Galling on aloe plants is caused by aloe mites, insects so tiny you can't see them without a magnifying glass. These almost microscopic insects reproduce rapidly and travel by wind, water, insects, birds and even people.
The plant grows slowly but should be repotted every three years in a good mix of potting soil and sand or cactus mix. They are generally produced in three sets of six to eight leaves around a central rosette.
When the aloe plant is watered, the soil should be thoroughly drenched, but the water should be allowed to drain freely from the soil. Aloe vera plants need bright light, so they do best in south- or west-facing windows.Another important part of how to...
Try growing aloe outdoors in a container that will also allow you to bring them indoors if a freeze threatens.Placing your aloe plant outdoors in appropriate zones doesn't require any special care as long as the site is sunny and the soil is loose and...
Or maybe you live in a warm enough climate that you canand you'd like to divide it or just move it to a new spot. Use the shovel to lift the plant up out of the ground., you might need to use the shovel to pry the roots apart.
This is the good stuff and is ready to use after a quick rinse.Aloe in its purest form can be pureed with a fruit smoothie or juiced with other vegetables and fruit. The plant is fairly slow growing, so be cautious when aloe harvesting not to take too...
Sometimes, you don't need a knife and the pup will just pull away from the parent. Aloe plants produce offsets, also known as pups, as part of their growth cycle. Dividing aloe plants away from the parent produces a whole new aloe to enjoy.
The pup must be mature enough for rooting an aloe vera plant successfully.Once the aloe pup is the right size, remove the dirt from around the base of the pup. Aloe pups are essentially baby plants that share part of the root system of the parent plant,...
Some yellowing may also occur and indicate it is time to water.Aloe vera irrigation should be regular enough to prevent shriveling and encourage growth but not so frequent you drown the plant.
A simple watering strategy for aloe is to wait for the soil to dry out entirely and then wet it completely. Aloe should have at least six hours a day of strong, direct sunlight. Replant your aloe in a deeper, sturdy and heavy pot so it will be supported.A...
The leaves are a great indicator of the moisture needs of this plant. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch when you insert a finger to the second knuckle. A wilting, brown aloe that has soft spots in the leaves is likely over watered.
And what of the other species- do they have beneficial properties as well? For the answers to some of these questions, read on. I have been growing aloes for years now but am still fascinated with the world's focus on this single species as something...
Part 2 will be a discussion of the tree aloes that branch (later article). This tree was damaged, probably by a severe freeze a while back, and that is why it is branching. Most tree aloes tolerate a good deal of frost, though some are less hardy than...
And all the ones discussed below bloom in fall to winter. Blackened leaves also seem to be a response to underwatering, something that this aloe, at least while young, seems more prone to than any of the other tree aloes.
The following photos are of aloes with cultivational or species names that start with the lettes 'D' through the letter 'L'. For more aloe flowers, please see the other 3 articles on this subjectIt is hard to appreciate the beauty of these flowers except...
And some have less than amazing flowers as well. The following is a list of some of the aloe flowers growing in southern California, starting with the Aloe species starting with 'M' and going through 'R'.
And a nearly equal variety of shapes. Some inflorescences are solitary (just one flowering structure per aloe) while some are multiple (many aloes have multiple flowering structures, either at the same time, or in succession).Some inflorescences are branching...
Yet dozens of other aloes were badly damaged.These plants also seem to be quite tolerant of erratic watering practices, at least in terms of overwatering- have yet to rot one out by excessive watering, as I have done with a variety of other aloes.Without...
Some have conical racemes (probably the most common shape), some are tubular, some are spherical, 'head-shaped' (half-sphere) etc. Aloes are one of the best succulent plants for both landscape use and growing in pots.
Though not necessarily that ornamental themselves, they are for the most part, heavily offsetting, spotted, rough-leaved plants whos characteristics come to the surface prominently in hybridization.
And doing this on a breezy day can be very frustrating.Seed pod cut in half (left) and one in third (right) showing seeds within.For more industrious aloe growers, putting mosquito-like netting around the inflorescences once the flowering is done allows...
Like most desert plants, succulents should be placed in a sunny location and watered sparingly. Many succulent plants are native to desert regions and are kept only as houseplants in colder parts of the United States.
There are literally hundreds more aloes in cultivation but this venue is not the right one for creating a complete cataloguing of such plants. This pictorial article is the 4th of an alphabetical introduction to some of the most magnificent flowering...
First two photos are of the flower stalk showing early and later signs of inection. Third photo is of another deformed flowerThe control of this infection is labor intensive, and the elimination of such a scourge from a collection is nearly impossible...
It's important to know an aloe plant when you see one.Agave is often confused with aloe vera. The flower is not a series of tubular petals. Agave is used to make tequila and as a folk remedy for constipation and arthritis.
A small one is suitable for this project when turned on its highest setting. Flip the sliced skins with the slimy side up on a small baking sheet.Place pulpy aloe leaves, pulp up, on the sheet as well.Slide the baking sheet into the grocery sack.
Aloe vera soothes burns and skin irritations and works as a moisturizer for dry skin. Place the sap in a jar, seal the jar and store it in the refrigerator, using it as you need it.The gel will naturally turn brown over time.
