Aloe RAMOSA

Aloe RAMOSA - Maiden's quiver tree, Branched aloe, Aloe ramosa.

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

These plants have moderately sized tubular flowers, typically colored red, orange, white, or yellow. The flowers are borne on a fairly long peduncle in a terminal many-flowered raceme. Under domestic conditions, it practically never blooms. Aloe lives in a flowerpot for 5-20 years, for which it is also nicknamed "century plant".

Absolutely all cultivated aloe species are suitable for indoor maintenance, and they can even be used to green children's rooms. It is frequently utilized as a "home doctor". The plant is very undemanding, and any problems associated with its care generally never arise. This plant can easily endure a lack of light, moisture, and warmth. Those species that were previously grown extremely rarely now increasingly adorn winter gardens. Aloe makes an excellent addition when creating compositions containing slow-growing plants.

Branched aloe is an arborescent evergreen plant up to 9 m (30 ft) in height, with a thick trunk reaching a diameter of 1 m (3.3 ft) at the base; with age, the trunk of the plant becomes heavily branched. Unlike true trees, secondary thickening in Aloe occurs due to the activity of cells in the meristematic zone located along the periphery of the trunk, rather than via cambium as in dicotyledons. The trunk carries nearly vertical, rather long, whitish-gray, glabrous branches.

At the ends of the branches are rosettes of very thick leaves with panicles composed of several dense lemon-yellow racemes. The leaves are bluish-green, linear-lanceolate, with a waxy bloom and a serrated margin (the teeth are small and waxy), up to 40 cm (16 in) long and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) wide at the base. The inflorescence is racemose, sparsely branched; the flowers are tubular, up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long, canary-yellow in color. It grows in Southern and Southwestern Africa in desert rocky locations. In the past, Bushmen and Hottentots used the hollowed-out branches of related quiver trees as quivers for arrows. Hence, it is also referred to as a quiver tree.

Seeds are pre-soaked for 4-6 hours in a solution of growth stimulants or fungicide, then sown in a moist substrate consisting of leaf mold and river sand layered over expanded clay pre-scalded with boiling water. Sowing substrate similar to that used for adeniums can also be used. The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in the light, but not in the sun, at a temperature of 21-26 °C (70-79 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering 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 performed after 2-3 true leaves appear. Young plants are gradually accustomed to lower humidity and brighter lighting.

An alternative method is possible: germinating seeds in distilled water or a 10% solution of growth stimulants. The seeds are placed in a small container of water, where they initially float but eventually 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 moment of this method is embedding the seed into the substrate with the root oriented strictly downward, as it may push the seed outward instead of developing inward. Rising seeds should not be pressed back down, but rather covered with a teaspoon of soil from above. Over the course of 4 weeks, it is necessary to closely monitor each seed and guide the sprouts to anchor the root.

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Aloe, like practically all succulents, is undemanding in care. The plant loves light, and therefore it is best placed on windowsills situated in the southern part of a room. However, it can also be grown in shaded spots, though one should note that under severe light deficiency the aloe leaves will stretch and turn pale. In summer, the plant can be moved to fresh air, but rainwater must not be allowed to fall on it. An aloe kept outdoors for an extended period has clear advantages over one grown exclusively indoors: it develops more robust spines as well as a well-formed stem.

In summer, aloe needs fairly abundant watering. In winter, however, it should be watered very rarely, using exclusively room-temperature water or slightly warmer. If watering is too meager, the leaves will become very thin with little juice inside. Due to the fact that the aloe's roots are very thick and fill the pot completely, watering causes water to rush almost without delay into the saucer. For this reason, it makes sense to water the plant from below by pouring water into the saucer rather than the pot. Furthermore, the finest roots capable of absorbing moisture are located at the very bottom. To prevent root rot, any remaining liquid must be emptied from the saucer 30 minutes after watering. Air humidity does not matter for aloe. However, it occasionally benefits from a warm shower to cleanse the foliage of dust.

In summer, aloe requires a moderate air temperature, while with the arrival of winter it should be moved to a cooler room. The plant tolerates abrupt temperature shifts well. Thus, most species can endure a temperature drop down to 6 °C (43 °F). However, there are also species that require a temperature of no less than 15 °C (59 °F).

One can make the soil mix independently by blending 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 mixture. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction. A ready-made cactus soil mix can also be purchased. Adding a bit of crushed brick and charcoal to it is recommended. While the plant is young, repotting is carried out every year. Mature aloe requires repotting much less frequently, once every 2 or 3 years. Deep flowerpots are chosen for this, without forgetting good drainage.

Fertilizing is performed only once every 4 weeks and exclusively during the spring-summer period. A mineral fertilizer for succulents and cacti is used for this (diluted to a very weak solution). Feeding should cease in mid-autumn and resume in spring. Scale insects may infest the plant. To eliminate them, wipe the leaves as often as possible with a cloth dampened in soapy water.