Aloe can be found in almost every home. Such a popularity of the plant is due to its healing properties, which allows it to be used in the treatment of inflammation on the skin and runny nose. But, so that the culture does not cause trouble and fully develops, you need to know how to plant aloe and what care rules in the future must be followed.
How to plant aloe properly at home
This plant belongs to the category of succulents. Therefore, aloe prefers well-lit window sills and easily tolerates a lack of moisture, since it accumulates in its leaves during rare watering. Subject to the basic culture requirements, this plant will not cause trouble.
Aloe is considered to be a home doctor
Note! For its full development, it is important to properly land. This procedure includes several basic steps. Therefore, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with them.
At what time of the year is it better to plant and is it possible in winter
To plant aloe, like other indoor plants, it is best in late February - early March. It is during this period that the plant emerges from a state of winter dormancy and biological processes intensify in it.
If during this period it was not possible to carry out a landing, then you can postpone the procedure until the end of summer, namely until July-August. At this time, the sap flow in the plant tissues increases, so it easily tolerates planting and is quickly restored
Important! Aloe planting in late autumn, as well as at the beginning and in the middle of winter, is not recommended, since at this time the plant is at a dormant stage and cannot fully take root, which means it will die.
What kind of land is needed for aloe
In nature, this plant can be found in countries with an arid climate and poor nutrient land. In this case, aloe feels great in such conditions and grows well. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare soil for it, the composition of which will be as close as possible to the natural habitat.
You can purchase the finished substrate in a flower shop, choosing a soil mixture for cacti and succulents. But also suitable land for aloe can be prepared independently. The main thing is that the substrate is loose, light and well-drained.
To plant aloe, you need to mix these components:
- sod - 40%;
- leafy soil - 20%;
- coarse sand - 20%;
- small pebbles - 10%;
- charcoal - 10%.
Important! Peat should not be added to the soil, as it increases acidity, and this has a depressing effect on the roots of the plant.
Soil for aloe should not be nutritious, the main thing is that moisture does not stagnate in it.
What capacity is aloe grown in: pot sizes
The root system in aloe, like all succulents, is small, but the leaves are fleshy and large, since they contain a supply of moisture and nutrients. Therefore, for the plant, it is necessary to select not too deep, but wide pots. When planted in high tanks, the plant will constantly turn over.
The diameter of the pot needs to be selected depending on the age of the seedling
At the initial stage of growth, the width of the landing container should be between 8-9 cm. For subsequent transplants, it can be increased by 2-3 cm.
For your information! You can not immediately plant aloe in a too large container, since excess soil in the pot will begin to sour and provoke root decay.
How to plant aloe in a pot
Before embarking on a landing, you need to prepare everything in advance so that during the procedure everything is at hand. This will require:
- pot;
- priming;
- drainage;
- settled water at room temperature;
- Activated carbon;
- sharp knife.
When everything is prepared, you can proceed directly to aloe planting. It is important to follow the procedure and adhere to the recommendations clearly.
Landing Algorithm:
- Inspect the root of the seedling and, if necessary, remove damaged and decayed areas with a knife.
- Sprinkle slices with activated carbon.
- At the bottom of the pot lay drainage with a layer of 1.5-2 cm.
- Sprinkle it on top with a substrate.
- Place the seedling in the center of the pot, gently spread the roots so as not to damage them.
- Fill the formed voids with earth, slightly compact the surface.
- Water the plant abundantly and put in a slightly shaded place for rooting.
Note! When planting, the root neck of the aloe should be at or slightly above the surface of the soil, which eliminates the likelihood of decay of the stem.
As soon as the seedling grows, it must be put on a sunny windowsill. In the future, it is necessary to water the planted plant as the top soil layer dries.
How to grow aloe from a shoot without roots
Sometimes the question arises, how to plant aloe if the process is without a root. To grow a plant in this case is quite possible if you act correctly.
This situation may occur in the following cases:
- had to disconnect the lateral process;
- the bush requires rejuvenation;
- the roots of the plant rotted, and the top survived.
Important! Since aloe succulent, rooting the process in water is not recommended, as it can rot, so it is better to immediately plant in the soil.
Are there any chances of success
Before planting the cuttings without roots, it is necessary to refresh the cut and leave it to dry for 2-3 days in a shaded place. During this time, a peculiar film forms, which protects against the penetration of infection into the plant tissue and prevents excessive evaporation of moisture.
The rooting of the process occurs within 3-4 weeks
In the meantime, it is necessary to prepare special soil for the process of aloe. In this case, you need to mix turf soil and river sand in a ratio of 1: 2. Burn it in the oven for 15 minutes. at a temperature of 100 ° C to disinfect.
To plant the process, you can use a plastic cup, making drainage holes in it, put expanded clay on the bottom with a layer of 2 cm, and fill the remaining 2/3 of the volume with the prepared substrate and moisten it. After that, plant the shoot, deepening into the soil to the first pair of leaves. Then compact the soil at the base, and sprinkle the surface with small pebbles. This will strengthen the seedling and prevent it from falling.
For complete rooting, it is necessary to rearrange the container with the handle in a bright place with a temperature of 23-25 ° C, while direct sunlight should not fall on the plant. Periodically, it is necessary to moisten the soil, observing the rule - it is better to underfill than to overfill.
If the whole procedure was carried out correctly, then the process will take root without any problems. You can determine this by new leaves, which will begin to appear at the top.
