How to Cultivate Aloe Vera
Comprehensive analysis of how to cultivate aloe vera and the cultivation techniques and management of aloe vera plants. Let's understand together.
Aloe vera is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. Before cultivating, prepare well-draining, breathable neutral soil and a flower pot of the appropriate size. During the cultivation process, avoid excessive watering, maintain the principle of watering only when the soil is dry; aloe vera enjoys sunlight, and it is best to place it in a location with good ventilation and sunlight; aloe vera is heat-tolerant, with the most suitable growth temperature around 20°C; fertilizing aloe vera should be based on its growth condition and environment. Below, I will introduce the selection of flower pots, soil choice, ambient temperature, and water and fertilizer management.
1. Flower Pot Selection
Before cultivating aloe vera, selecting a flower pot of the appropriate size is essential. If the aloe vera plant is too large for the pot, it will inhibit its healthy growth; conversely, if the plant is too small for the pot, it will lead to the soil not drying out easily after each watering, eventually causing root rot and a top-heavy appearance, lacking aesthetics.
2. Soil Selection
Aloe vera prefers well-draining, breathable, and loose neutral soil that does not compact. You can mix humus soil, coarse sand, and garden soil in a ratio of 4:2:2. The proportion of coarse sand should not be too high because sandy soil can easily cause the loss of water and nutrients, leading to malnutrition.
3. Ambient Temperature
Aloe vera enjoys sunlight and is heat-tolerant. Sufficient sunlight is very beneficial for its growth, so it is best to maintain 6-7 hours of sunlight daily. However, this does not mean that more sunlight is better; during the hot summer, it is best to provide some shade to prevent sunburn. Aloe vera is sensitive to cold, so the cultivation environment should be between 15-30°C, with the most suitable growth temperature being around 20°C. If the temperature drops below 0°C, the plant can easily die; if it exceeds 30°C, it can easily wither. In the summer, you need to spray water to increase the humidity around the plant to lower the temperature.
4. Water and Fertilizer Management
Avoid frequent watering of aloe vera, water only when the soil is dry. During the hot summer, water every 3-5 days, preferably after sunset. Reduce the watering frequency in winter and water during the day. In spring and autumn, the frequency and timing of watering are not fixed, depending on the condition of the plant. Aloe vera fertilization mainly involves calcium phosphate or compound fertilizer. Fertilize more when the temperature is high and growth is rapid, and less otherwise. Aloe vera has few pests and diseases and generally does not require pesticides.
5. Propagation Methods
Common propagation methods include division and cutting propagation. Division is usually carried out in early spring, removing the plant from the potting soil, selecting healthy basal seedlings for repotting, not planting too deep, and watering sparingly in the early stages, then watering thoroughly after half a month. Cutting propagation takes longer to root. Cut a 10 cm long leaf from the top of the old plant as a cutting, apply some wood ash to the cut end and let it dry for two days, then insert it into the potting soil, keeping the soil moist.
The above is a detailed introduction to how to cultivate aloe vera and its cultivation techniques and management, for reference by netizens.