Save a medicinal flower: caring for aloe at home. How to care for agave at home How to care for an aloe vera plant

Aloe has been revered as a sacred plant since ancient times. Egyptologists discover images of him on the walls of tombs. European history connects this plant with the goddess of love, Venus. Residents of African tribes use it in magical rituals.
This article will give a description of aloe, talk about the types and how agave differs from aloe vera, what beneficial properties and contraindications these plants have, how to use them, grow them at home and store them for future use.

European history connects aloe with the goddess of love, Venus.

The Aloe genus is part of the Asphodelaceae family and has over five hundred species. perennial plants. Among them there are mainly herbaceous representatives, but shrubby and even tree-like forms can also be found. All of them - succulents and xerophytes that easily tolerate dry conditions.

The stems of plants of this genus are not very tall. Aloe leaves accumulate moisture, so they are always thick, fleshy, oblong in shape, often have jagged edges, sharp spines or cilia, although they may also have a smooth edge. The leaves cover the shoot in a spiral and form dense rosettes.

The aloe flower is small, tubular, red, yellow, orange, and white. Numerous flowers are collected in a raceme inflorescence, moving away from the ground on a long peduncle. The fruit is a triangular capsule filled with numerous dark gray flying seeds.

The Aloe genus includes over five hundred species of perennial plants.

The homeland of aloe is the west of the Arabian Peninsula and the islands of Barbados and Curacao, from where later active participation The human race spread across continents.

Today in the wild, representatives of this ancient family can be found in Africa and on nearby islands, in South America.

Common types of aloe

• One of the most common representatives is aloe vera, or aloe vera. The densely branched shoots of this plant bear light green sword-shaped leaves. In the 16th century, this species began to be actively cultivated on the island of Barbados, for which the plant received the name Aloe Barbados. The grayish-green leaves of this ornamental aloe are distinguished by a pale pink border. Barbadensis is also known for its medicinal properties.
• Treelike - unpretentious plant, characterized by rapid growth and tree-like shape. It can reach a height of several meters, and the edges of its leaves are “decorated” with thorns. Often used in indoor floriculture. It is popularly called agave because... it is believed that the flowering of this species can be observed only once per century.
• Aristata (or aristata) is a compact bush-like plant whose leaves form an attractive hemispherical shape. In addition to over a hundred decorative leaves speckled with white, this species boasts showy orange inflorescences on a long stalk.

• Variegated is distinguished by its modest size: the shrub reaches a height of up to 30 cm. Its peculiarity lies in the decorative two-color triangular leaves. Due to the presence of stripes on the leaves, the plant received other names: tiger or striped. In spring, it is additionally decorated with eye-catching inflorescences of red or bright orange.
• The intimidating plant is so named due to the numerous thorns framing the massive leaves on both sides. Up to three meters high, the stem can bear both green and pale red leaves. Highly valued for its pharmaceutical properties.
• Marlotta, capable of forming thickets up to 4 m high in its natural environment, has a much more modest size in cultivation. Thick, fleshy leaves of a silver-blue hue are covered with red-brown teeth and collected in a tight rosette. Large orange or yellow inflorescences bloom on a long (up to 80 cm) peduncle.
• Haworthia forms not one, but several small (up to 5 cm) stemless rosettes. Long, thin, pointed leaves covered with numerous spines and bristles white. If certain conditions are met, the plant pleases the grower with graceful flowers of pastel shades on a peduncle 20-30 cm long.
• Acute is a shrub with oblong, grey-green, pointed leaves characterized by jagged edges. The spike-shaped inflorescence bears narrow-tubular buds of red shades.

Chemical composition, medicinal properties and harm

The active substances that make up aloe juice have given this plant the fame of a miracle flower. The table shows the nutrients and the medicinal properties due to their content.

Like all medicinal products, preparations of this plant have contraindications. In addition to individual intolerance, contraindications include pregnancy and lactation.

Collection, preparation and storage

The maximum concentration of beneficial compounds in the leaves is achieved by 3-5 years of growth. The lower and middle leaves of aloe are carefully separated from the trunk, because Damaging or cutting them will result in loss of juice. During the growing season, it is possible to collect 2-3 raw materials from each plant. The main product of leaf processing is juice.

It is allowed to store fresh juice in opaque glass containers or preserve it with alcohol.

Often, all medicinal forms of aloe are made from biostimulated leaves. Placing the leaf in harsh conditions (chilling) leads to biochemical changes in the tissues. As a result, the leaf forms and accumulates nutrients, the use of which awakens the vital functions of the patient.

Juice is the main product of leaf processing.

Application of aloe juice

Aloe juice is obtained from the leaves, the use of which helps in the treatment of a wide range of diseases of the skin and mucous membranes:

• Burns;
• Acne;
• Eczema;
• Cracks;
• Psoriasis;
• Epitheliomas;
• Trophic ulcers;
• Radiation damage to the skin;
• Herpetic rashes.

Foci of inflammation are lubricated with fresh juice 5-6 times a day or lotions are applied.
Juice electrophoresis is used for ophthalmological diseases.
Gardeners also readily use the juice of this plant: soaking seeds in 50% juice increases their germination capacity and speeds up germination.

Cosmetic properties of juice

The juice of this xerophyte also has a beneficial effect on the skin: it normalizes the water balance in tissues, promotes hydration, and evens out the complexion. A good effect is observed if you wipe your face with fresh, preferably biostimulated juice, or facial products prepared on its basis.

Thanks to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe can become an indispensable assistant in the fight against acne. A face mask for acne based on juice will help eliminate sebaceous plugs, treat inflammation and redness on the skin.

Aloe leaf, due to the properties of its juice, draws out pus and foreign objects from the body.

The juice of this plant is a well-known folk remedy for stretch marks and sunburn. In both cases, it can be used both in pure form and as part of cosmetics.
The use of aloe for hair is also popular: the juice of this plant has a beneficial effect on hair follicles, can stimulate hair growth, strengthen roots, moisturize, nourish and protect the scalp from drying out, and give shine and softness to hair.

In order to squeeze out the juice, you need to cut the thoroughly washed bottom leaf into small pieces, place them in cheesecloth and squeeze by pressing: manually or using a press.

Aloe is a plant that combines decorative and medicinal properties and is ideally suited for indoor floriculture. The most popular varieties for growing are aloe vera and aloe vera. Caring for aloe at home does not require a lot of effort and skills, so this flower is suitable even for beginners. A mix of aloe is gaining increasing popularity - different species of the same genus are placed in one container. Due to similar growing conditions, this arrangement simplifies care, and different plants, collected together, emphasize each other's individuality.

The most popular varieties for growing are aloe vera and aloe vera.

Suitable for growing this succulent is one designed for cacti. soil mixture. You can make your own soil, but it is important to remember that you need soil with low acidity. The plant requires good lighting and loves bright sun, but at the same time it is unpretentious in terms of temperature (withstands temperature fluctuations ranging from 13 to 26 ° C).

Aloe is watered as the soil dries out. For irrigation, use settled water at room temperature. Overwatering threatens root rot and plant death. Leaves must be cleaned of dust without spraying.

There are several ways to propagate this plant. The traditional method of propagation for plants - by seeds - requires a significant amount of time, and therefore has become much more widespread. vegetative methods propagation: planting shoots, propagation by cuttings or shoot tip.

Deep root system and rapid growth rates necessitate regular replanting. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers within 6 months after transplantation. Then you can fertilize more often, but no more than once a month. They use special preparations for succulents, but it is worth remembering that mineral supplements may negatively affect the medicinal properties of the plant. The best choice in this case is biological drugs.

