How to plant aloe properly at home

Aloe can be found in almost every home. Such popularity of the plant is due to its healing properties, which makes it possible to use it in the treatment of skin inflammation and runny nose. But so that the culture does not cause trouble and fully develops, you need to know how to plant aloe and what rules of care you need to follow in the future.

How to plant aloe properly at home

This plant belongs to the category of succulents. Therefore, aloe prefers well-lit window sills and easily tolerates a lack of moisture, since it accumulates in its leaves with rare watering. Subject to the basic requirements of the culture, this plant will not cause trouble.

Aloe is considered to be a home healer

What time of year is it better to plant and is it possible in winter

Planting aloe, like other indoor plants, is best in late February - early March. It is during this period that the plant leaves the state of winter dormancy and biological processes intensify in it.

If during this period it was not possible to land, then the procedure can be postponed until the end of summer, namely until July-August. At this time, sap flow in the tissues of the plant increases, so it easily tolerates planting and quickly recovers

What land is needed for aloe

In nature, this plant can be found in countries with arid climates and nutrient-poor soil. At the same time, aloe feels great in such conditions and grows well. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a soil for him, the composition of which will be as close as possible to the natural habitat.

You can buy a ready-made substrate at a flower shop, choosing a soil mixture for cacti and succulents. But you can also prepare a suitable soil for aloe yourself. The main thing is that the substrate is loose, light and well-drained.

To plant aloe, you need to mix the following components:

• turf - 40%;
• leafy soil - 20%;
• coarse sand - 20%;
• small pebbles - 10%;
• charcoal - 10%.

Soil for aloe should not be nutritious, the main thing is that moisture does not stagnate in it.

In what container is aloe grown: the size of the pot

The root system of aloe, like all succulents, is small, but the leaves are fleshy and large, since they contain a supply of moisture and nutrients. Therefore, for the plant, it is necessary to select not too deep, but wide pots. When planted in high containers, the plant will constantly turn over.

The diameter of the pot must be selected depending on the age of the seedling

At the initial stage of growth, the width of the planting container should be within 8-9 cm.With subsequent transplants, it can be increased by 2-3 cm.

How to properly plant aloe in a pot

Before you start planting, you need to prepare everything in advance so that during the procedure everything is at hand. This will require:

• pot;
• priming;
• drainage;
• settled water at room temperature;
• Activated carbon;
• sharp knife.

When everything is ready, you can proceed directly to planting aloe. In this case, it is important to follow the procedure and strictly adhere to the recommendations.

Landing Algorithm:

1. Inspect the root of the seedling and, if necessary, remove damaged and rotten areas with a knife.
2. Sprinkle the slices with activated charcoal.
3. Lay drainage at the bottom of the pot with a layer of 1.5-2 cm.
4. Sprinkle it with substrate on top.
5. Place the seedling in the center of the pot, straighten the roots gently so as not to damage them.
6. Fill the resulting voids with earth, slightly compact the surface.
7. Water the plant abundantly and place in a slightly shaded place for rooting.

As soon as the seedling grows, it must be placed on a sunny windowsill. In the future, it is necessary to water the planted plant as the top layer of the soil dries out.

How to grow an aloe from a scion without roots

Sometimes the question arises, how to plant an aloe, if the shoot is without a root. In this case, it is quite possible to grow a plant if you act correctly.

This situation can arise in the following cases:

• had to disconnect the lateral process;
• the bush requires rejuvenation;
• the roots of the plant have rotted, but the top has survived.

Are there any chances of success

Before planting the cuttings without roots, you need to refresh the cut and leave it to dry for 2-3 days in a shaded place. During this time, a kind of film is formed, which protects against the penetration of infection into the plant tissues and prevents excessive evaporation of moisture.

The rooting of the shoot takes place within 3-4 weeks.

In the meantime, it is necessary to prepare a special soil for the aloe sprout. In this case, you need to mix sod soil and river sand in a 1: 2 ratio. Bake it in the oven for 15 minutes. at a temperature of 100 ° C to disinfect.

To plant the appendix, you can use a plastic cup, making drainage holes in it, lay expanded clay on the bottom with a layer of 2 cm, and fill the remaining 2/3 of the volume with the prepared substrate and moisten it. After that, plant the shoot, deepening into the soil until the first pair of leaves. Then compact the soil at the base, and sprinkle the surface with small pebbles. This will strengthen the seedling and prevent it from falling.

For full-fledged rooting, it is necessary to rearrange the container with the cutting to a bright place with a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C, while the plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Periodically, it is necessary to moisten the soil, observing the rule - it is better to underfill than overflow.

If the whole procedure was carried out correctly, then the process will take root without any problems. You can determine this by the new leaves that begin to appear at the top.

How to grow aloe from a leaf

This method of growing an aloe vera seedling or other crop at home is more labor intensive.

