Rules for caring for aloe at home

Literally 15–20 years ago, aloe could be found in every home. Today, unfortunately, this plant is a rare guest on our windowsills. Although it would be worth every family to grow an agave at home, as it is an excellent medicine and cosmetic. Moreover, if you know by what rules care should be taken for this plant at home, then growing aloe will not cause difficulties.

Planting a plant

If you still do not have a century house, then the first thing to do is to choose the right seedling. Aloe vera propagates by small cuttings that even young plants can give. Such "children" grow at the base of a large agave and already look like an independent plant. Such an instance already has a small root system, and the sprout can be immediately transferred to a separate “place of residence”. Choosing is worth a stalk, on which there are two or three fleshy leaves, with a stem length of at least five centimeters - for such care will be extremely simple. But even smaller creatures are already able to take root at home. Therefore, if there are no large cuttings on an adult aloe, and you really want to plant a medicinal plant at home, you can take a small sprout, carefully pulling it out of the ground. A stalk can also take root, on which there are no roots yet. To do this, just put it in the water for several days or immediately stick it into the ground.

The good thing about aloe is that it is very unpretentious. There are no special requirements for the soil in which you will plant a young sprout. Although you can buy soil intended for cacti. This is the perfect option for the agave.

Now choose a suitable pot, fill up the drainage, the earth - and you can relocate aloe vera. Try to choose a cache-pot so that it is not too small and not too spacious. Otherwise, in the first case, the agave simply will not grow, and in the second, you will have to wait very long for any changes. And it’s good if the pot is made of clay, so the roots of the plant will breathe better, and excess moisture will not stagnate.

Tip

Be sure to calcine the soil in the oven before planting the plant in it. This simple manipulation will help prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, and it will be much easier to take care of the plant.

After planting, you need to choose the right window sill on which your aloe vera will live. It is better if it is the south side of the house, because these plants are very fond of warmth and a lot of light.

Watering and feeding

Although the agave belongs to the genus of succulents and is very undemanding to the conditions of existence, it still needs to provide minimal care at home. The plant easily tolerates drought, but this should not be allowed. After you planted a young sprout, watering should be frequent - about two to three times a week, then gradually decreases.

The frequency of watering the plant varies depending on the season. In spring and summer, aloe begins to grow rapidly and requires more moisture. During this period, the plant must be watered once or twice a week. From autumn to spring, aloe vera comes to rest, now it can be watered much less often. This should be done as soon as the earthen ball dries.

Tip

Moisten the soil evenly, avoiding stagnation of water at the roots. Despite all the unpretentiousness of the agave, with a constant large amount of water, the roots of the plant can rot.

Plant nutrition at home should be carried out during the period of active growth, that is, from spring to autumn. Fertilizers are worth using those that are sold in stores marked "For cacti or succulents." Or you can use used tea leaves or ground coffee. But before you pour them over the ground, be sure to dry well. Otherwise, you may get small black flies, which are then quite difficult to remove.

Light and warm

Aloe vera comes from warm countries, therefore, this plant will hardly tolerate coolness and shadow. As already mentioned, it is worth choosing the window that faces the south side - there will be ideal conditions for the agave, and caring for it at home will no longer be difficult. But direct sunlight can be detrimental to the plant. Therefore, if you see that the leaves began to turn yellow in aloe, you should either choose another window sill for it, or arrange protection from bright sunlight

The optimal temperature for aloe vera is:

• in summer - about +25 degrees;
• in winter not lower than +12.

Try to maintain air temperature comfortable for a century, protect it from hypothermia and drafts. Observing these conditions at home is not difficult at all, and in response, the plant will delight you with rapid growth and, possibly, even flowering.

Transfer

The centenary needs periodic transplantation into a larger pot, since it quickly develops the root system and the plant becomes cramped. If you want aloe to continue to increase in growth, try to change the cache-pot every year in the first five years of the plant's life, then the transplant can be done every two years. This should be done in the spring, when the plants easily tolerate any manipulations and no longer require intensive care after. If you do not transplant the flower, then aloe will simply stop growing.

In order to transplant aloe vera into a new pot, just pull the plant along with the ground from the previous one. Choose a new capacity of about 20% more - this will be the optimal volume. In a new planter, as in the initial planting, pour a layer of drainage, then a little earth (previously calcined in the oven), carefully place aloe and pour soil on top. Tamp the soil a little with your hands and again fill up the missing amount. Now water the plant a little, and you can send it to the usual windowsill. With proper care, the procedure will need to be repeated in a year.

What can threaten aloe?

Despite all the unpretentiousness of the plant, there are several points that can simply negate all the cultivation of aloe at home. Therefore, it is worth caring for the plant correctly.

1. Root rot. This is the most common aloe disease that occurs due to excessive watering. If you see that the leaves of the agave became too soft, pale, began to fall off, that is, the probability that the roots began to rot. To save aloe, it is necessary to remove it from the pot, remove damaged roots, sprinkle it with ash or sulfur and transplant it into new soil. If you see that the entire root system is already affected, then you will have to cut the cuttings and start growing a new flower. This save will not work.
2. If you notice that aloe leaves are too pale, then this may indicate a lack of lighting. Everything is simple here - you need to rearrange the pot with the plant on a lighter window sill.
3. Agave leaves falling down may indicate that he is just cold. Either a stream of frosty air flows from the window, or you water the plant with too cool water. To solve the problem, close all the cracks in the frames and try to water the aloe with water at room temperature.

Try to take care of the agave in the future, taking into account these points, so that later you do not have to save the plant.

There are several pests that can ruin the plant.Fortunately, fighting them at home is a snap.

1. Shield. These insects look like small brown plaques adhered to a plant. To get rid of the pest, you need to wipe the agave with a cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol. And then you need to spray the flower with an insecticide. A similar tool can be purchased without problems in any store specializing in products for indoor plants. Just be sure to follow the instructions and after processing, well ventilate the room.
2. If you notice that aloe is covered with a "wax" coating, similar to cotton wool, know that the plant was struck by a mealybug. This insect is afraid of moisture. Therefore, to begin with, wash the leaves of aloe well, wipe it with vinegar or alcohol and put in a shaded place for a couple of days. It can be treated with a special chemical agent. In the future, try to prevent excessive air dryness and periodically wipe the leaves of the agave with a damp cloth. Such minimal care will prevent the appearance of the pest.
3. Spider mite. A web will tell you about its appearance, which covers the leaves, and small insects, which you can find on the back of the leaves. It helps spraying with garlic tincture, wiping the plants with soapy water or a purchased insecticide. In the future, it is worth caring for aloe, avoiding overdrying. Dry air and soil are ideal conditions for the appearance and reproduction of a tick.

In general, aloe vera is a very unpretentious plant that can easily tolerate almost any external conditions. If you provide him with the minimum necessary care at home, then you will have a beautiful, powerful plant on your windowsill. And after two years of his life, the leaves will gain the maximum of useful substances, and the agave can be used for treatment and to maintain beauty.

We recommend that you read the article: fertilizers for indoor plants