For your information! A month after rooting, the shoot must be transplanted into a suitable soil and pot.
How to grow aloe from a leaf
This method of growing at home seedlings of aloe vera or another type of culture is more laborious.
For rooting, it is necessary to use the lower leaves from a plant older than 3 years. They must be fully developed and with good turgor. Leaves should be cut with a sharp knife at the base and put to form a protective film for 2-3 days in a shaded, dry place.
Rooting should be carried out in clean sand, which should be calcined in advance in the oven. For planting, you need to choose wide cups with drainage holes to drain excess water. It is necessary to fill them with prepared sand and evenly moisten it. The leaves need to be deepened into sand by 3 cm, put the container with seedlings in a warm, bright place with an air temperature of 23-25 ° C.
Important! To grow aloe from the leaf, as well as from the shoot, you do not need to create a greenhouse effect during rooting, as this leads to decay.
Subject to all recommendations, after 1.5-2 months, small shoots should appear at the base of the leaves. Throughout this period, the sand in the tank must be kept slightly moist.
Leaf propagation method requires patience
To plant young seedlings in separate containers is necessary when the leaves they grow to 3-5 cm. In this case, you need to take a full-fledged substrate as for adult plants.
Knowing how to grow aloe from the leaf, you can get a large amount of planting material. This method of reproduction allows you to save all the species qualities of the mother plant, which cannot be achieved if seedlings from seeds are germinated.
Aloe care at home after planting
A planted plant needs quality care. Any mistake of the grower at this stage of aloe cultivation can be fatal, since the plant has not yet managed to get stronger. Therefore, attention should be paid to the basic requirements of culture, which cannot be ignored.
Care Rules:
- lighting. Aloe is considered a photophilous plant, so for it is necessary to select the southern or eastern windowsill. But at the same time, direct sunlight must be excluded, since they can cause burns on the leaves. In winter, this houseplant needs additional artificial lighting. The lamps should be placed at a height of 35 cm above the plant;
- content temperature. This succulent feels good at high air temperatures. In the summer, a flowerpot with a flower can be exposed outside. In winter, when aloe is at rest, a favorable temperature is 16 ° C;
- humidity. Aloe is a drought-tolerant plant, so you should not spray the leaves. The optimum humidity level is 60-65%. Sometimes you can just wipe the leaves to remove dust;
- transfer. This procedure should be performed when the succulent pot becomes cramped. In this case, the plant ceases to grow actively, and young leaves are significantly smaller. The transplantation is recommended to be carried out by transshipment without destroying the earthen lump at the roots.
How to feed aloe
This plant does not need a high nutrient content. For top dressing, you should use mineral fertilizers, which can be purchased at the store marked "for succulents."
Aloe is rarely needed
Features of feeding:
- when planting in the purchased substrate, fertilizer should be applied for the first time only after six months, and in other cases after 3 months;
- the specified dosage in the instructions must not be exceeded;
- fertilizers must be used once a month from March to the end of September, and take a break in late autumn and winter;
- only healthy seedlings can be fed.
Important! It is impossible to use aloe for medicinal purposes after top dressing, in this case you need to withstand 2 months.
How to water properly, so as not to destroy the young plants
Aloe does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, you need to water the plant only when necessary when the top layer of the soil dries, preventing moisture stagnation. It is also important to periodically loosen the soil in the pot in order to improve its breathability.
For humidification, it is recommended to use settled water at room temperature. Watering should be carried out under the root so that water does not fall on the leaves. But it is also permissible sometimes to pour water into a tray to saturate the substrate with moisture.
Choosing an aloe indoor plant, planting and care at home will not pose serious difficulties. Therefore, any grower can cope with this task, regardless of his experience.
Possible problems during and immediately after landing
Often, aloe vera planting and propagation pass without any difficulties. But sometimes flower growers complain that this succulent does not take root. Therefore, you should find out why this is happening.
Most often, the cause of the death of the plant is excessive soil moisture, which is associated with improper watering. To correct the situation, it is necessary to pull the plant out of the pot, to clean out the rotted areas and roots with a knife. After that, sprinkle fresh wounds with charcoal and dry for several days in a dark place.
Then plant in a substrate consisting of sand and turf in equal proportions. You can not water the plant for the next 2 weeks. If during this time the rotting process does not resume, then the soil in the pot can be slightly moistened. As soon as the plant is fully strengthened and grows, it must be transplanted into a full-fledged substrate.
Mealybug - a dangerous pest of succulents
Another reason that aloe does not take root may be a mealybug. This pest lays eggs in the roots of the plant. As a result, the appeared larvae feed on the plant sap, which prevents rooting. In this case, it is recommended to water the plant with an actar preparation solution (1.4 g per 6 l). After a week, spray the plant and soil in a pot with a phytoderm.
Note! Processing should be carried out until the complete destruction of the pest, alternating drugs.
What to do if it does not take root
If, despite all the efforts spent, aloe can’t fully take root, you need to check if all the recommendations are followed. When planting and growing everything matters, so even minor details should not be ignored.
Most often, the plant can not fully take root, since the temperature regime is not observed during the rooting period. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the landing, while completely replacing the soil. Wash the pot well and scald it with boiling water.
To grow aloe, like other succulents, it is easy, most importantly, to provide the plant with conditions that are as close as possible to its requirements. First of all, this concerns planting, since further development depends on this. Otherwise, even an inexperienced grower can cope with the care of aloe.
