One of the most popular indoor plants - aloe - belongs to the lily family, a group of succulents. Its main distinguishing feature is long, fleshy leaves covered with soft spines. Aloe is grown by lovers of indoor flowers, not only as an ornamental, but also as a medicinal plant.
general description
The homeland of aloe is Africa. On this continent, there are more than 250 species of this plant. At home, aloe vera is most often grown . In another way, this variety is called the agave. Very often in the apartments of lovers of indoor flowers, you can also see spinous, spotted or folded aloe. Propagation of all these species is usually a straightforward procedure. Similar are the methods themselves for obtaining new plants from the mother.
The main methods of reproduction
Getting new plants from an aloe bush, as well as from any other succulent, is very simple. This plant can multiply:
tops;
cuttings;
leaves;
kids
seeds.
Most often, aloe is propagated by children. In this case, young plants just need to be dug up and transferred to a new pot. Other techniques have some of their nuances.
Aloe: propagation by tops, cuttings and leaves
Take planting material from the mother plant should be as careful as possible. The tops are cut with a sharp knife so that about 5-6 leaves are left on them. Cuttings are separated from the stem itself. The leaf is cut off at the base of the shoot. Planting stock for breeding is usually taken in February or March. The cut place on the mother plant is treated with charcoal. The tops themselves, cuttings or leaves are dried for 5-6 days.
Next, planting material is slightly buried (about 3 cm) in wet sand. After the emergence of roots, new plants are transferred to containers filled with earth. Drainage is pre-poured into the pots. As the soil mixture, the same composition is usually used in which the mother aloe grows. If there is no such soil at hand, you can purchase a mixture intended for growing cacti in a specialized store. In any case, the soil should be slightly acidic. Of course, planted young plants need to be watered. Propagation of aloe leaf, top or cuttings allows you to quickly and without much hassle to get several new copies.
Seed use
This technique is considered rather complicated and rarely used by amateur gardeners. But in this way you can get at the same time a very large number of new young aloe. Seed propagation will be successful only if a special soil mixture is used, consisting of:
Such soil is poured into plates with holes in the bottom. Then seeds are laid on top of it. Then they are lightly sprinkled with sand. Moisturize the soil by lowering the plates in a pan with water for several minutes. After the soil mixture picks up moisture, the containers are placed in a greenhouse.
Aloe seedlings sprout, the reproduction of which by this method is actually not a very simple procedure, about 5-6 days after planting. Watering young ages should be a small spray. Seedlings are planted in separate containers after 1-2 real leaflets appear on them.
Where to place?
Regardless of the propagation of aloe vera - the top, cuttings, leaves or seeds - for new plants, you need to choose the right place. It is best to install pots with an agave on the windowsill of the south window. Unlike many other indoor plants, this succulent is almost not afraid of large doses of ultraviolet. In the dark room, aloe stretches, and its leaves turn pale. In winter, this plant is best transferred to a bright, but cool room (with an air temperature of 12-13 g.).
How to feed
Of course, aloe, the reproduction at home of which can be performed in different ways, will delight the owners with an attractive appearance and good development only with proper care. Fertilize the ground under this plant usually twice a month. Too often, aloe should not be fed, otherwise it can become sick. As a fertilizer, most often used formulations intended for cacti.
How to water
Too often, moistening the soil in an aloe pot should also not be. This plant does not like overflows. In addition, it does not tolerate stagnation of water in the pan. If humidity is too high, aloe roots can easily rot. The best way to water this succulent is to immerse the pot for several minutes in water. In summer, aloe is usually watered once a week, in winter - once a month.
Diseases and Pests
Aloe is often used as a medicinal plant. However, sometimes it happens that he himself needs the help of the owners. Most often, the agave is affected by such a pest as a scale insect. This insect pierces with its sharp proboscis aloe leaves and drinks juice. To save the plant from scabbard, its leaves and stem should be wiped with a not too strong vinegar solution.
It also happens that a spider mite is planted on aloe. To combat this pest, either a weak alcohol solution or garlic tincture is used. To prevent infection with an aloe mite, it is worth periodically spraying it with tobacco infusion.
Quite a common disease of this plant is root rot. It develops at overflow. When a problem occurs, the agave first slows down the growth and then begins to dry out.
Aloe also has other diseases common among indoor plants. But in general, this succulent is quite resistant to various infections and insect infections. With proper care, aloe vera owners are unlikely to deliver problems. In addition, if necessary, you can get new plants even from the already dying mother. Propagation of aloe by cuttings, leaves, children, etc. - the procedure is extremely simple.