Tree-like aloe, growing in a pot, well develops in width and height, gives many shoots. In nature, the height of aloe reaches up to 3 meters. Tree aloe can be considered a decorative plant.
Aloe is a succulent plant with narrow, long (from 20 to 30 cm), juicy, fleshy leaves with the smallest spines on the edges.
Varieties and types of aloe.
In the world of perennial succulent plants, there are approximately 340 species that are distributed on the island of Madagascar, in South Africa, in tropical African regions, on the Arabian Peninsula, in eastern Africa.
Aloe arborescens (English name Aloe arborescens).
Aloe vera is a succulent shrub that grows to 3 meters or more.
Stems of this species of aloe branching, erect, from below have a "cover" from the remains of the vagina of already dead leaves. The leaves are sessile, regular, narrow-lanceolate, juicy, at the base they pass into the closed, descending cunt, having a pointed apex, at the edges the smallest spines curled upward (despite their size, they are very strong), glabrous, bluish or matte green, 60 centimeters. Tsvetonos, the length of which reaches 80 centimeters, ends with a multiflorous racemose inflorescence. Its perianth is tubular, six-membered, divided almost to the ground. Its petals have a length of 4 centimeters, slightly bent back, inside have a yellow color, and the outside is red.
Aloe folded (English name Aloe plicattilis).
Aloe folded - a medium-sized tree or succulent shrub that grows to 3-5 meters in height, and has a short fork-branching trunk. It has up to 16 leaves, which are close in two rows at the ends of the branches, the leaves of this aloe are fleshy, belt-shaped, the length of the leaves is 30 centimeters, and the width is 4 centimeters, the top of the leaves is rounded; in the upper third, they are finely toothed. There may be a gray-green or a gray-green color. Inflorescence - on the peduncle a simple brush, the length of which is 50 cm and on which from 25 to 30 flowers with trihedral cylindrical sharlough-red perianth.
Aloe variegate (English name).
Succulent plant, in height reaching up to 30 centimeters. The leaves grow to a length of up to 15 centimeters, fleshy, triangular-lanceolate, on the edge of small-toothed, keeled, green with transverse irregular bands of white small spots. The leaves are collected either in basal rosettes, or located on short stems with three dense spirally wound rows. Flowers grow to 3, 5 centimeters, are located on peduncles, in shape resemble the flowers of previous species. The color of the perianth varies from pink to dark red, or sharlakh with green stripes, inside is yellow.
Aloe is austite (English name is Aloe aristata).
This species of aloe has dense succulent leaves, which are collected in basal dense rosettes, whose diameter is 8-10 centimeters, group or solitary. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, the tip ends in a colorless awn, grow to a length of 10 cm, widthwise at the base to 1-1.5 cm. The leaf at the base is covered with white soft hooked spines, which are located transverse, or one or two longitudinal rows. The margin of the leaf has a white, cartilaginous serrate margin. Inflorescence - a weakly branched or simple brush, which is located on the peduncle, the length of which is 50 centimeters.
The flowers are tubular, in the upper part it is not clear with a ribbed red-orange, beneath a bloated perianth, whose length is 4 centimeters.
Aloe barbadensis, or Aloe vera (English name Aloe vera).
This kind of aloe has the most wonderful natural healing properties.
Even in ancient times, aloe was cultivated as a medicinal plant. This herbaceous perennial has beautiful, jagged, narrow, almost erect greenish-gray leaves, which are collected in fairly compact rosettes. In this species, aloe flower stem grows to a height of 90 centimeters.
As for the native land of this species of aloe, different opinions are heard. Some scientists believe that the wild species of aloe grows on the islands of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. Other scientists believe that the area of natural distribution of aloe is the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa.
Care of the plant.
Location. Aloe must grow in a bright room, but it should be accustomed to the sun gradually (in very hot hours the plant needs to be shaded from the sun's direct rays). In winter, the aloe should grow in a bright and cool place (room temperature should be 12 13 C 0 ). In summer, of course, it's better to take out to the street, to fresh air.
Care for aloe. In summer, this houseplant should be watered abundantly, and slightly moistened during the winter, and the soil in the pot must dry completely between watering. In summer, it is desirable to spray the plant (the sprayer should not be brought near, otherwise the accumulated water in the middle of the outlet will cause rotting of the base of the leaf). In summer, twice a month, it is also necessary to fertilize with a full mineral fertilizer.
A young plant of aloe can be transplanted annually, and adult plants can be transplanted after 2-3 years. It is necessary to transplant plants in the spring, this process is carried out by the method of transshipment.
Possible problems:
- dry ends of leaves, yellowing of the edges. The reasons are the initial stage of poisoning with tobacco smoke or chlorine, dry air, potassium starvation;
- decay of roots. Causes - stagnant water, the plant looks sick, loses its decorativeness;
- yellowing of the whole plant. Causes - dry air, excessive moistening of the soil or vice versa overdrying. Too high density of earthen coma or heavy ground, its airtightness. Or the plant is preparing for peace;
- pale, listless leaves. The reason is excessive moisture in the soil;
- leaves of an unusual kind, they pale or stretch. The reason is insufficient lighting.
Pests and diseases of aloe. Aloe is a plant that is resistant to pests and diseases. Nevertheless, on aloe can start a scab, then pests must be scraped off the leaves and washed with a soap solution.