How to plant aloe vera to keep it alive
Do you know these? Introduction to how to plant aloe vera to keep it alive and the correct way to care for aloe vera as a houseplant. Next, the editor will introduce it.
Aloe vera is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. Before breeding, prepare well-ventilated, well-drained neutral soil and a flowerpot of moderate size. There is no need to water excessively during the breeding process, maintain the principle of not watering until it is dry; aloe vera loves light, it is best to place it in a well-ventilated and sunny outdoor area for breeding; at the same time, aloe vera is heat-tolerant, with the most suitable growth temperature around 20℃; when fertilizing aloe vera, it should be based on the growth condition and environment of the plant. Below, we will introduce the selection of flowerpots, soil selection, environmental temperature, and water and fertilizer management from these four aspects.
1. Flowerpot Selection
Before breeding aloe vera, it is very necessary to choose a flowerpot of moderate size. If the aloe vera seedling is too large for the pot, it will inhibit the healthy growth of the plant; conversely, if the seedling is small and the pot is large, it is easy to cause the soil to stay wet after watering, leading to root rot over time, and also makes the plant look top-heavy and lack aesthetics.
2. Soil Selection
Aloe vera prefers well-drained, well-ventilated, and loose neutral soil that does not easily 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, as sandy soil can easily lead to the loss of water and nutrients, causing malnutrition.
3. Environmental Temperature
Aloe vera loves light and heat, and a sunny environment is very beneficial for its growth, so it is best to maintain 6-7 hours of sunlight every day. However, this does not mean that the more sunlight, the better. In the height of summer, it is best to provide moderate shade to prevent sunburn. At the same time, it is sensitive to cold, and the breeding environment should be between 15-30℃, with the most suitable growth temperature being around 20℃. If the temperature drops below 0℃, the plant can easily die; and if it exceeds 30℃, it can easily wither. In summer, it is necessary to spray water to increase the humidity of the air around the plant to lower the temperature.
4. Water and Fertilizer Management
Do not water aloe vera too frequently, follow the principle of not watering until it is dry. In the summer, you can maintain a watering frequency of once every 3-5 days, preferably after sunset. In winter, reduce the watering frequency appropriately and it is best to water at noon. In spring and autumn, the frequency and time of watering are not limited, depending on the condition of the plant. Fertilization for aloe vera mainly consists of calcium phosphate or compound fertilizer. Fertilize more when the temperature is high and growth is rapid, 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, removing the plant from the potting soil, selecting healthy basal seedlings for potting, not planting too deep, and watering less in the early stage. After half a month, water thoroughly. Cutting propagation takes a longer time to root. Cut 10 cm of leaves from the top of the old plant as cuttings, apply plant ash to the cut surface and let it dry for two days before inserting it into the potting soil, keeping the soil moist.
The above [] introduces how to plant aloe vera to keep it alive and the correct way to care for aloe vera as a houseplant, hoping it is helpful to you!