Aloe Care and Management Methods
If you want to learn more about other flowers and aloe, here is a comprehensive introduction to aloe care and management methods.
For potted aloe, it is best to use clay pots instead of ceramic or plastic pots, as they have poor breathability and are prone to root rot.
1. Temperature and lighting. Aloe prefers sunlight and should be placed in a well-ventilated and sunny area outdoors during the growing season. However, proper shading is needed during the hot summer months, and it should be placed in a sunny location above 5℃ during the winter to survive the cold.
2. Watering. Aloe is most afraid of long-term waterlogging. If the soil is too wet, the roots will lack oxygen and rot. Usually, spray or water the leaves to keep them slightly moist, and water when the potting soil is too dry. During the dormant period, it is especially important to keep the soil dry, as it is prone to root and leaf rot in a cold and humid environment.
3. Soil and fertilizer. Aloe is adaptable to a wide range of soils but grows best in loose, fertile, moisture-retaining, and breathable sandy loam. Generally, a mixture of decayed leaf mold and coarse sand with some decomposed manure or dried manure, preferably chicken or duck manure, is used. Usually, fertilizing is not necessary, but during the growing season, 2-3 applications of thin liquid fertilizer that has been composted or rice washing water can promote better growth. Avoid using too concentrated fertilizers. Do not fertilize during the summer to prevent root rot.
4. Repotting. The pot should be changed every 2-3 years. Repotting should be done in April, during the spring, but it can also be done in other seasons with proper care to prevent the plant from dying. Use a pot one size larger, remove the soil from around and under the roots, and remove any rotting roots. Place a piece of tile at the bottom of the pot, then add 2-3 centimeters of炉灰 ( furnace ash) , stones, bricks, or other materials as a drainage layer, followed by a layer of potting soil. Place the plant in the center, fill the surrounding area with new soil, gently tamp it down, and water thoroughly until a little water drips from the drainage hole.
5. Propagation. The common methods of propagation are dividing the roots or using cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in March or April. Select strong branches 10-25 centimeters long, cut the ends smoothly with a sharp knife, remove the two bottom leaves, and let them dry for 2-7 days in a dry place until the cut surface hardens and forms a hard membrane. Then plant them in coarse sand mixed with a small amount of potting soil. Insert them about 2 centimeters deep and keep the sand slightly moist. Place them in a semi-shaded environment, and they will root in 20-30 days. After that, they can be exposed to full light but not direct strong sunlight. Two months later, they can be transplanted into new pots. Division propagation can be done in March or April by cutting the overgrown, rooted plants from the main root with a sharp knife and planting them in new pots. Do not water the first week, and wait until the wound forms a membrane before watering thoroughly. The management is the same as that for mature plants.
The above is a specific introduction to the methods of aloe care and management for netizens to refer to and learn from.