Aloe requires good light and loves bright sun

Recipes

• For gastrointestinal disorders (constipation, gastritis, enteritis), take 1 tsp of juice. 2-3 times a day before meals.
• It also saves you from a runny nose if you drop 3-5 drops of juice into your nose.
• Tincture:
  At home, to preserve juice, you can prepare aloe juice in alcohol using 70% alcohol in a ratio of 4 parts juice to 1 part alcohol.
• Aloe for immunity:
  Fresh aloe juice - 150 ml, honey - 250 g, Cahors - 350 ml. Mix the ingredients and take 1 tbsp orally. 3 times a day before meals.
• Lotions for barley:
  Finely chop a small leaf (about 5-6 g), pour one glass of cold boiled water, leave for 7-8 hours, pass through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Use with a cotton pad.

Question answer

Is aloe a cactus?
Sometimes on the Internet you can find the statement that aloe is a “medicinal cactus”. This opinion is wrong. Aloe, like most types of cacti, belongs to the group of succulents - they have the ability to accumulate moisture in their tissues, are resistant to dry conditions and often have spines. However, these plants are located far from each other in the taxonomic tree, because belong to different classes.

What is the difference between agave and aloe?
Agave is the “folk” name of one of the species of the genus. This is what is commonly called tree aloe, but the genus is not limited to just this species (see above). It would be incorrect to call any aloe agave.

Is it possible to eat aloe raw?
Can. The leaves of this plant are found on sale in some organic food supermarkets. Before eating them, it is advisable to cut off the thorns and peel.

How often to water aloe?
As the soil dries out. In summer this happens once every 2-3 days, and in winter - once every 2 weeks.

Aloe has the ability to accumulate moisture in tissues

How to propagate aloe vegetatively?
To do this, you will need healthy shoots without damage. Best time for their collection and reproduction - summer. Cut into 10 cm pieces, the shoots are sprinkled with coal and dried in the shade. Then you need to plant them without roots in damp sand, pressing them slightly. Both drying out and waterlogging should not be allowed. After rooting, the plants are transplanted into the ground.
Sometimes an adult bush produces shoots. In this case, when transplanting, you should transplant the shoot into a separate pot.

Why do the tips of aloe leaves dry out?
The most common reason is too small pot. It can be eliminated by transplanting the plant into a larger container. Drying of leaves can also be caused by:
Lack of sunlight, to which the plant is very sensitive. The best decision– place the flower on the windowsill on the south or southeast side.
Lack of nutrients. In this case, the plant requires feeding.

Aloe is best propagated in early spring. At this time, the plant begins to awaken, and all vital processes begin in it, which allow the root system to quickly develop and adapt to new conditions.

Soil selection

Now almost all flower, garden or hardware stores sell specialized soil for growing any type of this flower.

If you want to select and compose soil for aloe vera yourself, then you should use coarse sand, humus, expanded clay gravel, perlite and leaf soil.

All elements are taken in equal proportions. At the bottom there is a layer of drainage, then a layer mixed soil, there is a layer of sand on top. There is no need to add peat to the soil mixture for growing aloe vera..

Reproduction methods at home

There are several ways to propagate and plant a flower at home. Let's look at them.

How to plant with a leaf without a root?

Propagation by cuttings is a common type of propagation, but in the case of this plant, the chance of an unsuccessful attempt increases, since the fleshy leaves of aloe contain a lot of moisture, which contributes to the rapid rotting of the leaf.

If you decide to propagate this flower by cuttings, you will have to follow the rules and approach propagation very responsibly. Let's look at how to propagate by leaf. To propagate aloe leaf, you need:

1. First you need to choose a healthy and large leaf, its diameter at the base should be at least 7-8 centimeters. After this you need to cut it at a slight angle.
2. Next, you should put the leaf in a dark place for a couple of weeks so that a protective film appears on the cut.
3. Then the cut must be treated with crushed coal.
4. Also, you need to select a pot or container that needs to be pre-treated; for example, you can wash the plastic container with warm water and laundry soap.
5. After processing, the container must be filled with properly selected and moistened soil, not forgetting the drainage layer, since the soil must be moderately moistened.
6. Next, you need to dig the leaf into the ground about ¼ of its entire length and wait for the first roots to appear.
7. During cultivation, the soil must be constantly moistened.

How to root with “kids”?

Reproduction by root shoots is the most effective method , but it has one drawback - the development of a new plant will take quite a long time.

“Children” appear in plants from an early age, so finding such shoots is not a problem.

Reproduction should be carried out using the following steps:

How to grow from seeds?

Propagation by seeds is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming method.. You need to choose high-quality seeds; it is advisable to purchase them in a store, as you will get large and high-quality seeds. planting material It’s unlikely to work at home.

The process is carried out as follows:

1. The seeds must first be soaked in a weak solution of valerian to prevent disease in the young plant.
2. First you need to prepare the container and substrate. The container must be flat and the soil moist.

   Before planting, the soil should be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The temperature of the room where seedlings are grown should be above +22 0 C.

3. Next you need to plant the seeds in the soil, deepening them 1-2 centimeters. The distance between each seed should be at least 2 centimeters.
4. Next, the container needs to be covered with film or transparent glass on top to maintain the greenhouse effect. When sprouts gradually appear, the cover must be removed.
5. Then the new plants that appear need to be transplanted into a new separate container with the same soil.
6. After a year, each already strong plant must be transplanted into a separate container.

Features of outdoor care

Knowing how a plant reproduces at home, let's look at how to grow a flower in open ground. This is only possible in areas with a particularly warm and favorable climate. Residents of the southern regions of Russia and Kazakhstan can grow aloe vera in their garden., as well as all regions located to the south.

Growing such a flower in your garden is quite labor-intensive; it requires a certain amount of effort.

• External conditions should be favorable, that is, very warm.
• If your soil is clayey and heavy, you will have to mix it with a special substrate designed specifically for this type of plant.
• Each of the plants should have its own specific space, which should be at least a meter, since aloe vera grows very strongly over time.

If you grow aloe vera at home, we suggest reading how to care for it at home.

What to do after landing?

After planting, each plant requires certain conditions and care.. Aloe vera is an unpretentious plant, but still, for normal development and the possibility of flowering, it requires some conditions:

• The plant requires a lot of light; if there is not enough light, the flower begins to wither, but direct sunlight can also harm this plant.
• Aloe requires a constant flow of fresh air.
• The plant needs to be watered regularly, but not often; in the warm season, the soil should be moistened once a week, in the cold season - a couple of times a month.
• Also, you need to periodically spray the leaves to avoid dry air.
• The water temperature for irrigation and spraying should be about 30 0 C.
• Periodically, you need to fertilize the plant with special fertilizers for succulents and cacti.

If it doesn't take root

When growing a new plant, a gardener may encounter many problems, the main one being that aloe does not take root.

There may be several reasons for this:

• Poor quality soil.
• Wrong growing location.
• Negative external conditions.
• Bad material.

This problem is not difficult to solve, the main thing is not to despair. First, you should make sure whether you took high-quality material, if the cutting or seed was sick, then nothing will grow from it.

If you are confident in the quality of the material, then you need to try to change the location of the new plant, since lack of light or drafts are the main causes of plant death.

If changing the location does not help, then you should think about the quality of the soil and change it to another. If all these factors are observed, aloe propagation should proceed without problems. If growing a new plant occurs with difficulty or does not occur at all, then you should change the method of propagation and choose a more rational one.

Useful video

We invite you to watch a video about how aloe is grown and propagated at home:

Conclusion

You did the right thing by choosing this particular flower for growing, because aloe vera has, and also practically does not have any special conditions for growing. You need to follow all the rules, choose more rational methods of reproduction, and then you can easily grow this beautiful plant!

Aloe is perhaps the most common type of vegetation in the homes of our compatriots. This houseplant can rightfully be called a home first aid, because aloe is used for many ailments and rarely needs a detailed description. “Grandma’s recipes” for using aloe have probably helped each of us out more than once, so this plant cannot be confused with any other: loose, fleshy leaves, pleasant color and barely perceptible smell.

Which aloe to choose for your home, the most common indoor varieties

The homeland of aloe is the Arabian Peninsula, and in nature there are about 400 species of similar plants, although not all of them can grow at home. When buying aloe, you will be advised of those varieties that are best suited for your home, including:

• , better known among the people as “agave”. This species has different leaves longer(20-25 centimeters). They are fleshy, lolling and the stem can be seen through them. The edges are “circled” with teeth and can reach a height of 1 meter.
  