For rooting, it is necessary to use the lower leaves from a plant over 3 years old.They should be fully developed and with good turgor. The leaves must be cut off with a sharp knife at the base and put to form a protective film for 2-3 days in a shaded dry place.

Rooting should be carried out in clean sand, which should be calcined in the oven beforehand. For planting, you need to choose wide bowls with drainage holes to drain excess water. It is necessary to fill them with prepared sand and moisten it evenly. Leaves need to be deepened into the sand by 3 cm, put the container with seedlings in a warm, bright place with an air temperature of 23-25 ​​° C.

If all the recommendations are followed, after 1.5-2 months, small sprouts should appear at the base of the leaves. Throughout this period, the sand in the container must be kept slightly moist.

Leaf propagation takes patience

It is necessary to plant young seedlings in separate containers when their leaves grow up to 3-5 cm. In this case, you need to take a full-fledged substrate as for adult plants.

Knowing how to grow aloe from a leaf, you can get a large amount of planting material. This method of reproduction allows you to preserve all the specific qualities of the mother plant, which cannot be achieved if seedlings are germinated from seeds.

Caring for aloe at home after planting

The planted plant needs quality care. Any mistake made by a grower at this stage of growing aloe can become fatal, since the plant has not yet had time to get stronger. Therefore, you should pay attention to the basic requirements of culture, which cannot be ignored.

Care rules:

• lighting. Aloe is considered a light-loving plant, therefore, it is necessary to select a southern or eastern window sill for it. But at the same time it is necessary to exclude direct sunlight, as they can cause burns on the leaves. In winter, this houseplant needs additional artificial lighting. The lamps should be placed at a height of 35 cm above the plant;
• content temperature. This succulent thrives at high air temperatures. In the summer, a flowerpot with a flower can be put out on the street. In winter, when the aloe is at rest, the favorable temperature is 16 ° C;
• humidity. Aloe is a drought-resistant plant, so the leaves should not be sprayed. The optimum humidity level is 60-65%. Sometimes you can simply wipe the leaves to remove dust;
• transfer. This procedure should be carried out when the succulent pot becomes cramped. In this case, the plant stops growing actively, and young leaves become much smaller. The transplant is recommended to be carried out by the transshipment method, without destroying the earthen clod at the roots.

How to feed aloe

This plant does not need a high nutrient content. For feeding, you should use mineral fertilizers, which can be purchased at the store marked "for succulents."

Fertilizing aloe is rarely necessary.

Features of top dressing:

• when planting in a purchased substrate, fertilizer should be applied for the first time only after six months, and in other cases - after 3 months;
• the indicated dosage in the instructions cannot be exceeded;
• it is necessary to use fertilizers from March to the end of September once a month, and take a break in late autumn and winter;
• only healthy seedlings can be fed.

How to water properly so as not to ruin a young plant

Aloe does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to water the plant only when necessary when the top layer of the soil dries out, avoiding stagnation of moisture. It is also important to periodically loosen the soil in the pot to improve its breathability.

For humidification, it is recommended to use settled water at room temperature.Watering should be carried out at the root so that water does not get on the leaves. But it is also acceptable to sometimes pour water into the pan to saturate the substrate with moisture.

Choosing aloe as a houseplant, planting and care at home will not cause serious difficulties. Therefore, any florist, regardless of his experience, can cope with this task.

Potential problems during and immediately after boarding

Often, planting and reproduction of aloe takes place without any difficulties. But sometimes flower growers complain that this succulent does not take root. Therefore, you should find out why this is happening.

The most common cause of plant death is excessive soil moisture, which is associated with improper watering. To remedy the situation, it is necessary to remove the plant from the pot, clean the rotten areas and roots with a knife. After that, sprinkle fresh wounds with charcoal and dry for several days in a dark place.

Then plant in an equal proportion of sand and turf. Do not water the plant for the next 2 weeks. If during this time the decay process does not resume, then the soil in the pot can be slightly moistened. As soon as the plant fully grows stronger and grows, it must be transplanted into a full-fledged substrate.

Mealybug - a dangerous pest of succulents

Another reason that aloe does not take root may be a mealybug. This pest lays eggs in the roots of the plant. As a result, the larvae that appear feed on the sap of the plant, which prevents rooting. In this case, it is recommended to water the plant with a solution of the Aktara preparation (1.4 g per 6 L). After a week, spray the plant and soil in the pot with phytoverm.

What to do if it does not take root

If, despite all the efforts spent, the aloe still cannot fully take root, you need to check if all the recommendations are followed. When planting and growing, everything matters, so even the smallest details should not be ignored.

Most often, the plant cannot fully take root, since the temperature regime is not observed during the rooting period. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the planting, while completely replacing the soil. You should also wash the pot well and scald it with boiling water.

Growing aloe, like other succulents, is not difficult, the main thing is to provide the plant with conditions that are as close as possible to its requirements. First of all, this concerns planting, since development in the future depends on it. Otherwise, even an inexperienced grower can cope with caring for aloe.