Land for planting aloe at home. Growing aloe vera at home. Transplantation and reproduction of the agave

Aloe is a succulent plant with fleshy, succulent leaves that can retain moisture even during the dry season. Aloe comes from the desert and semi-desert regions of Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula. There are more than four hundred types of aloe, but mainly three types are grown at home: aloe vera, aloe tree (agave), variegated aloe. And although these representatives of the desert flora do not differ in special beauty, they have long won their place on our windowsills due to their healing properties. Homemade aloe is a doctor who is always at hand.

Useful properties and uses of aloe

Many people know that aloe juice is an excellent tool for instillation into the nose. But the range of its use is wider and more diverse. The unique properties of the plant were known to the Greeks in the 5th century BC. BC e. Even Alexander the Great devoted one of his battles to the conquest of the island, on which aloe grew. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans - the ancient peoples knew the possibilities and properties of aloe and actively exploited them:

bactericidal - a compress of aloe pulp is used to treat purulent wounds, burns, calluses and other skin lesions;
laxative and choleretic - the juice of the plant increases appetite, improves peristalsis, normalizes the activity of the pancreas;
anti-inflammatory - aloe juice is a great helper in the treatment of gastritis and infectious diseases.

Reproduction of aloe at home

But how to propagate indoor aloe? There are several ways to breed this useful plant at home:

cuttings;
top;
young shoots;
Leaf;
Seeds.

Soil for planting aloe at home

Land for any indoor plants should be selected depending on their type. For aloe to grow, the soil chosen must first of all be suitable for succulents. Ready land for succulents is sold at any flower shop. Such soil will be optimal for growing aloe. But some flower growers prefer to make the ground themselves. Remember that the soil should not contain peat. Such a ban is due to the fact that the roots of the plant treat peat extremely negatively. Therefore, you need to plant such a flower only in peat-free land.

Do-it-yourself soil for aloe is prepared from two parts of sod land with the addition of one part of humus, coarse sand and leafy soil. It is also recommended to add some charcoal to the soil, as this component has disinfecting qualities. It will not be superfluous to add a little crushed brick to the ground. It will make the ground looser.

Conditions for growing aloe at home

Aloe belongs to the succulents, which means it has the general properties of this group of plants:

the ability to endure drought for a long time due to the accumulation of moisture in its leaves and stems;
love for the world
the difference in care requirements in summer and in winter;
ease of survival during transplantation and reproduction.

In winter, it is enough to water aloe once a month, the temperature of its content should not exceed 12-14 degrees. Otherwise, the plant will stretch out, and if it is close to heat sources (batteries, stoves, stoves), it may begin to rot from the roots.

In the spring, a gradual awakening of aloe is recommended by increasing watering (up to 1 time per week), bringing it to brighter light. But do not forget that a sharp change in environmental conditions can be detrimental to aloe.

In summer, especially in extreme heat, aloe needs to be sprayed. Young and actively developing plants are subject to transplantation once a year, and after they reach the age of 5 years, once every three years. The optimal time for transplantation is from February to late autumn. Later, the aloe will be at rest or winter rest, and you should not touch it.

When transplanting, it is better to choose a low, but spacious container. Give preference to pots made from natural materials. For example, clay. Since aloe grows in the wild in hot and dry conditions, care should be taken not to kill the flower with excess stagnant water. To do this, the bottom of each pot must be filled with drainage material (expanded clay, tile or brick chips).

If the soil in the transplanted pot is very dry, then it should be watered in a day or two. Having transplanted aloe and slightly compacted the soil, you should not get carried away with watering. Mulch with dry earth and leave alone for 5-7 days.

How to grow aloe from a leaf at home

Aloe reproduces by offspring, which are separated during transplantation and side leaves. Lateral leaves, processes, are formed in the axils of the lower leaves. The process must be cut off at the base, kept in the shade for two days. The process will wilt a little during this time. Then transplant into a pot with sandy soil.

Rooting of aloe leaves occurs very quickly. No need to cover with glass and spray. You can keep the cut off shoot in water until roots form. Roots form quickly. Then transplant into a small pot. Pour drainage at the bottom of the pot, you can use expanded clay crumbs and fill it with a mixture for succulents.

Aloe tree transplant - video

What type of plant should you choose?

