The Xanthorrhoeae subfamily unites about 500 species of succulent plants. They are widespread in Africa on the Arabian Peninsula. The most famous in Russia are aloe vera (present) and aloe treelike (agave), which was cultivated from an African species. For more than three thousand years, aloe vera preparations have been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, internally and externally. The plant is recognized as a powerful biostimulant.
A description of aloe vera, its healing properties, as well as contraindications can be found in many medical works, however, even today, the properties of plants are studied by modern scientists. These flowers can be seen in the collections of many beauty connoisseurs of indoor plants. According to experienced flower growers, aloe is unpretentious, does not require complicated care, fits perfectly into any interior.
Nevertheless, beginners have a number of questions on its cultivation. For example, how a plant multiplies, how to plant an aloe sprout without a root? In this article we will try to give answers to these questions.
Popular varieties of aloe
As we have already said, in the home flower gardens of our country, the most common tree type of plant is the agave and aloe vera. With good care, tree aloe can reach a height of two meters or more. Its dense and powerful stem over time covers the lignified layer. On the stem are leaves with a glossy dense plate. They are oval, elongated-lanceolate, forming a rosette in the upper part of the tree.
The leaf plate is painted dark green, sometimes with a bluish bloom. There are plants with a pattern on the leaves. Under the dense skin is a juicy pulp with a very bitter taste. The composition of the plant juice includes substances that irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive system. Under natural conditions, the plant blooms in yellow or orange flowers, which are collected in panicles or brushes. In indoor floriculture, this is extremely rare.
Aloe vera
In various sources, the description of aloe vera (or Barbados), which came to us from the Canary Islands, is presented as a medium-sized plant — not more than a meter in height at home, without a main stem, with fleshy leaves that are covered with spines on the sides growing from root outlet. In nature, this species can reach four meters in height.
Leaves have fleshy and juicy flesh. The flowers are quite large, six-membered, located on thin pedicels, form a brush of cylindrical shape. At room conditions, with proper care, aloe vera can bloom in February-March. This happens quite rarely.
Features of aloe reproduction
Before you learn how to plant an aloe sprout without a root, you should familiarize yourself with the main ways of propagating it. Care for this crop, its reproduction should be as close to natural as possible. The soil for the plant must be selected breathable. Therefore, gravel, brick chips or sand is added to the soil. It is necessary to observe the rules of watering: in the summer, it is enough to moisten the soil once a week, and in winter - after the soil dries.
The main methods of propagation of a home plant aloe include the following:
- Basal shoots or children at the base of the shoots.
- Propagation of aloe vera, like any other species, with pieces of leaves or cuttings.
- Apex (parts of the stem with leaves).
Reproduction in different ways
Consider these methods in more detail. Reproduction by children or shoots is the easiest way, since in this case the shoot has roots, which greatly simplifies the task. The shoot is at the base of the roots. It is necessary to carefully, taking care not to damage the roots, remove a small bush from the pot and transfer it to a separate container with a moistened substrate.
A young plant needs moderate watering, which is done every two days. Top dressing with succulents is performed twice a month.
Leaves
Reproduction of medicinal aloe (photo we posted in the article) can be done using the sheet. To do this, separate the healthy leaf at the base of the plant. Put it on a cloth or paper towel and place in a dark place until the cut dries.
Moisten a pre-prepared soil mixture. The place of cut of the sheet is treated with charcoal or activated carbon, powdered. Then it should be placed to a depth of not more than three centimeters. Soil should be constantly moistened to root.
Cuttings
Now let's figure out how to plant an aloe sprout without a root. For this, shoots are used that are located on the side of the mother plant. With a sharp, pre-sanitized knife, they are cut off at the very base. In this case, the shoot must have at least three pairs of leaves. Slices must immediately be processed with chopped charcoal. After this, the process is placed for five days in a darkened place for drying.
This can be done outdoors or in the refrigerator by wrapping it in paper. After the appearance of the crust on the cut, you can begin to land. But how to plant an aloe sprout without a root? Since aloe belongs to succulents, it is not worth rooting the stem in water - the process can simply rot. It is more advisable to do this in the soil.
In order to avoid excessive soil moisture, good drainage is needed to prevent moisture from accumulating in the soil. The cutlery must be placed in the ground so that the lower leaves barely touch the surface. Fine gravel can be poured on top of the soil to increase flower resistance. Then the plant is moderately watered and placed in a warm bright place: aloe does not need high humidity, and sunlight is necessary for better development.
Roots will appear within 2-4 weeks. During this period, proper watering of the plant is important. At the same time, it is advisable to adhere to the basic rule of flower growers - it is better to undercharge than to overfill. After all, as we have already found out, this culture withstands a long drought and does not tolerate waterlogging. If you poured gravel over the soil for the stability of the handle, then watering is carried out even less often, since in this case it plays the role of mulch, which reduces the amount of evaporated liquid.
The first leaves appearing from the outlet indicate that the rooting of the cuttings was successful. After this, the plant needs a transplant.
Apical shoots
Since you already know how to grow aloe from a shoot, the following method of reproduction will not cause you any problems. To do this, cut the upper process with 6-7 leaves. The tops of the plants can also be rooted in stagnant water, although most gardeners consider a more reliable way of rooting in the ground.
Seed propagation
This is the most time consuming process. This procedure is recommended at the end of February. For this, it is necessary to create suitable indoor conditions. For example, the air temperature should not be higher than +20 ° C. Sowing of seeds is carried out in small and shallow containers. Seedlings are transferred to the pots after they grow a little. In more spacious containers they are transplanted in the spring, next year.
How to transplant aloe at home?
These plants, grown indoors, can reach quite impressive sizes, and this complicates their transplantation. To transplant such a flower, it is necessary not only to know how to do this, but also to have certain skills.
Remove plants from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. There are two ways to do this. Take a pot in your right hand and turn it over, holding the bush with your left hand. If the earthen lump does not come off, then tap on the walls of the pot with your palm.
You can push a flower out of a pot of earth with a wooden stick. To do this, it is inserted into the drainage hole and squeezed earthen lump. Clean the roots of old soil. Remove damaged and diseased roots, and sprinkle the places of cuts with charcoal. Prepare the necessary capacity, which should be of such a size that the roots by 2 cm do not reach its walls and by 1.5 cm - the bottom. A layer of expanded clay is poured to the bottom and 1.5 cm sprinkled with soil. Plant the plant in the center of the pot, spread the roots and sprinkle with earth.
To keep the flowers well, compact the soil. It is desirable to cover the topsoil with expanded clay or fine gravel. The first 5 days, the transplanted plant does not require watering and must be kept in the shade. If after a week, aloe sways in a pot, it means that the roots were damaged during the transplantation of the roots, and the plant did not take root. In this case, the procedure is repeated.