• The stem of this plant is very short and almost invisible. The leaves are short, bright green with white stripes, and arranged in a spiral along the stem. Very often due to appearance“tiger” aloe is confused with gasteria: it does not have “teeth” and is capable of flowering.
  
• Aloe vera (Aloe Vera). The leaves of this species are lanceolate in shape and colored green color with a smoky shade and jagged edges. They reach 50 centimeters in length and are arranged in rosettes on a short stem. This species can bloom (the peduncle is long with several inflorescences, and the flower itself is yellow). Some varieties of Aloe Vera may have a red coloration.
  
• - a fairly large plant that natural conditions can reach up to 3 meters in height. The leaves of this species are fleshy and large - up to 50 centimeters in length and 15 centimeters in width and “fold” into rosettes (a bright orange flower with a red tint appears from the middle of the rosette). It is interesting that the leaves can take on a reddish tint, and the cloves can grow over its entire area.
  
• - a representative with a stem that “curls.” The leaves of this species are quite large (60:6), flat and curved. Usually a plant has not one, but several leaf rosettes. The leaves are “decorated” with white spots, and the teeth grow along the rim of the leaf. Such plants are characterized by a racemose inflorescence of yellow color with a red tint.
  
Aloe is very beautiful and useful plant and like any other flower, it requires care, but we will talk further about how to properly care for aloe at home.

What place to choose for aloe

In order to choose the right place for planting aloe, you need to take it into account natural environment a habitat, temperature regime and lighting, since only under such circumstances will aloe care be correct. Like other succulents, this plant loves well-lit places, so all window sills that face south are perfect for its “life.” If the plant receives direct sunlight, this is not a problem, because it tolerates it very well.

The ideal temperature for growing aloe can vary depending on the time of year: in winter, the optimal temperature is +10..15°C, and in summer the plant can be kept at room temperature. Many gardeners advise taking aloe out onto the balcony (into the yard) for the summer, but this should be done gradually, first leaving it for only 1 hour.

Important! In winter, the plant may require additional lighting, which can be provided with fluorescent lamps.

Features of planting a medicinal plant

For proper cultivation of real aloe and ease of further care for it, it is important to follow all the rules when planting the plant. The process itself is simple, however, there are some subtleties that should still be taken into account.

What should the soil be like?


The main thing you need to know when choosing soil for aloe is that it should be fertile and loose (for good soil aeration). If your soil is not loose enough, you can loosen it while watering. To plant aloe, you can purchase a ready-made substrate, or you can prepare it yourself. In the latter case, you will need: turf-clay soil, which is mixed with leaf soil and dry sand in a 2:1:1 ratio. Aloe is also required to have drainage, which can be expanded clay.

Did you know? The drainage function can be performed by pre-crushed charcoal.

A very important point is maintaining optimal soil moisture.

Planting scheme

The aloe planting scheme is very simple and consists of the following steps:

1. Preparation of soil mixture and drainage.
2. Laying drainage on the bottom of the pot, filling 2/3 of the container with soil mixture, and moistening it.
3. Laying out dry, pre-calcined sand.
4. Planting planting material (it is slightly buried in the main earth mass).
5. Moistening the soil with water.

How to properly care for aloe

In order for aloe to feel comfortable on your windowsill, home care should consist of several factors: proper and timely watering, high-quality fertilizing, careful replanting and pruning.

Watering and spraying mode

The watering regime directly depends on the time of year. In summer, it should be more abundant (it is worth watering as the soil dries out, 1-2 times a week will be enough). In winter, the plant goes “resting” and the addition of liquid is reduced to a minimum. Aloe really doesn’t like stagnant water, so you should water it around the pot, or immerse the plant in water for 10-15 minutes. If water stagnates in the leaves, the plant may die. Also, the liquid should not sit in the pan for a long time. For irrigation, you should choose soft water at room temperature.

Did you know? Aloe, most often, dies from overwatering, while underwatering is much easier for them.

It is enough to spray the flowerpot once a week, but the spray bottle should be located at a distance of 30-50 centimeters from the plant, in order to avoid the aforementioned stagnation of water.

How to feed aloe

Aloe does not need special feeding, because when proper watering It develops well on its own, however, the plant absorbs monthly “preventive” fertilizing quite well. Fertilizing is carried out from mid-spring to the end of autumn; it is best to do this with mineral fertilizers and eco-fertilizers. In winter, during the dormant period, there is no need to feed the plant.

Plant pruning

When deciding how best to form aloe, you need to understand that all the methods used in this case are somewhat different from the methods of forming other plants, because the structure of the leaf and stem also has certain differences. In order to properly prune this plant, you should follow 5 simple rules. The first thing that is important to notice when pruning is caring for the health of the plant. You should always remove all dried or even slightly damaged leaves, since it is in the “sick” parts of the plant that many bacteria develop. One cannot ignore the fact that aloe loves the sun, which means caring for it will involve removing leaves that interfere with the access of light.

The second and very important rule is the correct pruning of the plant. The leaf is cut with a sharp knife at the very base. Usually the outermost leaves are cut off, since they are already old and ripe. They can be used for personal purposes.

The third step in pruning is to control the size of the plant. If many new shoots appear on it, it is better to remove them, as they take away the strength from the root. Such parts are removed by pulling them out from the root when they have already reached 5-6 centimeters in length.

Fourth condition quality pruning is to preserve the natural color of the flowerpot as much as possible. After the plant has flowered, the oldest leaves need to be removed, however, given that not all varieties bloom, gardeners rarely encounter this problem. And the last, but not the least, factor is pruning the aloe roots. During replanting, inspect the root system and trim off the longest roots. This will help the growth of a new, healthy root system.

When and how to perform a transplant?

The aloe root system develops quite quickly and therefore from time to time the plant requires replanting. Depending on the age of the aloe, it needs to be replanted either annually (young plants) or every two years (for older plants). The transplant is carried out into a pot that will be 1.5 times larger than the previous one.

Many people ask: “Can aloe be replanted in the fall?” Flower growers categorically do not recommend doing this, because in the fall the plant begins to “fall asleep” and the flowerpot will not have time to adapt to the new place of “residence”.

Important! If you do not have the opportunity to prepare the substrate necessary for comfortable growth, you can use ready mixture for cacti, the main thing is drainage.

Propagation of aloe, basic methods

Aloe has long become one of the most popular plants on domestic windowsills, largely due to different methods of propagation.

Sowing aloe

Propagation by seeds is a rather labor-intensive process. Seeds are sown at the end of February or at the beginning of March, at room temperature. There is no need to bury them heavily, just lightly press them into the previously prepared substrate. Seedlings should be planted in small, shallow boxes and these containers should be kept at a temperature of +21°C, preferably under a lamp. After they germinate, it is necessary to transplant the shoots into pots, and a year later, carry out another transplant.

Did you know? The process of sowing aloe seeds is similar to the process of sowing cactus seeds.

Aloe cuttings

Aloe can be propagated by cuttings all year round, but it is better to carry out cuttings in the summer. Cuttings grow along the stem, and they need to be cut off at the very base. After cutting, the resulting material is dried on a flat, sterile surface for 5 days, placing it in dark room. The place from which the cuttings are cut must be “rubbed” with coal.

exists in nature about 340 species aloe, of which only a few are grown at home.

This plant from the genus of succulents is popular and how medicinal, And How decorative.

Some varieties of aloe, especially those bred by hybridization, are very look original.

Aloe is valued as a source of phytoncides that disinfect the air. His leaves are used in folk and official medicine, in cosmetology.

Types of aloe cultivated at home

Aloe in a flowerpot on a windowsill usually does not grow more than a meter; dwarf varieties and hybrids are grown for decorative purposes.