It is unlikely that you know that there are more than 200 types of aloe vera. Which one should you choose? Check out the best ones:

Tree Aloe: Considered the best variety of Aloe, it has an octopus shape. It grows very quickly, takes the form of a shrub that can reach a height of four meters. Aloe has many benefits, such as healing burns, skin problems, and speeding up healing.
Soap Aloe: It has fleshy broad leaves (15-20 cm) with sharp spines along the edges. This type of aloe also treats skin problems and is good for constipation and inflammation. This is a very beautiful plant of small size with an interesting pattern.

Species and varieties

It does not have a stem, the foliage is narrow and long, covered with thorns and decorated with white drops. The inflorescences are white, appear on a 50 cm peduncle.

Actually agave plant bushes can reach 3 meters in height. The shoots branch, and the bottom of the stem becomes bald over time. The foliage is arched, xiphoid, covered with thorns. It blooms with red or yellow inflorescences on a tall peduncle.

Or spotted the plant branches well, forms rosettes. The foliage is long, but not very wide, covered with small spots. Flowers are collected in yellow inflorescences.

Or colorful the plant forms a bush up to 30 cm long. The foliage is elongated, sometimes up to 15 cm, green, covered with a white ornament.

A flower with a short shoot. The triangular-shaped foliage is collected in rosettes, has thorns and is covered with small pimples.

Aloe vera or Barbadian has small stems, foliage is lanceolate, decorated with pink spots, spiny, grows from rosettes, leaf length can reach 50 cm. Flowers are yellow, appear on the peduncle and form an inflorescence.

Aloe care at home

Plant care has its own nuances. This plant needs a lot of light, it can even be kept under direct rays, and in winter, additional lighting may even be needed. With a long stay of a flower in the shade, it is necessary to transfer it to the light not immediately, but gradually.

In summer, the usual air temperature will be normal for the plant. You can place the succulent in the yard, but so that it does not get rain. In winter, the flower requires a reduced temperature, as it has a dormant period. It is desirable that the thermometer does not rise above 14 ° C.

Watering aloe at home

During the growing season, the plant should be watered as soon as the top ball of soil dries.

Also, do not let water get on the foliage and sockets, because this can lead to decay. For the same reason, agave cannot be sprayed, and humidity is not a key factor in its cultivation.

In order for the plant to bloom, it needs a dormant period, which occurs due to a decrease in temperature and a long day. In general, it is difficult to do this in an apartment, so agave blooms rarely.

Feeding and transplanting aloe at home

A plant grown in a room will be well affected by mineral fertilizing every 30 days. This process begins in mid-April and continues until October. From mid-autumn until next spring, fertilizer is not produced.

A flower transplant is performed when its roots fill the pot. For young plants, the growing time before transplanting is approximately 2 years, and for older plants 4.

Growing Aloe from Seeds

For a plant, quite good, but laborious, is the seed method of reproduction. The material is sown in a mixture of soddy, leafy soil and river sand in a ratio of 1:0.5:1; with a layer of drainage in early spring.

The seed container is kept at a temperature of about 20°C. After 30 days, after the shoots are driven out, the young plants dive into other boxes with the same soil. When the seedlings reach the age of four months, they are seated in separate containers.

Reproduction of aloe leaf

To propagate the agave leaf, take the same soil as for growing seeds. Young leaves growing from the rhizome of the parent plant are carefully separated and simply planted in another container.

Diseases and pests

If your agave's foliage is sluggish and pale, then you may have flooded it or picked up the wrong soil mixture.
With a lack of lighting, the shoots of the agave begin to stretch.
Rotting begins with excess moisture in the soil or water ingress on the leaves.
Drying of the foliage occurs due to lack of moisture.
Dark spots on the foliage are formed due to too much drop in temperature (below 9 ° C), as well as when placing a flower pot in drafts.
Of the pests, the flower is most often affected by aphids, scale insects, spider mites and worms.

Aloe medicinal properties and contraindications

The plant is often used to treat various diseases, but has some contraindications.

It should not be taken in diseases of the liver, gallbladder, hemorrhoids, pregnancy. You also need to be careful when giving agave to children under twelve. A side effect of taking aloe can be insomnia and the removal of beneficial minerals from the body.

