How to Cultivate Aloe Vera
A detailed introduction on how to cultivate aloe vera and the cultivation techniques for growing aloe vera will certainly help you. Let's learn about it together!
Aloe vera is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. Before cultivation, prepare well-draining, breathable neutral soil and a pot of appropriate size. Avoid overwatering during the cultivation process, maintaining the principle of watering only when the soil is dry; aloe vera enjoys sunlight, so it is best to place it in a well-ventilated and sunny outdoor area; aloe vera is heat-tolerant, with the most suitable growth temperature around 20°C; when fertilizing aloe vera, it should be based on the plant's growth and environmental conditions. Below, I will introduce the selection of pots, soil choice, environmental temperature, and water and fertilizer management in detail.
1. Pot Selection
Before cultivating aloe vera, choosing a pot of the right size is very necessary. If the plant is large and the pot is small, it will inhibit the healthy growth of the aloe vera; conversely, if the plant is small and the pot is large, it can lead to the soil not drying out after watering, which over time can cause root rot and make the plant look top-heavy and lack aesthetic appeal.
2. Soil Selection
Aloe vera prefers well-draining, breathable, and loose neutral soil that does not compact easily. 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 lead to the loss of water and nutrients, causing malnutrition.
3. Environmental Temperature
Aloe vera enjoys sunlight and is heat-tolerant, with ample sunlight being very beneficial for its growth. Therefore, it is best to maintain 6-7 hours of sunlight daily, but this does not mean that more sunlight is better. In the summer, it is best to provide some shade to prevent sunburn. Aloe vera is sensitive to cold, so the ideal growing environment is 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, and if it exceeds 30°C, it can easily wither. In the summer, you need to spray water to increase the humidity around the plant and lower the temperature.
4. Water and Fertilizer Management
Do not water aloe vera too frequently, only water when the soil is dry. In the summer, you can water every 3-5 days, preferably after sunset. In the winter, reduce the watering frequency and it is best to water at noon. In spring and autumn, the frequency and timing of watering are not limited and depend on the condition of the plant. Fertilizing aloe vera mainly involves using calcium phosphate or compound fertilizer. Fertilize more when the temperature is high and the plant grows fast, and less when it is the opposite. Aloe vera has few pests and diseases and generally does not require pesticides.
5. Propagation Methods
Common propagation methods include division and cutting. Division is usually carried out in early spring, where the plant is removed from the potting soil, and healthy basal seedlings are selected for potting. Do not plant too deep, and water sparingly in the early stages, then water thoroughly after about two weeks. Cutting propagation takes longer to root. Cut a 10 cm piece of leaf from the top of the old plant as a cutting, apply some wood ash to the cut surface, let it dry for two days, and then insert it into the potting soil. Keep the soil moist.
The above sharing of how to cultivate aloe vera and the complete content of aloe vera cultivation techniques are provided for your comprehensive understanding and reference!