Aloe is one of the popular types of house plants.
It is grown by most housewives, as it has beneficial properties, helps with some diseases, and is used for cosmetic purposes.
The flower is not whimsical in care. However, there are several rules for its maintenance.
Growing place
Aloe can grow to large sizes in adulthood. When buying a flower shoot, you should take care of the soil and pot it will grow in.
To do this you should:
- buy a soil mixture in a store or prepare it yourself. To make it, you will need to mix turf soil (3 parts), leaf soil (2 parts), charcoal and sand (one part each);
- for good oxygen saturation, broken brick chips are added;
- it is necessary to disinfect the soil;
- you can't use clay and peat. Water will stagnate in the pot, rot will appear, which will lead to the roots dying off.
Also, do not use soil containing nitrogen, as it will have a detrimental effect on the leaves. They will become limp and cracked.
When choosing a flower pot, it is best to choose clay ones. You can keep such a pot in the oven before planting the plant.
Compliance with light and temperature conditions
Aloe is a light-loving plant. It will grow comfortably in a bright part of the apartment, on a windowsill or a warm balcony.
The flower does not need additional lighting even in winter, it can lead to drying of the leaves. And they should always be juicy and bright green.
It is necessary to maintain a moderate temperature for its cultivation. It does not tolerate very hot weather (more than +25 degrees).
The minimum temperature for the life of the flower is +12 degrees. It is also important that the room in which the aloe grows is periodically ventilated to avoid overdried air.
Avoid blowing cold air from a window or vent. Because of this, the leaves can immediately freeze, become weathered and rot.
How to care for leaves and roots
The leaves of a flower are its life. They are used to judge the health of the plant. They should not have dry tips, yellow spots, an unpleasant smell or cracks.
For care and prevention, the following measures should be taken:
- leaves do not need to be sprayed with water. It is recommended to wipe with damp gauze, carefully each leaf from the top to the base;
- if you need to tear off a leaf, do it with a sharp knife. Cut it at the very base of the pole. The released juice is soaked with a cloth. It is important to cut off old leaves to make room for new ones to grow;
- periodically fertilize the soil to strengthen the root system. There are many different fertilizers to choose from in stores. The best quality ones contain microelements in the form of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron;
- fertilize the soil with organic fertilizers once every six months.
Also, some housewives use ground eggshells as a natural calcium supplement. In addition, you can add finely chopped banana peel, which is rich in potassium.
You can add sweet water to the soil (1 teaspoon of sugar per 250 ml) as a source of glucose.
To prevent bacterial damage to the roots and leaves, it is recommended to water the plant with a decoction of onion peel. If rotting of the roots or leaves is detected, they must be removed.
How to water aloe properly
There are no strict rules for watering this plant. However, it is important to follow a certain schedule. So in spring and summer, the flower is watered twice a week.
In autumn and winter, when the air in the apartment is dry, it is recommended to do it more often, but at the same time monitor the dryness of the soil.
Water for irrigation must be at room temperature, settled, without sediment. If you overdo it with water procedures, yellow spots will appear on the leaves and the rhizomes will rot. They can fall off from cold, icy water.
In general, caring for aloe is not difficult. It can be grown by novice gardeners or housewives who do not like the hassle of flowers. By purchasing this plant, one of the main sources of traditional medicine will always be in the house, as well as an evergreen plant with chic leaves, filling the house with coziness.
Author: Valeria Kisternaya