Often agave is taken with honey to cure coughs. To do this, you can simply break off a piece of leaf and eat, dipping in honey.
The plant also helps to get rid of dandruff. To prepare the mask, one share of agave juice is taken, mixed with a share of castor oil and a share of honey. All this is mixed and applied to damp hair a few minutes before washing your hair.
To get rid of a runny nose, you can drip a few drops of agave extract into the nostrils.
You can make face masks from aloe, but for this you need to know the problems of your skin and consult a beautician to make the right mask recipe.
The plant is quite effective in the fight against acne. To prepare the product, the leaves are crushed, mixed with egg white with a mixer or in a blender. Next, a little lemon juice is dripped into the mass, mixed. After that, it is applied to problem areas for half an hour.
Sometimes agave juice is used for weight loss. One recipe for this is quite simple: just take a teaspoon of the plant's juice fifteen minutes before meals in the morning and evening.
Also, aloe vera tinctures and its juice are taken for a general strengthening effect. But, if you can collect the juice yourself, then it is better to buy tinctures in pharmacies, after consulting with doctors.

Growing aloe at home is quite easy. Anyone, even an inexperienced hostess, can do it.

Today, aloe can be seen in almost every home. Africa is considered the birthplace of this plant. This is an evergreen plant, which has about 360 species. The widespread distribution of these plants is due to two reasons. First, it is very unpretentious. Secondly, it is very useful and widely used in traditional medicine. Even in ancient China, in Egypt, in Greece and in the Roman Empire, they knew about the wonderful healing properties of this plant. It is used to heal abrasions and scratches, as well as to treat various inflammatory processes.

How to grow aloe

Landing

It all starts with choosing a pot. It will need to be spacious enough for the plant to be comfortable in it. At the bottom of the pot it is necessary to pour a drainage layer. For it, you can use expanded clay, sand, pieces of foam or pumice. The drainage layer will help to avoid stagnation of water in the pot and facilitate subsequent care. Drainage material and suitable soil can be purchased from specialized flower shops.

Temperature regime

Aloe does not impose special requirements on the temperature regime. It generally lives according to the natural cycle. In summer, in warm weather, pots with plants can generally be taken outside. In winter, only 12 C - 13 C is enough for normal plant growth.

Lighting

Due to its tropical origin, aloe is a light-loving plant. However, you should not put the plant pot on the windowsill on the sunny side. To avoid this, you will have to close the plant with a screen. And it is better to put a flower pot a little further from the window, but in a well-lit place

Watering

When watering, it is necessary to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the pot, otherwise a swamp will form and the plant will die. Spraying aloe is not worth it. The fact is that in this plant the leaves have a porous structure. Therefore, the liquid does not linger on them, and when sprayed, the leaves may begin to rot. It is better to wipe the leaves from time to time with a damp cloth.

top dressing

Once every two weeks, aloe must be fed. Do not fertilize more often, the plant will start to hurt from oversaturation with fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers intended for cacti are ideal. You can buy them at any flower shop.

Aloe reproduction

Propagating aloe is fairly easy. If there is one plant, then it is not difficult to grow as many in a fairly short time as there is where to put it. Both cuttings and broken leaves of the plant take root very well. It is enough just to break off a stalk or leaf, and put it in water. You can also use root layering. Experienced and patient housewives say that aloe can be grown even from seeds.

Aloe, like any other plant, responds very sensitively to the caring care of the hostess. If you show a little patience and attention to it, then it will not only decorate the interior of the room with a healthy look, but will also help all households with its useful properties.

How to use aloe

All existing varieties of aloe are succulents. They love bright sunlight and do not tolerate frequent watering, especially in winter. Therefore, it is better to grow them on sunny windows or verandas. In summer, aloe can be taken out onto a balcony or street, protecting it from rain.

Almost all types of aloe are large plants. So, they need to create the appropriate conditions for growth. If the pot in which aloe lives is small and cramped, then the flower will not grow well, and the leaves will dry and crumble. Therefore, as soon as the plant begins to outgrow its pot, and the roots are completely braided with an earthen lump, aloe must be transplanted. This is best done in spring or summer. Let's look at how to plant aloe at home.