The most common types of aloe found at home are:

• aloe vera, also known as agave, with a trunk and numerous side shoots, reaches a meter in height;
• real aloe(ordinary), Aloe vera, also known as Barbados or yellow, is a large plant with rosettes;
• scarlet tiger, or motley- a beautiful ornamental plant, low, with a short stem, can bloom;
• aloe terrifying– a large plant with fleshy leaves, along the edges of which there are numerous strong thorns;
• aloe soap– with a short thick stem and wide leaves, blooms;
• miniature aloe varieties– spinous, squat, pleasant, long-columnar, short-leaved, multi-leaved (spiral).

Features of growing and caring for aloe

The general principles of caring for all types of aloe are the same, but some varieties have their own specifics, especially when it comes to reproduction.

Choosing a place for aloe

When choosing a place, where is the best place to put flowerpots? with aloe, lighting and temperature considerations take priority.

Like all succulents, aloe loves bright light, and it is best to place it on the windowsills of rooms located on the sunny side, that is, facing south, southeast and southwest.

Some shading in winter period aloe tolerates it quite well, so talk about artificial lighting if there is a lack of natural you don't have to care.

In the summer, it is better to place flowerpots on the balcony, loggia, etc. the plant will grow stronger and harden. In extreme heat, it is better to rearrange the aloe so that the rays do not fall on it in the maximum sun.

Temperatures may vary depending on the time of year, in winter 10 degrees is enough, and in summer aloe prefers temperature 22-26 ⁰ , you have to try stick to these limits.

Substrate for aloe and feeding

The soil in the pot with aloe should be quite fertile, very important its looseness and good air permeability.

You can purchase a ready-made substrate for succulents or prepare the required composition yourself, taking 2 parts of sod-clay soil, one sheet and one sand each, and adding a little expanded clay for drainage, charcoal and peat.

Feeding required aloe during the period of active growth, which occurs in April - September, and it should be carried out once or twice a month, using a complex of mineral fertilizers.

Watering and spraying

Watering depends on the season- in summer it should be quite abundant. When caring for aloe in winter, you need to limit yourself to moistening the soil and re-water the plant only when the substrate is completely dry. The water shouldn't be cold.

In summer watering required once a week or more often, depending on the weather, you need to focus on the moisture content of the substrate, it should dry out slightly before the next watering. In winter, the interval between waterings can be 3-4 weeks.

Important to remember, that overwatering is worse for aloe than underwatering.

Moreover harmful accumulation of water both in the pan, leading to rotting of the root system and in the outlet. Therefore it's better do not water the plant from above, and lower the flowerpot into water for 10 minutes.

The accumulation of water in the outlet should also be avoided when spraying. In winter, it is not required, since aloe is insensitive to dry air, and in summer the plant needs to be sprayed, keeping the sprayer away from leaves.

Transplantation and propagation

Aloe needs to be replanted in the spring, this period is the best for reproduction. Young plants are replanted annually, more mature ones - once at 2-3 years, choosing a pot with a volume 20% larger than the previous one, since the aloe root system is constantly developing and increasing.

To transfer to another pot, you need to remove the plant along with the soil from the old one, for this run a knife along the walls of the flowerpot, separating the substrate from them.

Drainage and a little substrate are poured into the bottom of the new flowerpot, the extracted plant is transferred along with the substrate, and the free space is carefully covered with earth.

If two trunks formed(for Aloe arborescens), you need to carefully separate the roots of the two plants and plant them in different flowerpots.

If basal shoots formed, they can be used for propagation by separating them from the main plant and placing them in water until roots form, and then planting them.

Child sockets separated at the very beginning formation.

Aloe also reproduces apical cuttings , they are cut and dried; the cutting can be planted in the ground only when the cut is completely dry. Separate ones are also dried whole leaves, also used for reproduction.

Less commonly, seeds are used to propagate aloe, which are sold in specialized stores; after sowing the seeds, a container with soil is used. need to be kept under a lamp.

Problems, pests, diseases

Excess moisture leads to paleness and wilting of stems, leaves, lack of sunlight- to stretching the stems and shredding the leaves, and in extreme heat and excess sun the leaves wrinkle and turn red.

If the leaves have turned yellow along the edges and dried out at the ends, this may be caused by chlorinated water, excess tobacco smoke in the air, lack of potassium.

Problems with growth and development are caused by excessively heavy clay soil, poorly conductive to air. In this case, the plant turns completely yellow; the same reaction can occur to dry soil, dry air or excess humidity.

The most common aloe disease– root rot, rotting of the root system caused by overwatering or using too cold water for irrigation. In this case, growth stops or slows down, and the stem dries out.

Requires digging up of plant, revision of the root system with the removal of rotten roots, sprinkling the surviving ones with coal powder, ash, sulfur and replanting into soil with a high sand content.

After transplant first three weeks the plant should not be watered.

If the root has rotted completely, the plant will have to be rooted in a new way, using the top or healthy shoots.

Dry rot- a more insidious disease that develops transiently and is expressed in the drying out of the plant. It is not possible to save the aloe affected by it; you can only treat it with a systemic fungicide for preventive purposes.

Aloe pests affect:

- the largest and most noticeable pest, it can be removed from the plant mechanically using a brush or tweezers, and the affected areas can be treated alcohol tincture garlic ( in 70% alcohol) and shade the plant for a couple of days; in more difficult cases, use insecticides.

Shchitovka attacks aloe less often, and the fight against it is complicated by the presence of a hard shield that protects the body of this pest. The plant can be treated with a vinegar solution; broad-spectrum insecticides are used against scale insects.

It is very small in size and difficult to detect. It does not like cold water, and in summer the plants can be sprayed with cold infusion of tobacco or soapy water, even for preventive purposes; garlic tincture is also quite effective against it. Among chemical preparations, acaricides should be used.

To combat insecticide solutions, they are used for watering the soil and spraying; the drugs must be alternated, since insects develop immunity to them. Having destroyed the adult insects, after a week you need to repeat the treatment against the larvae.

When infected microscopic nematode worms It is necessary to cut out the affected areas of the roots that become knotty.

Although the indoor aloe plant is quite unpretentious to care for, when grown at home a number of rules must be followed, promptly respond to changes in the appearance of the plant, cessation of growth during the growing season, periodically carefully inspect the aloe to identify possible pests.

The aloe plant is not an ordinary plant, it will not attract attention with its stunning blooms, and will not decorate your home like many other flowers, but it will bring with it a touch of exoticism. Also very interesting is the little-known fact that it came to us from the distant island of Madagascar.

Aloe is primarily known for its unusual medicinal properties. Who among us has not applied its leaf to the wound? But many people don’t even know about many other uses.

The plant itself is popular not only because of its medicinal properties, but is also famous for its unpretentiousness and it will not be difficult for most to acquire and raise a home healer. Read on to learn how to care for it, how it can be applied, and much more.

Description of Aloe

IN natural conditions aloe is common in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the countries of the Middle East and South America, and Madagascar. The plant is tropical, which explains its insatiable craving for sunlight and its ability to survive any drought.

In nature, aloe is a perennial herbaceous, shrub or tree-like plant, reaching a height of 10-15 meters. The leaves of most representatives of the species are fleshy, have an elongated shape, smooth or with spikes along the edge, and are arranged in a spiral. Many types of aloe produce numerous shoots in the lower part, forming large lush bushes.

Only a few types of aloe have become widespread for growing at home.

Kinds

Aloe spinosa - forms a large basal rosette. The leaves are fleshy, with white speckles, framed by white teeth - thorns. One of the cutest views.

• Aloe variegated is a small (about 30 cm) plant with dark green triangular leaves arranged in a spiral. Each leaf is decorated with transverse white stripes; there are no thorns.
• Aloe intimidating or aloe terrible is a powerful plant, at home it reaches 45 cm in height, in nature it grows up to 2 m. It has a frightening appearance due to the sharp reddish-brown thorns bordering the fleshy grayish-green leaves.
• Aloe vera or aloe vera is the most common type, which has not only many useful properties, but also distinguished by decorativeness. Aloe vera leaves form lush, dense rosettes and have a grayish-green tint.

