How to Care for Aloe Vera
Below is an introduction on how to care for aloe vera and the correct methods for home cultivation of aloe vera in the field of green plants and flowers, which will be explained by the editor next.
Aloe vera is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. Before cultivation, it is necessary to prepare neutral soil with good breathability and water permeability and a pot of moderate size. During the cultivation process, there is no need to water excessively, maintaining the principle of not watering until it is dry. Aloe vera loves light and is best placed in a well-ventilated and sunny outdoor area for cultivation. At the same time, aloe vera is heat-resistant, with the most suitable growth temperature around 20°C. Fertilizing aloe vera should depend on its growth condition and the environment. The following introduces the selection of pots, soil choice, ambient 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 aloe vera. Conversely, if the plant is small and the pot is large, it is easy to cause the soil to remain moist after watering, leading to root rot over time, and also makes the plant look top-heavy and lack aesthetics.
2. Soil Choice
Aloe vera prefers neutral, loose soil with good water permeability and breathability that does not easily compact. A mixture of humus soil, coarse sand, and garden soil in a ratio of 4:2:2 can be used. The proportion of coarse sand should not be too high because sandy soil can easily lead to the loss of water and nutrients, causing malnutrition.
3. Ambient Temperature
Aloe vera loves light and is heat-resistant. An environment with plenty of sunlight is very conducive to the growth of aloe vera, 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 summer, it is best to provide some shade to prevent sunburn. At the same time, aloe vera is sensitive to cold, and 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, and if it exceeds 30°C, it can easily wither. In the summer, it is necessary to spray water to increase the humidity around the plant and lower the temperature.
4. Water and Fertilizer Management
Watering aloe vera should not be too frequent, following the principle of not watering until it is dry. In the summer, it can be watered every 3-5 days, preferably after sunset. In the winter, the watering frequency should be reduced, and it is best to water at noon. In spring and autumn, the frequency and timing of watering are not limited and should be based on the condition of the plant. Fertilizing aloe vera mainly involves calcium phosphate or compound fertilizer. More fertilization is needed 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 propagation. Division propagation is usually carried out in early spring, where the plant is removed from the potting soil, a healthy young plant is selected from the base and potted separately, and it should not be planted too deep. It is necessary to water less in the early stage after potting and then water thoroughly after half a month. Cutting propagation takes a longer time for roots to grow. A 10 cm long leaf is cut from the top of the old plant as a cutting. The cut should be treated with wood ash and left to dry for two days before it can be inserted into the potting soil, keeping the soil moist.
This article shares the complete introduction on how to care for aloe vera and the correct methods for home cultivation of aloe vera for everyone to learn and understand!