The choice of soil for planting aloe

To grow aloe houseplant - you need to choose the soil suitable for succulents. Ready land can be purchased at any flower shop. The soil for growing aloe should consist of the following components: Sod land (2 parts). Humus (1 part). Coarse sand. Leaf land. To disinfect the soil, you can add charcoal to it. For better looseness of the soil, crushed brick is added to it.

Some gardeners prepare their own soil for planting. Do not add peat to the mixture, as it can adversely affect the roots of the plant.

What are the methods of propagation of aloe

The hardiness of this useful crop is also displayed in a variety of ways to reproduce it. You can breed a plant like this:

Offset reproduction. Use of adult shoots. At the same time, in order for the shoot to give a powerful root system, careful care is required.
Leaves.
Rosettes that form at the base of the bush.
Seeds.

How to plant aloe cuttings and leaves

Not everyone knows how to propagate aloe at home. Cuttings are one of the easiest and most popular ways to breed agave. Cuttings are called young shoots that grow at the base, at the top or along the stem of the plant. The length of the apical cutting must be at least 10 cm.

You can propagate aloe cuttings at any time of the year, but it is better to do this in spring or summer. The place of the cut on the mother plant and on the shoot should be covered with coal powder. The cuttings are laid out for drying in a shady place for 2-3 days.

Later, they are planted in pots with moistened river sand or soil for succulents. Planting material is immersed in the soil by 1-2 cm. If they are planted in a box, the distance between them should be at least 5 cm. Before rooting the cuttings, it is not necessary to immerse them in water. Succulent plants in liquid often rot.

Most often, cuttings take root within 1-2 weeks. Some specimens may take root faster. But sometimes you have to wait for rooting for more than a month. If you wish to speed up the process, you can process the cuttings before planting with a root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Heteroauxin).

Until the first roots appear, you need to water the sand as it dries. It must be constantly wet. After successful rooting, the frequency of watering is reduced, allowing the soil to dry completely.

Many flower growers can tell you how to grow aloe from a leaf. This method is no less popular than cuttings. It is necessary to cut off the planting material at its base. Do not leave parts of the leaf on the stem. They can start the process of decay. The place of the cut on the mother plant and on the leaf should be sprinkled with crushed activated carbon.

The cut leaf is dried in a shaded place for 2-3 days, then planted in moistened sand or in soil for succulents. Before immersing the planting material, the soil must be loosened. It is not necessary to drop the leaf heavily or cover it with a glass bottle. It is enough to immerse the lower part of the leaf with a cut 1-2 cm into the ground. After 1-2 weeks, the leaf will take root, then it will begin to develop buds.

How to plant aloe seeds

With this method, sowing is done in the first months of spring. At the very beginning of spring, the seeds are sown in the soil at a distance of 2 cm from each other, while the temperature in the room should be at least 22 ⁰C.

Seeds are sprinkled with sifted river sand. Seedlings are placed under a film or glass, provide them with the necessary care. At this time, sufficient watering is important, spraying of overgrown leaves is also used. When the young shoots have about 2 leaves, the plants dive into wide and shallow containers with exactly the same soil (preferably even with part of the old one, so the plants will experience less stress). After one year, the grown-up individuals are transferred to a permanent place in a large pot.

Aloe Watering Mode

The plant is unpretentious to the conditions of detention and easily tolerates a lack of moisture. In summer, you need to water aloe 1 time per week with warm water. It is desirable that the water temperature be 5 degrees higher than the air temperature in the room, i.e. 27-30 °С.

In the autumn-winter period, you can generally forget about caring for aloe. For him, like all succulents, watering once a month with warm water is quite enough. Despite the fact that aloe is a strong and hardy plant, excess moisture can be detrimental to it. Frequent watering and stagnant water in the pot will lead to root rot.

Aloe does not need spraying the leaves of aloe and additional moistening of the air, in addition, the ingress of water on the leaves during watering is undesirable for the plant.

Such a plant blooms extremely rarely. And the flowers are scarlet. But such a phenomenon is possible only at low temperatures and with high-quality lighting.

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Aloe nutrition

As a rule, the plant is rarely fed. The plant is unpretentious and caring for aloe vera does not require special care. Top dressing is preventive in nature and is carried out once a year in the spring. Mineral fertilizers are usually used for house flowers.