Aloe tree - this particular type of aloe is called “agagave”. This member of the aloe family is most often found in our homes. The plant reaches 50-70 cm in height, the leaves are about 30 cm long, velvety with soft thorns along the edges. With proper care, aloe vera can live in your home for 20 years or more. The leaves of aloe vera, as well as aloe vera, have medicinal properties and it is for this purpose that the plant is grown in most homes.

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Main types of aloe

Biologists count more than three hundred varieties of aloe. Six species of this prickly beauty are most often found as indoor plants on windowsills.

Aloe arborescens

The most popular plant in our homes. This species also has another name - agave. This is also often called agave, recording it as a relative of aloe, although this is far from true. This type has the most large mass greenery and tall growth - it reaches a meter height quite easily.

Aloe real

This particular species is called Aloe Vera - words that everyone has heard thanks to advertised detergents and cosmetics. Unlike tree aloe, real aloe grows in rosettes and does not have a pronounced trunk.

Aloe soap

It is very valuable in the eyes of lovers indoor flora, as it is a flowering plant species. But even without the flower itself, soap aloe can boast of its attractiveness. It has a wonderful rosette of wide leaves located on a small, strong stem.

Aloe variegated

The plant is very beautiful, it is also called tiger because of the stripes on the leaves. In addition, it is also flowering. People who are far from floriculture are often surprised to learn that this unusual indoor beauty is also aloe.

Aloe awesome

Judging by the name, a terrible monster should appear before us, but the plant is cute. The most “scary” thing about it is the thorns located along the edges of large leaves. So they look a little predatory, reminiscent of the “teeth” of a Venus flytrap.

Aloe miniature

This is the name given to several varieties of aloe (squat, spiral), but they are combined into one group only because of their small size.

By the way, homemade aloe has close relatives - haworthia and gasteria. They are very similar in appearance, and they need to be looked after in the same way as our prickly beauty.

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Placement of the flower indoors. Lighting

Both in the natural environment and in artificial conditions aloe loves sunlight. The succulent feels great on the window sills facing:

• southwest;
• southeast;
• west;
• East.

Northern windows are not very suitable for growing aloe, since they will have to create additional lighting for the flower. On southern windows, you should also be attentive to aloe: the succulent loves sunlight, but on hot days the plant will need shading.

You should be especially careful in the spring months, when the plant is just emerging from winter dormancy and is gradually getting used to bright sunlight. Excessive sun can damage your succulent.

In summer, many plant growers recommend placing aloe on a balcony, loggia, or even in the garden. Growing in the fresh air during the summer months will not only not harm the plant, but, on the contrary, will strengthen it. After being exposed to air, the plant will become stronger and harden.

In combination with the correct location of the succulent, it is very important to maintain the correct temperature limits for its harmonious development.

Temperature

Under natural conditions, aloe is a 100% resident of the tropics. Accordingly, this plant is not accustomed to cold weather. You will have to adhere to this rule if you want to grow a healthy succulent at home.

The optimal temperature for growing aloe in the autumn-winter months is not lower than +12 degrees. Between October and February the plant is dormant. Therefore, a low temperature in combination with moderate watering and lighting that is rather poor for the succulent will help the plant to comfortably overwinter.

The suitable temperature for growing succulents in the summer is at least +25 degrees. The plant grower should remember that, despite the fact that the plant loves light and in natural conditions is accustomed to its abundance, sometimes there may be too much sunlight. The succulent reacts to this in a very specific way - the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow. This moment should be clearly controlled and the plant should be immediately moved to another, more shaded place.

Important! Like many other house plants, aloe has a negative attitude towards hypothermia and drafts. If the conditions for growing a succulent are more than acceptable, first of all, for the plant itself, then aloe will certainly please the grower with its excellent growth.

Watering

The watering regime for aloe is similar to other indoor flowers and does not require special efforts from the grower.

Seasonal aloe watering schedule:

• In summer, the plant should be watered 2 times a week.
• In winter, it is enough to irrigate the succulent only 1-2 times a month.

Remember! The succulent is not too demanding on conditions home grown. Aloe can easily survive drought, but within reasonable limits. Do not overdo it with irrigating the soil, as the root system of the plant may rot.

Water requirements for watering aloe:

• The water temperature should not be lower than +18+21 degrees. Aloe does not tolerate cold watering.
• The water must be settled. Do not water the plant with tap water. We didn’t manage to defend the water in time - no problem! You can water the succulent with boiled (cooled) or distilled water.
• We should not forget about regularly cleaning aloe leaves from dust and dirt. This will interfere with natural photosynthesis, and, as a result, the normal development of the plant. You can clean the leaves with a regular cloth soaked in plain water or a non-abrasive sponge.

Important! Stagnation of water can destroy agave. Don't let the soil get too wet, and your plant will reward you with excellent growth and even possible flowering.

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Air humidity

Aloe is absolutely indifferent to air humidity and does not particularly need special spraying. But if in hot weather you give him a shower from a spray bottle, it will do him good. Only when spraying, avoid moisture accumulation in the outlet.

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Top dressing

For the growth and full development of aloe, the plant generally has enough nutrients in the soil, however, to obtain the most developed and nutrient-rich plant, it should be fertilized periodically. For this purpose, special fertilizers for succulent plants are used, which are available in liquid and solid form.

If you know how to properly care for aloe at home, then this unpretentious plant can live on your windowsill for decades without any problems.

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Aloe pruning

A healthy aloe often exhibits vigorous growth with the formation of new leaves, flowers and even young shoots. For this reason, such plants require regular attention. While aloe requires more delicate pruning than other plants, following some pruning rules will help you protect the plant. By promptly removing damaged parts of aloe and excess shoots, you will ensure healthy growth for your plant and even make it a real decoration of the room.

Trimming the visible above-ground part of aloe

1. Take cutting tool. You will need something that can be used to carefully cut through the aloe leaves, stems and roots, such as a regular kitchen knife. You can also use regular scissors to trim the plant, but if the aloe has already grown large and powerful, you may need garden pruning shears.
2. Trim damaged leaves. First of all, pay attention to the unhealthy leaves of the plant. If necessary, carefully pull apart the aloe leaves and stems to reach dead, drying, or brown leaves of the plant. Diseased leaves with severely discolored leaves can also be removed. Trim all of these leaves with a knife or scissors directly at the stem.
   • Pests and diseases from diseased leaves can move to healthy parts of the plant, so such leaves should be removed.
   • The causes of leaf dying may be poor lighting, insufficient or excessive watering.
3. Trim overgrown leaves. Using a knife or pruning shears, cut off old leaves that are healthy enough to bring the plant to the size of its container. Bring the cutting tool close to the stem and carefully cut off overgrown leaves. These leaves are the oldest, so they contain the most aloe vera gel.
   • Aloe vera gel has quite a variety of healing properties. If you decide to use cut leaves for medicinal purposes, remove the prickly sides and store them in the refrigerator until the gel is extracted from them.
   • Avoid trimming the leaves that are closest to the main stem. These leaves are still young and are needed to replace older leaves.
4. Remove old stems and flowers. Trim the aloe stems in the same manner as the leaves. In flowering aloe, the seeds ripen and fall off quite quickly. While the flowers die, they continue to pull from the plant nutrients, which could go towards the growth of new healthy leaves. But since aloe blooms extremely rarely at home, most likely you will not have to trim the flowers.
   • Wilted aloe flowers attract insects, often fall directly into the pot, absorb moisture from the soil and generally create a mess.

