To most multitude , aloemeans the familiar " burn flora " ( Aloe vera ) , but it is only one fellow member of a large genus of plants with rosettes of succulent leaves and spikes of tubular or bell - shaped cream , white-livered , orangish or scarlet flowers . Native to Africa and the Middle East , bitter aloes ( Aloe spp . ) can be used as prosperous - charge landscape industrial plant in U.S. Department of Agriculture works hardiness zone ranging from 8 to 12 or as houseplants elsewhere . They deviate in size from the 2 - inch Descoing ’s aloe ( Aloe descoingsii ) , which grows in USDA geographical zone 10 through 12 , to the 70 - foot Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree aloe ( Aloe bainesii ) , which grows in USDA zone 9 through 11 .
Water Your Aloe Sparingly
Because they store water in their leaves , aloes do n’t require much watering once established in the ground out of doors . In dry climates , you may need to water them once every two week to once a month during the summer . An aloe confine to a muckle needs more watering . It will need water about once per calendar week during the summer , and once every other week for the eternal rest of the yr — or whenever its soil feels dry 2 column inch down . If the potted plant life is exposed to lower temperatures in winter , limit its water to once a month during that time .
Fertilize Your Aloe Lightly
Aloes in the background get all the nutrients they need from the ground , unless they are growing in pure sand . If you think your plant looks malnourished , try feeding it once every two weeks during spring and summertime with an organic liquid seaweed , such as 0 - 0 - 1 formula , fuse 2 tablespoon of the dressed ore with each 1 gallon of H2O , or according to recording label rates . fertilise your potted works once a month from spring through fall with a fluid cactus fertilizer , such as 2 - 7 - 7 , using 10 drops diluted in 1 dry quart of water . Increase that to 20 drops , if you have act the works out of doors for the season . Do n’t fertilise an aloe during wintertime .
Protect Your Aloe Diligently
Although aloes are n’t often bothered by gadfly or diseases and should n’t be pruned , they can develop base rotting in inert grunge . To prevent this problem , rate an outdoor aloe in sandy or gravelly ground , in a raised layer or at the top of a slope . Keep a potted aloe almost root restrain in a potting soil formulated for cactus and succulents . If you tend to overwater your plants , identify your aloe in the Desert Botanical Garden ’s intermixture of 4 parts cactus pot ground , 2 parts pumice stone and 1 part gritrock or silica sand . As an choice , use Made in Afrika ’s suggest combination of equal theatrical role cactus potting mix and finely demolish limestone . When repotting your aloe , verify its source occupy at least two - thirds of the space in the new heap , and do n’t water the plant life until about a calendar week after it has settled into its raw container . Make certain to use a container with bottom drain hole . Its other enemy is cold-blooded . Although some aloes can take temperatures somewhat below freeze , you should cover even the fearless when temperatures menace to shine below 25 degrees Fahrenheit . Use porous stuff , such as Robert Lee Frost blanket , unconstipated mantle or sheets — not plastics .
Light Your Aloe Carefully
set how much light aloe need can be difficult , because some sources recommend full sun while others endorse bright , collateral light or anything in between . unlike aloes have different prerequisite , depend on their size and where they come from . The tree aloe , for instance , favor full sunshine , while Descoing ’s aloe is frequently shaded by grasses in the state of nature and can get by on bright , collateral light . Many others , such as aloe vera , which grows in USDA zones 8 through 11 , should get partial sun . If you ca n’t determine what your special aloe prefers , try placing it where it will experience sunlight in the daybreak and tone during the good afternoon . A general ruler of ovolo is that larger - develop bitter aloes necessitate more sun than the modest varieties .
References
Related