Aloe pests

Aloe can be affected by pests such as:

Shchitovka. She sucks aloe juice and promotes the development of fungal diseases and mold. In order to fight the stems of the plant must be wiped with a solution of vinegar. And in order to destroy the larvae of the scale insects, it is required to carry out the treatment with insecticidal preparations, while choosing an insecticide with the widest possible spectrum of action.
Nematodes. When they are found, the affected roots of the plant should be cut out, after which the aloe is rooted again. Soil irrigation is also used using preparations such as Vidat and Tekta.
Spider mite. Spraying the plant with solutions of garlic tincture and alcohol, cold infusion of soap or tobacco will help get rid of this pest. There are also special chemicals aimed at getting rid of the spider mite: Fitoverm, Neoron, Rogor.

Now you know how to plant aloe at home. And this wonderful plant will take its rightful place among your indoor flowers. Planting and caring for this culture is within the power of even a beginner. By combining a useful plant with other indoor crops, you can create luxurious compositions for your home.

Aloe can be found on the windows of many Russians. Its value is not only in its decorative form, but also in the healing properties of the juice. But it can be taken from healthy plants. You can grow aloe at home if you know the features of care. They will vary slightly depending on the type of this houseplant. Plants should be grown in comfortable conditions.

The aloe home plant differs in appearance, depending on the species. In nature, this succulent plant is tall, forms thickets. Aloe domestic compared with wild relatives - a dwarf, a hybrid.

Most often grown (description and photo):

Aloe real

Aloe vera has a short stem, fleshy smoky green leaves that gather in a rosette. The leaf blade is covered with white spots. Spikes along the edges. It blooms, but rarely, but if aloe is cared for at home according to all the rules, then it will throw out an inflorescence that looks like a brush. Flowers inconspicuous, yellowish.

Aloe tree

Aloe tree also has another name -. Grows fast. Grey-green leaves resembling swords are located on the stems, forming a rosette. Flowers are a rare occurrence, but if they appear, they delight the eye with red, yellow or pink inflorescences. On some plants, the flower is scarlet.

scarlet brindle

Aloe variegated, with a tiger color of a green leaf, grows up to 30 cm. Rosettes are located in a spiral. It is valued by flower growers because of its decorative effect. When asked how often aloe blooms, there is only one answer: pink or yellow inflorescences resembling brushes are not often seen.

Any of these varieties can be used as a medicinal and cosmetic product. Cosmetologists around the world prepare anti-aging, medicinal preparations with leaf juice.

In order for the plant to please, you need to know how to care for aloe at home.

Features of care

Landing

The question of how to plant aloe from a process is of interest to beginner flower growers. For aloe, pots are purchased before planting. They should be spacious and large in volume, preferably ceramic, so that the root system can "breathe". The root grows well, in a small bowl it will be uncomfortable for him, since an incorrectly planted aloe sprout begins to signal an error with emerging roots and drying leaves.

Transplantation should be carried out when the plant becomes crowded. An aloe flower is placed each time in a new, larger (in accordance with the dimensions of the flower), bowl, in a certain composition of the soil. Although an unpretentious plant is undemanding to the soil, for a young sprout, you need to buy soil in a flower shop. By the way, agaves prefer to grow in soil for cacti.

Drainage is poured first, then the earth. Lightly shed and you can plant aloe. After planting, the indoor flower is placed in a cool place where direct sunlight does not fall. Then they transfer it to a sunny windowsill: after all, the agave (the second name of aloe) is a heat-loving plant.

Experienced flower growers advise keeping the soil in a hot oven to protect the future plant from diseases and harmful insects.

Watering rules

Aloe, with proper care, grows quickly at home. When watering aloe, you must follow this rule:

In summer, once every 7 days is enough, but plentifully. If the agave begins to bloom, watering increases.
In winter, when the plant is resting, it grows very slowly, moisture consumption is minimal, it is enough to water once every 15 days.