Trimming the ground part of the plant

1. Remove the shoots. Suckers, also called suckers, are the side shoots of the plant. They draw juices from the main plant and clutter the pot. In most cases, aloe side shoots can be pulled out of the ground without any harm to the main bush. After this, you only need to cut the connecting link between the plant and the baby.
   • Some children may hide in the ground and intertwine their roots with the roots of the main plant. In this situation, you may need to remove the plant from the pot, carefully shake off the earthen ball and untangle the roots.
   • Babies are new young aloe vera plants that can be planted in individual pots and also grown. In addition, these young shoots can then be distributed to friends as gifts.
2. Remove the plant from the pot. Hold the main stem of the aloe and tilt the pot to one side. The plant should come out of the pot when you pull it a little. If it doesn't budge, try squeezing the pot or tapping it on a hard surface. Next, go after those aloe side shoots that you just couldn't see before.
3. Trim the roots. When transplanting the plant into a new pot, you will need to trim the aloe roots. First, shake off the soil from the roots. Shorten the main long root and trim off some side roots. The amount of pruning should be sufficient so that the remaining roots occupy about 2/3 of the new pot. This will allow the aloe vera to transplant more easily and grow a stronger root system in fresh soil. Water the plant moderately until it fully adapts after transplanting.
   • Look out for root rot. Any damaged areas of roots should be cut off. Be careful not to accidentally damage healthy roots. Treat the cut areas with sulfur or charcoal powder (if you have such an opportunity).

Transplanting an adult aloe

Transplanting a perennial at home is a simple process, the main thing is to do it correctly. A newly purchased flower should be replanted no earlier than after 3 weeks. During this time, the plant adapts to new conditions. During this period of time, it is better to display the flower separately from other indoor flowers.

• Aloe is a slow growing plant.
• It is correct to replant a succulent that has been growing at home for several years after the roots have completely filled the pot.
• Transplantation is carried out into a container 2-3 cm larger than the previous one and only by transshipment.
• If there are few roots, then the flower simply replaces part of the old soil with new one.
• A sudden change in soil type can lead to undesirable consequences - flower disease.
• In this case, the plant will undergo adaptation for quite a long time.

• 24 hours before transplanting, water the flower abundantly.
• After complete absorption of water, the soil must be loosened so as not to damage the roots.
• The new pot is filled to approximately one-fifth with a drainage layer of expanded clay or crushed pieces of brick.
• The drainage is sprinkled with prepared soil mixture on top.
• The pot with the flower is carefully turned over, taking out the plant along with the earthen lump.

Old soil, not entwined with roots, is removed with a stick. Then the plant is correctly placed in a new pot so that the root collar is a couple of centimeters below the top of the container. After planting, the soil is lightly trampled, topped up and watered.

Important! After transplanting, the flower is placed in a shaded place for several days and is not watered. Excess moisture for aloe vera can cause root rot. It is not recommended to immediately water a plant that has not yet had time to take root and become stronger.
You can see more information on how to transplant aloe vera at home correctly in the video. Optimize your pet's care, and he will delight you with a healthy appearance and full growth.

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Aloe propagation

The vitality and endurance of aloe is fully reflected in the variety of ways in which it can be propagated. At home, most often, offspring from an adult plant are obtained using:

• cuttings, that is, separation and rooting of side shoots;
• the top of a bush or one of its adult shoots;
• leaf;
• daughter rosettes formed at the base of an adult bush;
• seeds.

One of the simplest and guaranteed successful ways Aloe propagation involves rooting cuttings. The side shoots that appear in the axils of adult leaves can be cut all year round. They easily take root and acclimatize after transplantation.

Such “stepchildren” are cut off at the very base, and the cut is treated with coal powder. And then they are not planted in the substrate or placed in water, but dried for 2–4 days at room temperature in a dark place. Only after such preparation are the cuttings ready for rooting. The same manipulations are carried out before planting aloe without a root, for example, after it has rotted or the bush has failed to divide.

• Cuttings easily take root both in damp sand or vermiculite, and in ordinary water.
• When rooting in the substrate, future plants can be buried in drops at a distance of about 5 cm from each other.
• The stem is not buried more than 1 cm. If the cuttings are kept in a humid, warm environment, within a week powerful root primordia will appear on the seedlings, and the aloe can be transplanted into separate pots.

Daughter processes

At home, aloe reproduces without visible problems by daughter rosettes that appear at the very base of the adult flower. How to plant an aloe shoot? Young rosettes have their own root system, so they are freely separated from an adult bush during spring transplantation or in summer.

• Over several years of growth at home, aloe can reach almost a meter in height. At the same time, its stem is significantly exposed, and the leaves remain only at the top.
• You should not part with such aloe. It can be rejuvenated by cutting off the top and planting it in a separate pot. To do this, cut off the upper part of the stem with 6–7 mature leaves.
• But how to replant aloe without roots? To root such planting material, the top is dried and placed in water. After a few days, roots will appear on the plant, and in the future the seedling can be easily transplanted into a separate pot.

Small plants also form at the base of the leaf, torn from the lower tiers of the stem. Before propagating aloe leaves at home, it, like the cuttings, is dried, and then, after treatment with charcoal, the planting material is immersed in water or sandy soil. In this case, it is extremely important to maintain moisture in the substrate, otherwise the sheet will dry out quickly.

Seeds

Propagation of aloe by seeds is the longest and most labor-intensive method. Sowing is carried out at the end of winter in a light, loose substrate based on sand and garden soil. At room temperature and high air humidity, the seeds hatch fairly quickly and grow until a pair of true leaves appear on them. At this time, the aloe plants are planted, transplanting the sprouts into small separate pots. After just a year, caring for aloe at home is carried out as usual.

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Agave diseases

If growing conditions are violated, aloe develops pronounced symptoms that indicate one or another illness. Possible problems are listed below.

• Curling of leaves. If the leaves curl, then they do not have enough care. The leaves should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth to remove settled dust.
• The leaves are turning yellow. Excess moisture has an adverse effect on aloe. If the leaves turn yellow and soften, then you need to moderate watering. The water should only be settled and warm.
• Why do aloe leaf tips dry out? The tips of the leaves dry out if the plant has not been replanted for a long time. The roots do not have enough space in the pot and the plant does not receive nutrients. Aloe needs to be replanted.

In order to be able to remove the plant from the container, you need to stop watering for 3 days.
The new pot should be larger and more spacious, taking into account the direction of root growth:

• if the roots grew in length, the dishes should be deeper;
  if the roots go wide, then you need a pot with a larger diameter.

Root rotting. Root rot. With excess watering and low air temperatures, root rot can occur. Agave can be saved only at the initial stage of this disease.

If growth is delayed, the stem dries out, and watering does not correct the situation, then you need to inspect the roots.

If rotten areas are found on the roots, they are removed, the remaining intact roots are sprinkled with coal or sulfur and the flower is transplanted into soil with a high sand content. Water only after three weeks.
If the roots have rotted completely, then aloe can be cut using a healthy top.
Dry rot. This process does not manifest itself externally; the plant dries out from the inside, so timely diagnosis is almost impossible. The only measure is prevention, which consists of spraying with antifungal drugs.

Aloe doesn't grow. Important conditions for good aloe growth are:

• special soil for succulents or cacti;
• adding brick chips and charcoal to the soil;
• complex feeding mineral fertilizer 2 times a month, which should be carried out from mid-spring to early autumn;
• absence of pests that significantly inhibit the growth of aloe.

Pests

Once examining the aloe, you can find on it uninvited guests. When infested by pests, the first step is to isolate the plant, as its “neighbors” may become infected.

Aloe vera pests are different: mealybug, nematodes, thrips. Correctly identifying the type of pest will help successfully combat the disease.

Mealybug
Mealybugs can be seen with the naked eye. These are mobile insects 2-5 millimeters in size, covered with white hairs on top. They leave behind a waxy, cotton-like discharge.

Signs of defeat: the plant is covered with pieces of “cotton wool”, growth slows down.

If there are few insects, then the damaged areas should be treated with garlic tincture in alcohol, and then the plant should be hidden from light for several hours.

If the entire plant is infected, you need to use special preparations - insecticides, for example, Intavir, Decis, Fufanon.

Nematodes
These insects come in different types and infect either the trunk or leaves. Root nematodes more insidious than other aloe pests, since their presence can only be determined by the roots.

Signs of defeat: growth slows down; after examination, nematodes in the form of small grains are found on the roots.

