Beauty, Beauty and Edible-- the skill of potted Aloe Vera in Family

Aloe

Aloe vera is a magical green plant integrating beauty, ornamental, edible and environmental protection. It is known as "natural beautician" and "family health box". Family potted aloe vera, in addition to ornamental, but also has a high use value, can provide fresh leaves for family members to eat, beauty, suitable for people in the courtyard, balcony, front and back of the house potted. Family small potted aloe can also be placed on the desk and desk, with ornamental value.

I. characteristics of aloe

Aloe vera has strong vitality and is easy to cultivate. in the process of growth, it has the characteristics of being fond of sunshine, afraid of hot sun, warm and moist, avoid stagnant water, resistant to high temperature and afraid of severe cold. According to these characteristics, it is necessary to grasp the requirements of light, water, temperature and soil in the growth process of aloe and create an environment suitable for the growth of aloe in order to cultivate aloe.

II. Variety selection

Aloe vera has a wide variety of varieties, different shapes, different patterns, different colors and leaves, and different utilization effects. At present, green leaf aloe (Aloe barbadensis, American aloe), Chinese aloe (striped aloe) and tree aloe (Japanese aloe) are commonly used in field cultivation and family potted plants in China.

Aloe

III. Preparation of potted soil

Potted aloe should choose mud basin with good air permeability. If you choose a new basin, it should be soaked with water, otherwise it is not easy to infiltrate the basin after watering, and the semi-dry and semi-wet basin wall will hurt the new root. If the old flowerpot is used, the soil residue and moss should be washed clean and dried in the sun, which can not only increase the breathability of the basin, but also prevent diseases and insect pests. Aloe is confined to a narrow basin under pot conditions, and the pot soil suitable for growth should have the functions of fertilizer conservation, water retention and drainage, ventilation, etc., and the pH is suitable for neutrality. the materials commonly used to prepare basin soil are field mud, garden mud, humus (fermented, piled deciduous leaves, rice straw, sawdust, etc.), river sand or mordant ash. The method of preparation is that the field (garden) mud, humus and river sand (or mordant ash) are respectively 4:4:2, which can be changed appropriately according to the local material sources and without affecting the effect of basin soil on fertilizer, water and gas.

4. Pot planting method

Before potting, choose the suitable flowerpot according to the variety planted. The green leaf aloe plant is larger, planted for more than a year and a half, the leaf is 50-80 cm long, the single leaf weighs about 500 grams, the flowerpot is larger, the caliber is 25-30 cm, the Chinese aloe and woody aloe plants are smaller, and the diameter of the flowerpot is about 20 cm. You can also use a small flowerpot when planting, and then transplant to a large flowerpot when the aloe plant grows asymmetrically with the flowerpot.

When potted, first install 2/3 of the potted soil, put the seedlings in the pot, open the roots, then install the remaining potted soil, gently lift the seedlings, slightly compact the potted soil, make sure that the seedlings do not fall down, and then pour a small amount of fixed root water, put it in a shaded place, and then move to the sun after aloe begins to grow. But in summer to prevent the hot sun, aloe in the seedlings when the sun is more sensitive, to appropriate shade. After planting, some aloe leaves will change color, this is the slow seedling stage of aloe, when it begins to grow normally, the leaf color will change for the better.

Aloe

V. Daily management

(1) watering

Aloe vera basin soil to keep moist, too much water is disadvantageous to the root system of aloe, because aloe has the characteristics of drought and fear of waterlogging, when watering, pour gently along the edge of the basin but not hard, lest the basin soil is easy to harden and affect the permeability of the basin soil. when the basin soil is hardened, loosen the soil at the right time, with a depth of about 1.5 cm.

(2) fertilization

Aloe in the growth process, only rely on potted soil nutrients is not enough, appropriate fertilization can meet the growth needs, organic fertilizer is better, such as peanut bran (cake), fertilizer efficiency is good, and clean and hygienic. Before application, fully soak and ferment with water, and then dilute it with water, such as chemical fertilizer, at a concentration of 0.1%, the frequency of fertilization should be determined according to the growth of aloe vera, and if leaves are often needed, it should be applied more frequently, about once a month.

(3) Leaf picking

The picking standard of aloe leaves is suitable for growing for one year or more than 12 leaves. Green leaf aloe should grow for more than a year and a half, and the picked leaves should be full, smooth, clear and transparent, so that the content of various components of aloe is high. Good utilization effect. When picking from the bottom up, use a knife to cut a notch on each side of the leaf base, and then gently break, the number of picking to keep the plant on the basis of 12 leaves.

(4) Seedling propagation

The seedling propagation of aloe is mainly asexual propagation, and the propagation methods are split propagation and cutting propagation, and the breeding season should be carried out in spring and autumn.

① ramet propagation

When the tillering seedlings of aloe vera are more than 5 leaves, carefully pick up the seedlings, try not to damage the roots, and transplant them to other places or flowerpots.

② cuttings propagation

Cut aloe side branches about 15 cm, put in ventilation and shade for two or three days, when the incision shrinks dry, insert into other places or flowerpots, and shade for another month, try not to water during this period, when the cuttings begin to grow, and then move to the place where they are placed, and then start watering. After many years of growth of the old aloe plant, after growing to a certain height, it is easy to appear lodging phenomenon, affecting the ornamental, so cut off at the leaf base of 7 cm, using the planting method, the old aloe plant can be rejuvenated.