Dear gardening enthusiasts, today I want to talk with you about a super practical topic - how to grow aloe! This is no ordinary plant. It not only beautifies your home but can also bring you a little health surprise when you need it. Imagine on a hot summer day, a cool aloe leaf, doesn't it instantly make you feel refreshed? Let's get started and grow our own healthy oasis!
Soil Unveiled: Aloe's "Golden House"
Aloe is a bit picky about soil! It likes well-draining, fertile, loose sandy soil. You can mix it like this: decayed leaf soil, garden soil, and sand in a 2:2:1 ratio, or perlite, sand, decayed leaf soil, and peat moss in a 1:2:3:4 ratio. This soil is like aloe's "golden house," making it very comfortable.
Sunlight Tips: Aloe's "Sun Bath"
Aloe is a sun baby, it loves to bask in the sun. In spring and autumn, you can let it enjoy the sun's embrace, get more sun, and grow more vibrant. In summer, find it a semi-shaded place to avoid direct scorching sunlight and prevent sunburn. In winter, move it to a sunny spot indoors, and don't forget to give it some extra light!
Temperature Secrets: Aloe's "Warm Buddy"
Aloe is a tropical plant, it's afraid of cold but not heat. The most suitable growth temperature is 15～35°C. Below 5°C, it will stop growing, and at 0°C, it can even get frostbite. So in winter, be sure to keep it warm, give it a "warm buddy" to help it grow strong.
Water and Fertilizer Management: Aloe's "Nutritious Meal"Aloe's requirements for water and fertilizer are not high, just provide an appropriate amount. It likes dry conditions, so water it less normally, keeping the soil slightly moist but not soggy. For fertilizing, in spring, you can apply fertilizer 3-4 times, mainly using 20x diluted liquid fertilizer. In summer and autumn, apply 10% fermented cake fertilizer water monthly. Stop fertilizing in winter.
Disease and Pest Control: Aloe's "Health Guardian"Aloe can get black spot disease, which needs to be treated promptly. Generally, disease prevention should be done before the rainy season, reduce soil moisture, and spray with carbendazim or chlorothalonil solution to protect the aloe's health.
Planting Steps Revealed: Aloe's "Growth Diary"1. Choose pot and soil: Select a flower pot with good air and water permeability. Prepare special planting soil that is fertile, loose, and well-ventilated.
2. Planting: First, put a few centimeters of soil in the pot or hole, place the seeds in, then cover with soil and press lightly. The first watering must be thorough, this is the "settling-in water".
3. Maintenance: Pay attention to keeping the soil moist and ensuring good ventilation. After a week, you can take it out to get some sun.
4. Repotting: As the aloe grows and produces new shoots, it needs to be repotted. Choose a pot of suitable size, prepare the soil, and gently lift the aloe from the small pot with a small shovel, being careful to keep the root ball intact.
5. Watering: Watering should ideally be once a week, not too frequently. Too much watering can cause the aloe's roots to rot.
6. Light: Aloe loves light very much. In a well-lit place, the aloe will grow very lush.
7. Temperature: Aloe likes warmth and fears cold. If the temperature drops below 0°C, it will get frostbite. When the temperature on the balcony gradually drops below 5°C, it should be moved indoors.
8. Fertilizing: In spring, you can apply fertilizer 3-4 times, mainly using 20x diluted liquid fertilizer. In summer and autumn, apply 10% fermented cake fertilizer water monthly. Stop fertilizing in winter.
9. Disease and pest control: Generally, disease prevention should be done before the rainy season, reduce soil moisture, and spray with carbendazim or chlorothalonil solution.
10. Repotting: Generally, potted aloe should be repotted every 1-2 years, preferably in April-May or September-October.
11. Temperature: Aloe grows in arid deserts, prefers drought conditions and fears cold. The most suitable temperature is 5~15°C, with a humidity of 5%~45%. However, when the temperature drops by 5°C, aloe will stop growing, and when it drops to 0°C, aloe's growth will become abnormal and necrosis may occur, so pay attention to temperature control.
12. Watering: Aloe is a very drought-tolerant plant, known as "a plant that doesn't die of drought," so not watering it for a while won't have a big impact. However, if there is too much water in the pot, it will cause root rot and other problems. Therefore, under normal circumstances, water once every 5-7 days in spring, once every 2-3 days in summer, once every 5-7 days in autumn, and once every 15-20 days in winter.
13. Light: When growing aloe, it needs plenty of sunlight. This way, the aloe...