How to grow aloe vera

1. Pot soil

It is best to choose soil for growing aloe vera that has good drainage, water retention, air permeability, and fertilizer storage properties. Soil with poor drainage and air permeability can easily obstruct root breathing, leading to root rot and necrosis of the plant. The soil for aloe vera is generally made of humus + garden soil + river sand, prepared in a ratio of 2:2:1.

It is best to choose a clay pot for planting aloe vera. Porcelain pots and plastic pots have poor air permeability and are best not used. After changing to a new pot, soak it with water to avoid the pot wall being half dry and half wet after the plant is potted, which would prevent the plant from adapting well to the pot.

2. Temperature

Aloe vera originally grows in a frost-free desert environment all year round and is relatively afraid of cold. The most suitable growth temperature is 5~15℃ and the humidity is 5%~45%. When the room temperature drops to 5℃, aloe vera will stop growing in reverse, and at 0℃, aloe vera will grow abnormally.

3. Watering

Aloe vera is known as a "plant that cannot be killed by drought", so not watering it generally has little impact, but if water accumulates in the soil for a long time, it will cause root rot. Generally, water the plants every 5 to 7 days in spring; every 2 to 3 days in summer to avoid exposure to the sun, which will cause the water to evaporate; in autumn, water the plants every 5 to 7 days. In winter, when the temperature is above 15℃, water once every 15 to 20 days.

4. Lighting

Aloe vera needs full sunlight to grow well. Except for the aloe vera that has just been planted, which can only see the morning sun, the rest of the time it should be exposed to more sun. The more sunlight there is, the better it will grow.

5. Notes

(1) Avoid being top-heavy. During the growth period of aloe vera, many small buds will grow at the bottom. Many flower lovers will break off the small buds in order to propagate aloe vera, but this will cause the root foundation to be unstable. The correct approach is: don't rush to break off the small buds, let them grow, and transplant them after the roots are stable.

(2) Improve ventilation. Aloe vera rarely gets infected by diseases and pests, but in hot and humid weather, excessive humidity, and improper ventilation, brown spots will appear on the leaves. In addition, when applying fertilizer, the fertilizer coming into contact with the leaves can also cause leaf burns.