Treatment is difficult. Damaged roots are removed and the plant is re-rooted. Then they are treated with Vidat and Tekta.

Thrips are small winged pests measuring 1-2 mm in size. At elevated temperatures and high humidity, they spread quickly.

Signs of defeat: growth slows down, silvery streaks appear, which are left behind by thrips.

Treatment is carried out by spraying with the preparations “Intavir”, “Fitoverm”, “Decis”. However, the fight against these pests is complicated by the fact that they have developed immunity to basic drugs. It is recommended to add soil spillage with Confidor.

Spider mite
Spider mites are not so easy to see on aloe, because their size does not exceed one millimeter.

Signs of damage: cobwebs on the leaves, change in color of the stem. The stem at the initial stage acquires yellow, and later - red.

All previous means of control are not valid against such a pest, because it is an arachnid. It is necessary to use special preparations - acaricides. At the same time, you can additionally spray the plant with garlic tincture. This will enhance the healing effect.

Pest Control and Prevention

One week after the first treatment, the second is performed. Within a week, new larvae will hatch from the eggs and need to be destroyed.
The place where the flower pot stood is cleaned well.

Prevention consists of regular inspections of the plant and keeping the plants clean. You need to carefully monitor factors such as:

• sufficient lighting (in winter - supplement with artificial light);
• warm temperature (in winter – not lower than 12 degrees Celsius);
• special soil composition;
• moderate watering;
• regular feeding in spring and summer;
• watering only with settled water at room temperature;
• replanting aloe every three years;
• transplanting into a convenient pot, taking into account the growth of the root system;
• avoiding drafts and accidental hypothermia;
• fresh air flow in hot summer conditions.

Prevention of aloe diseases should be carried out regularly, then the risk of damage will be less.

The earlier the disease is detected and the fight against it begins, the more effective the measures taken to save aloe will be.

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Features of planting and caring for various types of Aloe at home

Almost all of the described care rules apply to various types of African succulents, but there are still minor differences.

Treelike

The famous agave differs from its fellows by its special stature and tall stature. Most often, the bush breaks under the weight of the crown, so it needs to be tied to a support. Exotic loves fresh air, but is afraid of drafts. Despite such an interesting name, each individual lives no more than 20 years.

This species requires periodic pruning as it quickly grows shoots. In just 3 years, the bush can stretch to a height of up to one and a half meters. Control the pace of development as you wish. Vegetative propagation using apical cuttings of lateral shoots. All parts of the bush are used for medicinal purposes.

Important! If an agave decides to please you with bright flowers, hurry to remove it away from the person’s permanent place of residence. The strong aroma of the buds causes headaches.

Mix

A mix is ​​not a variety at all, but a mixture of different seeds. Accordingly, you will have to make a lot of effort to get the desired variety of varieties. Before purchasing seeds, pay attention to the collection date.

Seed material loses its germination very quickly, so only fresh seeds are needed. Before planting, they are soaked for a day in a damp cloth; a growth stimulator can be added to the water.

In order for the seedlings to develop better, it is better to immediately place the seeds in separate pots. Growing conditions are described just above, in the section on reproduction. As development progresses, periodic transplants are carried out. The Mix mixture will allow you to grow several different varieties at once.

Acute

Spinous aloe is undemanding to the composition of the substrate. Garden soil mixed with sand is suitable. The green pet often blooms at home, provided there is good lighting. Watering is carried out only with warm, settled water, otherwise the bush may lose its leaves. Propagated by children, does not require pruning.

Motley

The luxurious perennial stands out for its unusual coloring and has healing properties. Because of rapid development a powerful root system necessarily requires systematic replanting. To maintain a decorative appearance, you can use fertilizers for succulents or a vegetable decoction or ash infusion. Reproduces by children and apical offspring.

Know! This variety is resistant to putrefactive diseases.

Aloe vera

Unlike his brothers, the green doctor prefers to bask under straight sun rays. Due to the slow growth rate, it does not require too frequent replanting; it is fertilized only 6 months after replanting. Be sure to observe moderate watering, a period of rest, and good lighting. Do not spray the green ward and protect it from drafts.

Flowering plant

In the wild, the tropical guest regularly blooms, releasing a long peduncle from the center of the rosette. You can observe flowering every year with the arrival of spring or summer, and some bushes bloom twice a year.

The spike-shaped inflorescence contains large tubular or bell-shaped flowers with a diameter of about 1 cm and a length of up to 5 cm. The buds look impressive and contain a lot of nectar. The color of the petals is dominated by warm tones - yellow, orange, pink, scarlet. Specimens with white corollas are extremely rare.

At home, you will have to wait for such a spectacle for more than ten years, and flowering will occur only when favorable conditions. Indoor specimens do not bear seeds, the peduncle is much shorter, and the flowers are smaller. After the corollas wither, the shoot should be removed.

Problems of growing plants with improper care

Most problems with the health of exotics or loss of decorativeness are associated with violation of growing rules.
With frequent or abundant irrigation, the tropical guest faces death from rot in the root system and the lower part of the stem. At the same time, the foliage softens and the stems droop. In this situation, it is practically impossible to save the outlet.

The only one effective way– root the crown and then plant it in a new pot. This problem can be prevented by maintaining a more than moderate watering regime. Before irrigating, wait until the earthen ball dries thoroughly.

Lack of water

The lack of moisture affects desert dwellers only 2-3 months after the last watering. It is extremely rare for a bush to wither, but this option is also possible. If you notice wrinkled and flabby plates, be sure to water your green ward.

Lack of light is contraindicated for an exotic guest. If you see thinning foliage and sparseness of the crown, then you need to take care of additional lighting sources.

Advice! Cold glow lamps can be used as an additional light source.

The last problem that a gardener may encounter is stunted growth. It is enough to increase the feeding area of ​​the bush by transplanting it into a new pot. Be sure to renew the soil.

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Medicinal properties of aloe

Each therapeutic effect of a plant is determined by a group useful items contained in aloe.

• Antibacterial, incl. against staphylococci, streptococci, typhoid, intestinal, diphtheria and dysentery bacilli, antiviral and antifungal - due to acemannan, aleolitic, phenylacrylic, chrysophanic and cinnamic acids, vitamin C;
• Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic – salicylic acid, bradykininase enzyme, steroid molecules;
• Antitoxic – acemannan, aloin (a substance from anthraquinone derivatives), phenolic components, catalase enzyme;
• Antioxidant - manganese, copper, vitamins C and E, anthraquinone and phenol molecules;
• Choleretic – zinc, selenium and inositol components;
• Calming – magnesium, manganese, B vitamins;
• Laxative – anthraquinone and phenolic group substances;
• Pain reliever – salicylic acid, bradykininase enzyme;
• Antihyperglycemic - two fractions of acemannan - Erboran A and B;
• Antiallergenic – bradykininase enzyme;
• Anticancer – aloemodin, which is an anthraquinone molecule, acemannan, antioxidant vitamins and minerals;
• Wound healing, incl. in relation to sluggish, long-term processes - vitamin C, the enzyme bradykininase;
• Regenerating – vitamin C, catalase enzyme, anthraquinone;
• Immunomodulatory - due to polysaccharides, magnesium, and the enzyme bradykininase.

The plant enhances the secretory activity of the digestive glands (chrysic acid, sodium), normalizes metabolic processes, has a tonic, nourishing, rejuvenating and moisturizing effect on the skin by activating the growth of fibroblasts, relieves itching and irritation.

Promotes regeneration of skin damage without scarring. Reduces blood cholesterol levels and promotes the breakdown of cholesterol plaques. Eliminates inflammation in the biliary tract, normalizes the function of the gallbladder.

