Aloe is a houseplant that can be found in almost every grower. The reasons for this popularity are surprising unpretentiousness, as well as in its unusual appearance, reminiscent of an alien from another planet. There are many types of this plant, but we will consider the spinous aloe - a beautiful flower that can fill the entire pot with its dense leaves.
Features
Aloe refers to succulent plants , that is, it stores moisture in special tissues, spending it as needed. The stem of this plant is so small that it is usually not visible, and the leaves form a rosette. The leaves of spinous aloe can reach a length of about 10 cm, and their number is very large. At their ends you can see small soft hairs, or spines, 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 that give the aloe an elegant look.
This plant is originally from Africa, where it lived on dry stony soil under conditions of constant lack of moisture. Despite the difference in climate, aloe spinous feels wonderful in our latitudes and does not bother the gardener with its whims, like many other exotic guests.
Conditions
Aloe can survive even in the most severe conditions, but it has its own preferences, compliance with which will allow the plant to flourish. For planting, it is best to use a shallow but wide enough pot, since aloe will grow over the entire area of available soil. At the bottom of the pot must be drainage, which can be used expanded clay, crushed brick or shards from old pots.
As a soil, a mixture of cacti or ordinary soil with the addition of sand is excellent. Spinous aloe 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 that this exotic flower requires in excess is the sunlight, without which the plant stops its growth. The optimum temperature for aloe growth is about 20 degrees, but the plant can tolerate a drop in temperature without much harm if it does not last long.
Care
Aloe does not require special care and can be grown even by the most inept gardener. He does not need pruning, if the plant is healthy, it may be needed only if the leaves rot from excessive watering. And watering should be moderate, in summer it is done only when the soil in the pot becomes dry, which is very easy to determine by simply weighing it in your hand. In winter, the aloe flower needs very little watering - about once every 2-3 weeks. Spraying and rubbing the leaves with water are not needed at all, they are more likely to harm, causing the plant to rot.
In winter, the ideal place for the plant is the coldest window sill in the apartment. It is not recommended to place 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. If you have special lamps, you can achieve growth even in the winter, but aloe will not bloom.
Breeding
Over time, if the plant feels good and has already reached decent size, then babies appear next to it. They look like small formed aloe, but at first they have a weak root system. If you leave them in the same pot with the mother plant, then over time they will die. Therefore, for successful reproduction, you need to give each baby its own pot. When transplanting aloe vera, it requires abundant watering and good lighting, only in such conditions it will accept and begin to grow.
The ideal time for propagation of this unpretentious 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 directly on the stem of the main aloe. In this case, they need to be carefully separated and put in a pot. If at the same time the fragile stem breaks, then it doesn’t matter - you can carefully trim 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. Bloom
If there is enough sunlight, and watering is moderate and timely, then the plant will begin to bloom. This usually happens in late spring - early summer. Signs of the plant's prosperity is the saturated dark green color of the leaves, sometimes turning into brownish. Then after a while, an aloe flower will appear - an orange or scarlet inflorescence resembling an ear. It is located on a long stalk and contains plant seeds. Seedlings can be obtained from these seeds, but this process will not be easy, since it is necessary to strictly observe the desired temperature and humidity.
Exotic guests
Many species of exotic plants are so liked by flower growers that they can be found in almost every apartment. One of these favorites is Aloe spinous, the care of which is extremely simple, and the appearance will always please a happy owner.
Unpretentiousness and unearthly, surreal appearance made aloe of all types inhabitants of every second window sill in our country. They grow to enormous size, easily multiply and can survive without difficulty if left alone for a while, since aloe leaves store moisture like a cactus. Propagating this plant is very simple, so its cost is low. If you want to plant 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.