Aloe tree - what is it, description of the plant
Content:
Aloe is a medicinal flower that can be found in almost any home. There are several varieties of this plant. Aloe tree has not lost its popularity for a long time, it is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and various medicinal properties.
Aloe tree - what is this flower
The birthplace of the tree-like aloe is Africa, where the ancestors of the plant can often be found. In the wild, the culture can reach a height of 3 meters.
Aloe - a description of what it looks like, characteristic features
The aloe flower belongs to the Asphodel family. Its second name is agave. The tree variety differs from aloe vera in its external characteristics. At home, the plant grows small.
Aloe treelike is a useful flower that is often found in homes
The leaves are long, green, fleshy, with thorns along the edges. The upper part of the foliage is a rosette, which is formed from converging leaves. The structure of the plates is such that it allows moisture to be retained inside for a long time. The root system of aloe is strong, with many branches that are also needed to retain water.
The healing properties of aloe
People love aloe for its medicinal properties. The pulp of the leaves has a bitter taste, the smell is weak. Fresh juice has antimicrobial and antibacterial effects and is often used to treat various diseases. An alcoholic and aqueous solution is used in the presence of streptococci, dysentery, diphtheria or typhoid bacillus. The juice has anti-inflammatory, choleretic and laxative effects.
Preparations with aloe in the composition have a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract, help with burns, eye diseases. However, it is recommended to take into account the contraindications to the use of such drugs.
The culture is often used by cosmetics manufacturers, adding parts of it as components of creams, lotions and other products.
Aloe in nature often blooms and grows quite tall
Aloe tree care at home
In terms of care, the aloe tree is a fairly unpretentious plant. However, there are features that should be taken into account in order for the culture to grow and develop well.
Lighting and temperature control
Aloe belongs to plants that love light very much, therefore, it is better to choose the most illuminated place for a flower pot. The culture is not afraid of direct sunlight. If the flower has been in the shade for a long time, then it is gradually taught to bright lighting. In winter, the bushes sometimes need to be additionally illuminated with special lamps.
Watering rules and humidity
During the growing season, watering is carried out immediately after the soil in the pot dries out. In winter, the amount of irrigation is reduced, but it is not recommended to allow the soil to be permanently dry.
Air humidity for tree aloe is unimportant, the culture grows well under any conditions.
Aloe has fleshy leaves in which the plant stores moisture.
Top dressing and soil quality
During active growth, fertilizers are applied three times per season - in early March, mid-July and early October. For feeding, it is better to use mineral fertilizers. You can buy ready-made succulent products and dilute them according to the instructions.
Aloe loves soil with a high nitrogen content. The best soil for a crop is considered to be a mixture of sod and deciduous land with the addition of sand. For looseness, add a small amount of charcoal and small bricks.
Flower container size
For aloe, the stem of which can be tall, choose a medium-sized container. It is important that the root system has enough space.
Pruning and replanting
The culture doesn't like frequent transplants. The first time you need to do this immediately after purchase. If the plant is young, actively growing, then it can be replanted every year. Adult flowers are moved to another pot every 3-4 years.
Pruning is needed in order to form the crown of the plant. For rejuvenation, the tops and lateral shoots are trimmed. Cut off shoots are well suited for flower propagation.
Water the aloe carefully so that water does not get into the outlet.
Agave reproduction
Aloe tree (agave) can be propagated in several ways. Each of them has its own characteristics that must be taken into account.
Cuttings
This is the easiest way to get multiple new instances. A well-developed lateral shoot is chosen for reproduction. You need to cut it off as close to the base as possible. The shoot is left for 5 days in a dark place, the cut is sprinkled with activated carbon. The cutting is planted in wet sand to a depth of about 10 cm.When the shoots take root, they can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Rooting the leaf
Rooting aloe leaves is pretty simple. The leaf is cut off near the base of the stem, left in a dark place for a while. Before planting, the cut is treated with activated carbon. The leaf is planted in wet sand to a depth of about 3 cm. The container can be covered with a film on top. It is important to keep the sand moist at all times.
Seeds
It is also possible to grow scarlet plants from seeds, although the method will take longer. Sowing is carried out at the end of February in a container with a mixture of peat and sand. The maximum seeding depth is half a centimeter. The pot is left at a temperature of about +22 degrees. When real leaves appear on the sprouts, they can be transplanted into permanent containers. A year later, the first transplant is carried out.
Children
Aloe often has small sprouts near the main stem, which can also be used to propagate the plant. The children are carefully dug up and transferred to small pots. It is important not to forget about watering. When new leaves appear, you can start feeding.
An adult plant can easily be planted in several containers.
Plant flowering and dormant period
The centenary rarely blooms at home, but a similar phenomenon can be provoked artificially. For this, the plant is provided with a dormant period from mid-autumn to spring: they lower the air temperature in the room, reduce the amount of watering, and provide additional lighting. It is quite difficult to create such conditions in an apartment, so flowers rarely appear in culture.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
Aloe is a rather unpretentious plant, but sometimes it is affected by diseases or pests.
Diseases
With improper care and high soil moisture, the appearance of root and dry rot is not excluded. In the first case, the aloe abruptly stops growing and begins to dry out, the leaves can sag, and the culture can rot. It is recommended to dig up the plant and carefully examine the root system. If signs of the disease are found, the affected roots must be cut off, the sections must be treated with coal. After that, the flower is transplanted into a new pot and fresh soil.
Dry rot is dangerous because it does not manifest itself in any way - the plant simply dries up. It is impossible to cope with the disease.
Pests
Harmful insects can infect aloe with improper care or from nearby infected plants. Thrips, scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites are dangerous.
If the plant has been attacked by thrips, scale insects or mealybugs, then it is recommended to carefully wash it with soapy water. Such an action will help get rid of pests in the initial stages of damage. If there are a lot of insects, you can get rid of them and save the flower only with the use of special preparations.
In the presence of a spider mite, other drugs of a specific orientation are used.
At home, aloe rarely blooms.
Other growing problems
Aloe tree in most cases does not cause any special problems and does not require serious care. However, sometimes some problems may occur:
- Foliage withering, its pallor occur with constant and severe waterlogging.
- Thin and long leaf blades indicate a lack of lighting.
- Falling soft leaves may indicate a low temperature, waterlogging or lack of moisture.
- Drying of the leaves always indicates insufficient watering.
- Yellowing of the leaf blades can be a sign of rot.
Aloe tree is a useful plant that even a beginner can easily grow. It is recommended to follow the planting rules and carefully monitor the appearance of the flower, then the culture will develop well and quickly. If desired, after a few years, the herbaceous flower can be propagated in any way.
