into the open air, 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 more robust spines as well as a well-formed stem.

In summer, aloe requires fairly abundant watering. In winter, on the other hand, it should be watered very infrequently, 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 entirely, when watered, the water rushes almost without delay into the saucer. Therefore, it makes sense to water the plant by pouring water into the tray rather than into the pot. Moreover, the finest roots capable of absorbing moisture are located at the very bottom. To avoid the appearance of rot on the roots, the remaining liquid should be poured out of the tray 30 minutes after watering. Air humidity does not matter for aloe. However, it occasionally needs a warm shower to clean dust off the leaves.

In summer, the century plant requires moderate air temperatures, and with the onset of winter, it should be moved to a cooler room. The plant tolerates abrupt temperature changes well. Most species are capable of enduring a drop 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 make the soil mix yourself by mixing leaf mold and sod 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 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 every year. Adult aloe requires repotting much less frequently, and it is performed once every 2 or 3 years. Deep flower pots are chosen for this, and good drainage is not forgotten.

Fertilizing is performed only once every 4 weeks and only during the spring-summer period. For this, mineral fertilizer for succulents and cacti is used (a very weak solution is made). Feeding must be stopped in mid-autumn and not carried out until spring.

Scale insects may take a fancy to the plant. To get rid of them, wipe the leaves as often as possible with a cloth moistened in soapy water.