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A properly organized watering regime is an integral part of caring for the representatives of the indoor flora. Watering aloe - a leafy succulent - must be in accordance with certain rules, then it will delight you with a decorative look and help heal the diseases of its owner. An African visitor can easily endure the drought, but will not forgive the grower for excessive irrigation. To avoid losing your green pet, follow the tips below.
Aloe is a typical leafy succulent. In the wild, the exotic is widespread in the desert regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Madagascar. The xiphoid leaves are collected in a spiral rosette and serve to store moisture. If you cut open an aloe leaf, inside you will see a fleshy pulp filled with bitter vegetable juice. Under the microscope, it resembles cells that serve to accumulate moisture. It rarely rains in tropical deserts, so the bush tries to collect the maximum supply of water. But with excessive watering, cell membranes begin to burst inside the leaf, putrefactive processes develop.
Fungal spores live in the substrate and, when combined with low temperatures and high humidity, begin to form mycelium. It is almost impossible to save aloe from them. Fungal diseases lead to decay of the root system, stems, leaves. If a problem is detected in time, an emergency transplant will help with the removal of all infected areas.
Advice
There are over five hundred varieties of aloe, differing in color, habit, size, but the technology for growing an exotic guest is the same for everyone.
The frequency of watering aloe vera depends on several factors:
To establish a regime of watering aloe at home, you should bring them as close as possible to their natural habitat.
In the spring and summer, the exotic plant begins an active growing season. At home, several heavy spring rains allow the plant to make supplies in case of drought.
During this time, aloe requires abundant but sparse irrigation. From one watering to another, the earthen lump should almost completely dry out. Depending on weather conditions (summer can be quite damp), the interval between irrigations can be from 3 to 10 days. To saturate the root zone with moisture, it is advisable to water the aloe by immersion, because the suction roots are located at the bottom of the pot. Young individuals are grown in a smaller volume of soil, so it dries up faster, they have to be watered more often.
In autumn, the growth processes are suspended due to the shortening of daylight hours. Aloe begins to prepare for the winter dormant period. The florist's task at this stage is to gradually increase the interval between irrigations. In autumn it is enough to water the substrate once every 2-3 weeks. In winter, aloe is watered sparingly once every 30–45 days using a watering can. Irrigation is carried out in the morning so as not to freeze the roots. Such a regime is maintained only if a rest period is organized, which implies a decrease in the temperature background to 13-15⁰C.The African guest rests from mid-November to the end of February.
Advice
If your green pet is kept at the same temperature all year round and does not hibernate, in winter it is watered in the same way as in autumn - once every 2-3 weeks.
The material from which the flower pot is made also affects the frequency of watering. Experienced growers prefer to grow aloe in ceramic or clay pots. Oxygen enters the roots through the walls of such a container, and the excess moisture evaporates. This is a big plus, but in the heat you need to water the green pet a little more often and more abundantly.
A prerequisite for keeping aloe is the presence of drain holes in the bottom of the pot and a drainage layer of broken bricks, shards, expanded clay. In the absence of drainage, excess water from irrigation will accumulate in the root zone, which will certainly lead to the development of root rot. For the same reason, only a specialized substrate intended for cacti and succulents is used. It promotes the penetration of water after irrigation into the root zone, does not allow it to stagnate.
It is impossible to spray the deciduous mass, the exotic is accustomed to low air humidity. If water droplets remain on the leaves, they can cause sunburn, which will ruin the decorative effect of your pet. From moisture entering the socket, putrefactive processes often develop. If you need to remove dust from the leaves, it is better to simply wipe them with a damp cloth, being careful not to erase the wax film.
Some gardeners advise to sometimes bathe aloe under a warm shower. This approach will refresh the leaves, get rid of dust, and help open the stomata. Bathing can be combined with regular watering, but after the procedure, arm yourself with a paper towel. Remove water droplets from the leaves, making sure that it does not remain inside the outlet. After bathing, do not expose the aloe to direct sunlight. You can resort to watering under the shower 1-2 times during the summer, in winter and autumn the event is contraindicated.
Experienced flower growers are guided by the only rule when watering aloe - it is better to underfill water than to fight diseases caused by excessive irrigation. How often to water the flower, we have already found out, now we will consider the technology of watering.
At home, aloe receives moisture through natural precipitation - rain and fog, so tap liquid is not suitable. It will have to be defended for a day and softened by adding a little lemon juice. It is not necessary to boil the liquid, this will reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen.
To obtain an optimal irrigation fluid, you can proceed according to the following algorithm.
Such water treatment, although it takes a lot of time, is most suitable for a green pet. Florists advise adding a little aloe juice to the watering liquid. It eliminates harmful microflora and promotes good growth.
Advice
In winter and early spring, you can use melted snow for irrigation, just collect it away from highways and factories. Rainwater is good in summer.
It is not only the quality that is important, but also the temperature of the water. In summer, watering is carried out with a liquid heated to 25-30⁰C. In winter, prepare the water so that the temperature is 5-7⁰C above room temperature.
For watering from above, it is convenient to use a watering can with a narrow spout. Pour prepared water into it, gently pour aloe under the root, avoiding water getting on the leaves and inside the outlet.How much water needs to be poured depends on the condition of the soil and its volume. The earthen lump must be soaked through so that moisture gets to the suction roots. Pour fluid until it flows out of the drain holes. This usually takes 3-4 seconds. Remember to drain the excess from the pan half an hour after irrigation.
Bottom irrigation is optimal for aloe, because with this method of irrigation, large roots are not overmoistened, nutrients are not washed out from the substrate.
Drainage irrigation technology
This irrigation method will save the fleshy leaves of the African guest from decay.
Aloe can develop normally without top dressing, because at home it grows in poor soil. However, many decorative varieties of culture have now been bred, and they need recharge to maintain their beautiful appearance. It is applied only during active vegetation - in spring and summer.
Fertilizers are usually applied along with irrigation. Ready-made mineral complexes designed for feeding cacti and succulents are suitable for aloe, but they must be used correctly.
Watering home exotic with fertilizers has several nuances.
Advice
If you are growing aloe for medicinal purposes or making homemade cosmetics, you cannot water it with fertilizers.
As the indoor exotic grows, an ever larger area is required. Transplantation of young specimens is carried out annually, mature specimens over four years old change their "living space" every 3-4 years. Healthy plants are transplanted by the transshipment method, excluding the violation of the integrity of the earthen coma. It is best to hold the event after the end of the dormant period, by mid-spring.
In case of illness, the plant will need an emergency transplant with the removal of rotten roots. Such a measure is often required when there is excess irrigation. If the soil in the pot of aloe begins to turn sour, remove it from the substrate. Rinse the roots gently, remove all rotten parts with a sterile knife. Powder the slices with charcoal, let dry a little. Plant the bush in fresh soil. After an emergency transplant, do not water the aloe for 4-5 days.
Knowing how to organize the correct watering of aloe, you can easily grow this unpretentious plant. If you follow the recommendations described above, you will not have to fight for the health of your green pet.
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