Aloe vera, scientific name Aloe barbadensis and also called aloe, it is a very popular succulent plant, since in addition to having a striking and very beautiful appearance, it has a large number of medicinal properties that make it very beneficial for the skin and as a digestive.
if you want to learn when and how to plant aloe vera and what its basic care is, keep reading us in this EcologíaVerde article in which you will find a very useful practical guide.
When to plant aloe vera
The best time to plant Aloe Vera is at end of winter, once the frosts are over. If you plant it when the weather is still very cold, it is very likely that it will not succeed, since the conditions for its growth will not be optimal and you will need to make a significant overexertion.
However, if you live in an area with a temperate climate or if you plant it directly in a pot indoors where you keep a stable warm temperatureyou can plant it practically throughout the year, with autumn and early spring being especially recommended.
How to plant aloe vera step by step
The best way to plant aloe vera is to do it from children, suckers or shoots of a mother plant, since it will grow much faster and easier than from seeds. This method is shared by a large number of succulent plants, which are easier to reproduce this way. For plant aloe vera easilyfollow these steps:
- Prepare a substrate with very good drainage, to which you have also prepared a bed of coarse gravel that keeps excess moisture away from the plant. In addition, it is necessary that the chosen pot has a good depth and has drainage holes. The substrate must be rich in organic fertilizer, and you can add a contribution of perlite. A mixture of universal substrate and peat can serve as a base.
- Bury the plant to where its leaves are born, being careful not to damage its roots, and do not water it for two weeks, so that it has time to adapt.
- Locate the plant in a warm area, where it receives sunlight and, if possible, in a relatively humid place. Be careful with excesses at this point, and do not expose it to the midday summer sun or humidity so high that fungi can appear.
- After the first two weeks, you can take it to its final location, where you should water it every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the local climate.
When to transplant an aloe vera
Most of the time the aloe vera transplant It is carried out in order to multiply or reproduce the plant. For this, the children that appear at the base of the mother plant can be used, which can be separated practically from their appearance, separating them carefully with a previously disinfected tool.
If you want to repot your aloe vera because it has grown too large for its current pot, the sign that the time has come is when the plant reaches the edges of the pot, or when the roots poke through the drainage holes of the pot. .
We recommend you also read these practical guides on when and how to transplant a plant and when and how to transplant cacti, since aloe vera and cacti belong to a large family.
Basic care of aloe vera – guide
This succulent plant is not demanding with its care, but there are some points that must be respected so that the plant can develop properly. These are the main care of aloe vera:
Land
Aloe vera appreciates having a substrate that is very rich in organic matter, but what is really necessary is that it offers good drainage. The accumulations of water or puddles are especially harmful to succulent plants, and can rot their roots very easily.
Pass
An annual supply of earthworm humus will do our aloe a lot of good. This organic fertilizer is one of the most complete, and you can make your own vermicomposter if you have a little space for it.
In this other article you can learn how to make earthworm humus.
Light
Aloe needs about 8 to 10 hours of sun exposure. However, in particularly hot climates or with a very strong sun, it may not be convenient for it to receive the light of the worst hours directly, as its leaves can suffer damage from burning.
Irrigation
The best way to water aloe is drip irrigation, which provides moisture to the soil without flooding it. If you can’t resort to this, water only when the soil is dry, and do it without ever flooding.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for aloe is between 17 and 27 ºC. It can withstand temperatures of up to 10ºC and a little less, but if it is exposed to them continuously, the plant can suffer and even die.
In this other gardening guide from EcologíaVerde you can find all the information about Aloe Vera Care. Also, so that you know how to make the most of this plant for your health, we advise you to consult this other article on How to make homemade aloe vera gel.
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