And how to properly water aloe, so as not to harm:

Do not allow stagnant moisture. Roots rot in water. The lack of moisture in the soil is easily determined: usually the fleshy leaves become flat, and the tops curl.
A drainage cushion made of expanded clay, brick chips, and small gravel helps prevent stagnation.
Before planting aloe, the bottom of the pot is drilled in several places so that excess water drains into the pan, otherwise the earth is covered with a green coating.
Watering from above is prohibited. It is better to pour water into the pan and put a flower in it.
Use water at room temperature. If water is taken from the system, then it is pre-defended.
In summer, high humidity is created around the plant by spraying
Once every two months, special fertilizers are added to the water for irrigation and the home healer is fed.

Lighting features

We talked about how to water aloe, it's time to talk about lighting. Any home flower is demanding on a certain light regime. Place the agave on a sunny windowsill. As for the winter period, it withstands darkening well, avoiding artificial lighting.

In order to form a uniform arrangement of leaves, indoor flowers, including the agave, are moved to the balcony for the summer. You need to put it so that direct sunlight does not fall on it and does not burn.

To properly care for the agave means to create temperature conditions: in summer from +22 to 26 degrees, in winter within +10 and a little higher.

Transplant rules

Indoor flower needs to be transplanted. This procedure is usually carried out with the onset of spring days. If the agave is transplanted correctly, then it quickly takes root and begins to form new leaves.

Before transplanting aloe at home, divide the plants by age. If the plant is young, it needs to change the pot and soil annually. Old after 2 or 3 years. It is also necessary to plant heavily overgrown agaves, regardless of age.

After preparing the container and the soil, separate the plant with a knife from the pot. From the roots you need to shake off the old earth, cut off the darkened roots. The same operation is carried out with damaged roots. Having placed the flower in the center, you need to add soil and compact it.

When aloe is transplanted, a lot of diverse planting material remains:

root shoots;
accidentally broken leaves;
cut stalk from the top. By the way, the top is specially cut off to get a new plant.

Which method of breeding aloe to choose

There are several ways, each requires a different approach. Therefore, you will have to decide if there is no experience, and choose one thing:

Seeds. Not all flower growers decide on this method, because it takes a whole year to get a flower. It looks like this: sowing seeds, getting seedlings, caring for them, creating certain conditions. You have to deal with it like you would with a small child.
Growing aloe from a leaf is a practical method. Pinch off the planting material, sprinkle the cut with activated charcoal. Let it sit for 5 days to dry. Then immerse in the ground by 5 cm, cover with a jar. Since the leaf is without a root, planting is carried out in moist soil, covered with a jar on top. The created greenhouse effect accelerates the development of the root system (10-15 days).
Now let's figure out how to grow aloe from a shoot. Take the desired part from a healthy plant. The shoot should have up to 8 leaves. Trim the aloe in the right place and remove the planting material to dry for five days. Before planting an aloe shoot, you need to make sure that the lower leaves reach the moist soil. The shoot is well rooted on a lighted windowsill. The first signs that the plant has given roots will appear in about a month.
Centennials are propagated by children. This is the name of the shoots coming from the root. If aloe babies are without roots, they can also be used as planting material. The root system will then develop.

Plant diseases and pests, how to deal

The agave is an unpretentious plant, but affected or pests, it looks depressing.

Let's look at the most common problems.

PROBLEM	CAUSE	SOLUTION METHOD
Root rot, lightening of the leaves, rotting of the lower part of the plant	over watering	Reduce intensity, wait until the earth dries. If the problem persists, do transplanting in any way
Sudden leaf fall	When watering, cold water was used or the plant is standing in the cold	Water with warm, settled water, find a more suitable place
Appearance of brown spots	Not enough moisture	Increase watering
Appearance of soft spots	Fungus	For processing, apply a fungicide, ventilate the room
strong pull plant	lack of light	Move to a lighted window

There are insects that can cause irreparable harm. You need to beware of scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, thrips. The measures to combat them are the same as with other indoor plants.

Conclusion

pictured aloe marlota / A.marlothii

An agave is a must-have in every family. It is advisable to put a flower pot in the bedroom in order to get enough oxygen at night.

There are many signs associated with aloe growing in the house:

protects the house and residents from the evil eye, damage, brings good luck;
people live happily ever after;
the flowering of the agave is associated with the angel who settled in the house.

If the plant is used for medicinal purposes, then you need to take the leaves from the oldest. How to determine the age of aloe? This can be done using the height of the plant: if above 20 cm, then about 3 years.