Aloe is a houseplant that can be found in almost every grower. The reasons for such popularity are amazing unpretentiousness, as well as its unusual appearance, reminiscent of an alien from another planet. There are many species of this plant, but we will consider Aloe spinosa - a beautiful flower that can fill the entire pot with its dense leaves.
Features
Aloe belongs to succulent plants, that is, it stores moisture in special tissues, consuming it as needed. The stem of this plant is so small that it is usually not visible, and the leaves form a rosette. Aloe spinosa leaves can reach a length of about 10 cm, and their number is very large. At their tips you can see small soft hairs, or awns, which gave the name to this plant. Over time, they dry out and fall off, but the young parts of the plant necessarily have this interesting attribute. Also on the surface of the leaves there are small white dots, giving the aloe an elegant look.
This plant comes from Africa, where it lived on dry stony soil in conditions of constant lack of moisture. Despite the difference in climate, Aloe spinosa feels great in our latitudes and does not pester the gardener with its whims, like many other exotic guests.
Conditions
Aloe can survive even in the harshest conditions, but it has its own preferences, the observance of which will allow the plant to thrive. For planting, it is best to use a shallow, but wide enough pot, as aloe will grow over the entire area of available soil. There must be drainage at the bottom of the pot, which can be expanded clay, crumbled bricks or shards from old pots.
Cactus mix or ordinary soil with sand added is great as a soil. Aloe spinous does not need fertilizers, so they can be added very little to the soil of a young plant or not used at all. The only thing this exotic flower requires in abundance is sunlight, without which the plant stops growing. The optimum temperature for aloe to grow is around 20 degrees, but the plant can tolerate a drop in temperature without much harm if it does not last long.
Care
Aloe is low maintenance and can be grown by even the most inept grower. He does not need pruning if the plant is he althy, it may be needed only when the leaves rot from excessive watering. And watering should be moderate, in summer itis produced only when the soil in the pot is dry, which is very easy to determine by simply weighing it in your hand. In winter, the aloe flower needs watering very rarely - about once every 2-3 weeks. Spraying and rubbing the leaves with water is not necessary at all, they can rather harm, causing the plant to rot.
In winter, the ideal place for a plant is the coldest window sill in the apartment. It is not recommended to put it under the battery or next to the heater. If everything is done correctly, then the flower will enter a state of rest, up to warm days. With special lamps, growth can be achieved even in winter, but aloe will not bloom.
Reproduction
Over time, if the plant feels good and has already reached a decent size, then babies appear next to it. They look like small, mature aloes, but have a weak root system at first. If you leave them in the same pot with the mother plant, then over time they will die. Therefore, for successful reproduction, each baby must be allocated its own pot. When transplanting, Aloe spinosa requires abundant watering and good lighting, only in such conditions it will accept and begin to grow.
The ideal time to propagate this hardy plant is spring. Then the children will be able to gain strength over the summer, how to take root and increase in size. Sometimes, if the plant is going through hard times, then the kids begin to appear right on the stem of the main aloe. In that case, theyyou need to carefully separate and plant in a pot. If at the same time the fragile stem breaks, then it does not matter - you can carefully cut off the lower leaves and part of the remaining stem, and then put the plant in water, where it will quickly restore the root system.
Aloe spinous. Flowering
If there is enough sunlight, and watering is moderate and timely, the plant will begin to bloom. This usually happens in late spring - early summer. Signs of the plant's prosperity are the rich dark green color of the leaves, turning brownish in places. Then, after a while, an aloe flower will appear - an orange or scarlet inflorescence resembling an ear. It is located on a long stem and contains the seeds of the plant. Seedlings can be obtained from these seeds, but this process will not be easy, as it requires strict adherence to the desired temperature and humidity.
Exotic guests
Many types of exotic plants are so liked by flower growers that they can be found in almost every apartment. One of these favorites is aloe spinosa, which is extremely easy to care for, and the appearance will always please the happy owner.
Unpretentiousness and unearthly, surreal appearance made aloe of all kinds the inhabitants of every second window sill in our country. They grow to enormous sizes, reproduce easily, and can easily survive if left alone for a while, as aloe leaves store moisture like a cactus. Propagation of this plant is very simple, so its cost is low. If youIf you want to start an indoor flower, then aloe will be a great option. This plant will be a great decoration for your home and a true friend for many years to come.
