Aloe: home care, the secrets of growing the century, diseases, pests

Even literally about 15-20 years ago, aloe could be found in every home. Today, unfortunately, this plant is a rare visitor on our windowsills. Although it would be worth every family to grow at home a century-old, as it is an excellent medicinal and cosmetic means. Especially if you know what rules should take care of this plant at home, then growing aloe will not cause difficulties.

Planting a plant

If you do not already have a century-old house, the first thing to do is to choose the seedling correctly. Aloe vera reproduces by small cuttings, which can give even young plants. Such "children" grow at the base of a large century and already resemble an independent plant in appearance. This specimen already has a small root system, and you can immediately transfer the sprout to a separate "place of residence".Choose 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 settle down at home. Therefore, if there are no large cuttings in adult aloe, and you really want to plant a medicinal plant at home, you can take a small sprout, gently pulling it out of the ground. Can take root and stalk, which does not yet have roots. To do this, just put it in the water for a few days or immediately stuck into the ground.

The good thing about aloe is that it is very unpretentious. No special requirements for the soil, in which you will plant a young sprout, no. Although you can buy soil designed for cacti. This will be an ideal option for a century.

Now choose a suitable pot, fall asleep drainage, ground - and you can relocate aloe vera. Try to choose a flower pot in such a way that it is not too small and not too spacious. Otherwise, in the first case, the century will simply not grow, and in the second case, 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 the excess moisture will not stagnate.

Advice

Be sure to bake 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 care for 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 southern side of the house, as these plants are very fond of warmth and lots of light.

Watering and top dressing

Although centennial and belongs to the genus 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 you should not allow this. After you plant 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 should be watered once or twice a week. From autumn to spring, Aloe vera comes to rest, now it can be watered much less often. You need to do this right away, as it will dry up the earth.

Advice

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

Top dressing at home should be done during a period of active growth, that is, from spring to autumn. Fertilizers should be used by those that are sold in shops marked "For cacti or succulents."Or you can use the used tea brew or ground coffee. But before pouring them over the ground, be sure to dry well. Otherwise, you can get a little black flies, which then it is quite difficult to withdraw.

Light and heat

Aloe vera comes from warm countries, therefore, this plant will hardly bear the coolness and shadow. As already mentioned, it is worth choosing the window that goes to the south side - there will be ideal conditions for the stoleta, and taking care of it at home will not be difficult. But direct sunlight can be harmful to the plant. Therefore, if you see that the leaves have begun to turn yellow, you should either choose another window sill for it, or organize protection from bright sunlight.

. The optimum temperature for aloe vera is:

• in summer - about +25 degrees;
• in winter is not below +12.

Try to maintain a comfortable temperature for the centennial, protect it from hypothermia and drafts. It is not difficult to observe these conditions at home, and in response the plant will please you with rapid growth and, probably, even with flowering.

Transplant

The plant requires periodic transplantation into a larger pot, as it quickly develops the root system and the plant becomes cramped. If you want the aloe to continue to grow, try to change the plant every year in the first five years of plant life, then the transplant can be performed every two years. Do this in the spring, when the plants easily tolerate any manipulation and do not need enhanced care after. If you do not replant a flower, then aloe will just stop growing.

In order to transplant aloe vera into a new pot, simply 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 the new plant, as well as during the initial planting, fill the drainage layer, then a little ground( pre-calcined in the oven), gently put the aloe and top fill the soil. Slightly humble the soil with your hands and again fill the missing quantity. Now, a little pour the plant, and you can send it to the usual window sill. With due care, the procedure will have to be repeated in a year.

What can threaten aloe?

Despite all the unpretentiousness of the plant, there are several points that can simply nullify all the growing of aloe in the home. Therefore it is necessary to look after the plant correctly.

1. Root rot .This is the most common disease of aloe, which appears due to excessive watering. If you see that the leaves of the century have become too soft, pale, began to fall, that is, the likelihood that the roots began to rot. To save aloe, it must be removed from the pot, removed the damaged roots, sprinkled with ashes or sulfur and transplanted into a new land. If you see that the whole root system is already affected, then you have to cut off the cuttings and start growing a new flower. This rescue will not work.
2. If you notice that the aloe leaves have become too pale , then it can talk about the lack of lighting. Everything is simple - you need to rearrange the pot and plant to a lighter sill.
3. Falling leaves at the century may indicate that it is just cold. Either from the window there is a stream of frosty air, or you water the plant with too cool water. To solve the problem, seal all the cracks in the frames and try to water the aloe with water at room temperature.

Try to care for the century in the future taking into account these moments, so that later you do not have to save the plant.

There are several pests that can damage the plant. Fortunately, to fight them at home is not difficult.

1. Shielding .These insects look like small brown plaques adhering to the plant. To get rid of the pest, you need to wipe the eyeliner with a cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol. And then you need to spray the flower with an insecticide. Such a tool can be easily purchased in any store specializing in products for indoor plants. Only be sure to follow the instructions and after treatment, ventilate the room well.
2. If you notice that the aloe is covered with a "waxy" coating of , similar to cotton wool, know that the plant has been affected by mealybug. This insect is afraid of moisture. Therefore, to begin with, wash the aloe leaves well, wipe it with vinegar or alcohol and put it on a shaded place for a couple of days. Can be treated with a special chemical. And in the future, try not to allow excessive dryness of air and periodically wipe the leaves of the century with a damp cloth. Such minimal maintenance will prevent the appearance of a pest.
3. Spider mite .About his appearance you will tell a spider web that covers the leaves, and small insects, which you can find from the back of the leaves. Helps spraying garlic tincture, wiping the plant with a soap solution or a purchased insecticide. In the future, take care of the aloe vera, avoiding overdrying. Dry air and soil are ideal conditions for the appearance and reproduction of mites.

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

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