Does aloe vera bloom? How often does it bloom?
As a star variety among succulent plants, aloe vera is widely loved for its thick green leaves and air-purifying properties. But what is little known is that this evergreen plant actually has the ability to bloom. Its inflorescences are like golden torches, which are even more precious when blooming among green leaves. This article will deeply analyze the flowering rules of aloe vera and reveal professional maintenance methods to promote flowering. The flowering characteristics of aloe vera require that mature aloe vera needs to go through a growth cycle of 3-5 years before it has the ability to bloom. It only opens once a year in late spring and early summer (May-June), and a single plant can continue to bloom for 2-3 weeks. Statistics show that only 15% of potted aloe vera can bloom naturally, which is closely related to differences in the climate of their native places. Physiological characteristics of flowering: Aloe vera flower stem can be drawn to 60-90cm high, and the spikes gradually open from bottom to top. The single small flower is tubular and the color is mostly orange-yellow or pink. Plants consume a lot of nutrients during flowering, and special attention should be paid to post-flowering maintenance. The substrate ratio optimization of the four-dimensional flower promotion maintenance system adopts the gold ratio of perlite: leaf soil: coarse sand =3:4:3, and bone meal is added as the base fertilizer when changing pots every two years in spring. Focus on maintaining the pH value of the substrate between 6.0 and 6.5 to ensure healthy root development. Coordinated control of light and temperature implements stepped light management: full sunshine for more than 6 hours in spring and autumn, 30% shade in summer, and full light for 4 hours in winter. The temperature is maintained in the ideal range of 15-28℃, and the temperature difference between day and night is controlled within 8℃. Intelligent water and fertilizer management adopts the "alternate dry and wet" watering method, and the soil is completely dried before it is watered. Phosphorus-potassium liquid fertilizer (N-P-K=5-10-10) is applied every half month during the growth period, and boron fertilizer is added during the bud appearing period to promote flower bud differentiation. Environmental stress controls 45 days of low-temperature vernalization (10-12℃) in winter, combined with an air humidity of 40%-50%, can effectively activate flowering genes. At the same time, attention should be paid to preventing the invasion of flower stems by pests and diseases such as scale insects.
Through systematic maintenance and management, the flowering probability of aloe vera can be significantly increased to more than 60%. It is recommended to use a growth recording method, take photos of plant status every month, compare leaf plumeness and the number of new leaves, and adjust maintenance plans in a timely manner. When the central leaves are found to be spirally arranged, it indicates that they are about to enter the reproductive growth stage, and phosphorus and potassium supplementation should be strengthened at this time.