Growing aloe at home will not present many problems, as the plant is unpretentious. But in order for the indoor flower to grow quickly, the leaves remain juicy, and after a while flowers also appear, you need to carry out elementary care. The most important thing is to choose the right soil and further maintain the mineral composition of the earth.
Correctly choose or prepare soil for planting aloe
In order for the plant not to die, you need to know exactly which soil is best for planting aloe. Often, for planting, they buy a ready-made composition that is intended for succulents or cacti. But a suitable primer is easy to make yourself with just a few ingredients.
How to prepare your own soil for aloe:
- To create an ideal soil composition, you will need turf and deciduous soil, humus, coarse sand, charcoal, broken red brick.
- Soddy soil must be mixed with humus, coarse sandand hardwood in a ratio of 2:1:1.
- Last of all, add quite a bit of charcoal for disinfection and broken bricks for loosening the soil.
For planting, it is advisable to choose a pot several times larger than the plant itself. In no case should you add peat, as this component can lead to decay of the root system.
Rules for watering indoor flower at different times of the year
In order for the plant to develop normally, you need to adhere to a certain watering regimen. If you do not water on time, then the root system will be moistened by succulent leaves.
Growth phases depend on the time of year. Depending on this, the frequency of watering also varies. In winter, less moisture is required, so it is enough to moisten the soil 2 times a month. In the warm period, on the contrary, more - 2 times a week.
You can not over-moisten the plant, as the root may begin to rot, and the leaves will become too watery. You need to know how to water aloe correctly and with what water. Settled water at room temperature should be used in an amount not exceeding 250 ml. A small amount is poured under the aloe trunk and poured a little into the pan. The leaves are wiped with a slightly damp cloth.
The principle of fertilizing plants with fertilizers at different growth periods
To support the plant and accelerate its growth, you need to carry out periodic top dressing of the soil in accordance with the following recommendations:
- Feedingproduced only in the warm season once a month.
- Aloe soil is usually watered with a solution of organic fertilizers used for cacti.
- You need to finish feeding in October so that the plant goes into "energy-saving mode".
It is worth following the recommendations regarding the proportions, as an excessive amount of trace elements can lead to the death of the plant.
Choosing a place to grow a flower
So that the soil for aloe does not quickly lose useful minerals and substances, and the agave itself grows quickly and without problems, you need to choose a suitable place for the flowerpot. When arranging a flower, you need to take into account several nuances:
- The agave pot is installed exclusively on the windowsills of those windows that face south.
- At the location of the aloe there should be no drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Comfortable border - +23…+25 degrees.
- During the sun's heaviest activity, it's best to keep the aloe out of direct sunlight.
- If the leaves begin to dry at the tips or quickly turn yellow, then you need to change the window sill.
If the agave is planted in a large outdoor flowerpot, then the placement should also be correct. The ideal place would be a wall or a corner opposite the south window.
What should be feared in the process of caring for the agave?
Aloe is a home flower, which, in comparison with other inhabitants of the windowsill, does not require special attention. However, there are a few things that can lead todeterioration in the appearance of the agave or even death:
- As a result of oversaturation of the soil with moisture, rotting of the root system may occur.
- You need to carefully monitor the lighting. If the aloe leaves become dull, then you need to put the flowerpot in the sun. When the leaves become lethargic and begin to turn yellow, it is worth removing the flower in the shade.
- Agave loves warmth and constancy of temperature, so you should carefully monitor the microclimate in the room.
Significant mistakes in the process of caring for a flower and growing it will not work, as the plant is completely unpretentious.
Dangerous diseases and pests of agave
Aloe diseases are exclusively problems with the root system. A negative factor may be the wrong composition of the soil in the pot or too abundant watering. But pests love aloe:
- Often small dark plaques appear on the stem of the agave. This is a scale insect that feeds on plant sap. The pest can be removed with a rag soaked in alcohol. After cleaning, you need to treat the plant with an insecticide solution.
- Wax coating at the place of attachment of leaves to the trunk indicates such a parasite as a mealy worm. It is necessary to do a wet cleaning of the leaves and trunk, moistening the cloth with vinegar. The mealy worm appears due to lack of watering. To prevent the pest from reappearing, you need to establish watering.
- When the leaves of the agave are entangled in a thin web of white, and there are white insects on the underside, it means thatspider mite. Wash the leaves with soapy water, and then sprinkle with garlic tincture.
Often the appearance of pests is promoted by dry soil and too dry air in the room where the agave is located. Inappropriate water can also lead to worms, mites or scale insects.
General tips for transplanting agave
In order for the plant to become powerful and beautiful, it is necessary not only to plant the agave correctly, but also to periodically transplant the seedling. Transplant recommendations:
- Change the pot every year for the first 5 years. This is done in order to give room for the development of the root system.
- A plant that is more than 5 years old can be damaged by frequent transplantation, so the number is reduced to 1 time in 2-3 years.
- Aloe soil should be changed with each transplant to update the base of nutrients and remove possible parasites.
- When preparing a new pot, it is worth taking care of the formation of drainage, which will be the best option for adjusting the level of humidity.
- It is better to choose a pot made of ceramic or clay, as a plastic container may adversely affect the development of the flower.
Experienced flower growers recommend pre-baking the prepared soil in the oven. Such manipulation will destroy all alien microorganisms in the earth. Enough 3-5 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 degrees.