The use of various dosage forms of aloe

Fresh Juice

• Chronic gastritis with low acidity, tendency to constipation, colitis, biliary tract diseases, stimulation of digestion and appetite. It is also prescribed for prolonged cough. Take three times a day. 1 tsp each before meals.
• Tuberculosis. Take three times a day. 1 tsp each before meals.
• A wide range of diseases of the skin and mucous membranes: wounds, burns, cracks, lupus, trophic ulcers, radiation damage to the skin, eczema, epithelioma, herpetic rashes, psoriasis. Also helps with acne. Apply juice to pathological elements 5-6 times a day.
• Used for joints in inflammatory diseases for rubbing.
• Inflammation of the nasopharynx and gums, ulcerative stomatitis. Lubricating damage with juice, irrigation or turunda with juice.
• Cervical erosion, vaginal candidiasis. Tampons soaked with juice are inserted into the vagina overnight for 2 weeks.
• Acute rhinitis. 2-5 drops in each nostril 4-5 times a day.
• Improves the body's defenses against infectious agents - 1 tsp. morning and evening, before meals.

Sabur – evaporated juice

• Constipation is atonic and chronic.
• Stimulates digestion.
• Choleretic effect.

Take diluted, 0.03–0.1 g per dose once a day.

Syrup

• Gastrointestinal diseases of acute and chronic course.
• Posthemorrhagic and hypochromic anemia (in combination with iron).
• Helps with intoxication, after long-term illnesses to restore the body. Recommended for asthenic conditions.

Prescribe 1 tsp. twice or thrice a day, half an hour after meals.

Aloe extract liquid in ampoules

• Eye diseases: blepharitis, conjunctivitis, iritis, progressive myopia, etc.
• Chronic gastritis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer and duodenum.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Inflammatory gynecological diseases.
• General diseases with a long, chronic course (chronic arthritis, scleroderma, epilepsy, etc.).

Intended for subcutaneous administration in a course of 25-50 injections of 1 ml (adults) and 0.5 ml (children over 5 years old) once a day. If necessary, injections are prescribed in a repeated course.

Aloe extract according to Fedorov, eye drops, dietary supplement

• Farsightedness and myopia;
• Dry eye syndrome;
• "Night blindness";
• Myopic chorioretinitis;
• Diabetic retinopathy;
• Blepharitis;
• Cataract.

Prescribe 1 drop 2-5 times a day, into each conjunctival sac.

Aloe liniment

Prevention and treatment of skin lesions during radiation therapy. Apply to the affected skin 2-3 times a day, cover with a sterile napkin.

Traditional medicine recipes

Improved digestion, appetite, recovery after long-term illnesses

Mix 250 grams of honey with 150 grams of aloe juice, add 350 grams of good fortified red wine. Leave for 5 days. Take 1 tablespoon before meals, 4 times a day for 14 days.

Gastrointestinal diseases

In a ceramic container mix: 15 grams of aloe juice, 100 grams of liquid honey, 100 grams of liquid goose fat, 100 grams of cocoa. 1 tbsp. per appointment, dissolved in 200 ml of hot milk, between meals.

Tuberculosis

4 stems of aloe, aged for 10 days, chop and mix with 1 bottle of red wine or 1 liter of alcohol, leave for 4 days. Take 100 ml (wine) or 40 drops (alcohol) three times a day.

Oncological diseases

Aloe preparations are recommended for a short course, up to 30 days maximum. Fresh formulations should be prepared and stored for no more than 5 days in the refrigerator (if long-term storage ready-made aloe vera preparations lose their healing powers). Use aloe with honey High Quality. Dilute honey with aloe juice at a ratio of 1:5. Take 1 tsp. three times a day. before meals. The same mixture can be lubricated on the skin before a radiation therapy session.

Infectious and allergic rhinitis, incl. for runny nose in children

Squeeze the juice from the leaf and strain. Clear the nasal passages of mucous contents and then instill 1-3 drops into each nostril after 3-4 hours. A similar method is used for sinusitis, only 5-6 drops of juice are instilled.

Inflammatory diseases of the throat (pharyngitis, laryngitis, sore throat)

Mix juice and warm boiled water 1:1. Gargle with the mixture 3-5 times a day. After the procedure, drink warm milk with 1 tsp. aloe juice

Inflammatory and other eye diseases

Pour 1 ml of aloe juice into 150 ml of hot water, cool and rinse your eyes with infusion 3-4 times a day.

Inflammatory gum diseases

Leave 100 grams of crushed leaves in a sealed container for 60 minutes, strain. Use as a mouth rinse.

For diabetes

Take fresh juice 1 tsp. three times a day before meals. You can dilute it in water.

Chronic constipation

Grind about 150 grams of aloe leaves, removing the thorns, add 300 grams of warm liquid honey to the pulp, leave for 24 hours, heat and strain. Take 1 tsp. an hour after eating every morning.

Aloe for hemorrhoids

Treatment is carried out outside of exacerbation, in the absence of bleeding from the nodes. Particularly effective in the initial stages.
Candles. Coat a piece of leaf pulp without skin and thorns with a mixture of honey and butter and insert into the rectum. Repeat twice, morning and evening.
Decoction for lotions and compresses: chop 5 leaves of the plant and add 500 ml of water, place in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Soak clean gauze in the cooled broth and apply to the nodes for 15 minutes (lotion) or half an hour, covering with cellophane (compress). You can soak a gauze swab in the broth and carefully place it in the anus for half an hour (for internal localization).

Skin damage: wounds, abrasions, ulcers, frostbite

Mix honey and fresh juice 1:1, add medical alcohol - 1 tbsp. for 200 ml of mixture, store in the refrigerator. Lubricate the damage 3-4 times a day, place a clean cotton napkin on top.

Dilated capillaries, skin redness, wrinkles

Every evening, apply aloe juice to cleansed facial skin and massage it thoroughly with your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Course – 12 procedures, every other day. To prevent skin aging, frostbite, sunburn, and dryness, you can take an aloe leaf, cut it lengthwise, remove the thorns and lubricate cleansed facial skin on the mucous side in the morning or evening 1-2 times a week.

Aloe for hair

To stimulate growth, strengthen, and prevent hair loss. 1 tbsp. Boil the crushed leaves for 10 minutes in 500 ml of water, cool and strain. Wipe the scalp with the decoction 2-3 times a week, do not rinse. For hair loss, make a mask - rub a paste of crushed leaves into the hair roots, cover with cellophane and leave for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

To preserve youthful skin

Aloe mask: 1 tbsp. sour cream ~ 20% mixed with 1 tsp. aloe juice and 1 tsp. yolk. Mix and apply to the face and neck, when the first layer dries, add another layer and so on for 20 minutes. Rinse with water at a contrasting temperature. Repeat once a week. Suitable for any skin type. You can add 1 drop of juice to your usual face cream or eyelid gel.

Sexual impotence, impotence

• Mix in equal parts: aloe juice, butter, goose fat, dried rosehip powder. Heat the mixture without letting it boil. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day, dissolved in 200 ml of hot milk, 30 minutes before meals. Keep refrigerated.
• Mix: 30 grams of chopped parsley seeds, 350 ml of red wine, 100 grams of chopped rose hips, 250 grams of honey and 150 grams of aloe juice. Leave for 2 weeks, shaking the contents once a day. Take 1 tbsp. three times a day before meals.

Contraindications

• Acute disorders of digestive function;
• Hypersensitivity to aloe;
• Hypertension;
• Severe cardiovascular diseases;
• Chronic diseases in the acute stage;
• Hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding, menstruation (especially laxatives from the plant);
• Pregnancy (internal use);
• Children under 3 years of age. Externally - it is possible from a year, but 2 times less concentration.

Side effects and overdose

Failure to comply with the dosage of plant preparations, especially juice, leads to an overdose of antaglycosides and can cause poisoning, the symptoms of which are diarrhea with blood and mucous films, inflammation of the intestines, tenesmus, blood in the urine. Pregnant women may have a miscarriage.

Long-term internal use of the whole leaves, with the peel, is fraught with the development of oncology, since the peel contains aloin, a substance that is a carcinogen in large doses. Thus, in an experiment conducted by American specialists as part of the National Toxicology Program, about half of the rats that were given high doses of a plant extract obtained from the whole leaf developed benign and malignant tumors in the large intestine.