Family potted aloe vera can harvest fresh leaves at any time for family members to use for food, medicine and beauty. Ornamental aloe vera and small potted aloe vera are placed on desks and desks to improve the living environment and are lovely; large potted aloe vera are placed in living rooms and courtyards, which are full of interest.

The ecological environment of home potted aloe vera is different from that of field planting. It is limited to a small pot. In order to try to meet the requirements of water, fertilizer, air, heat and other environmental conditions during the growth and development of the aloe vera root system, various suitable substrates are selected to scientifically prepare suitable potting soil for home potted aloe vera, which is beneficial to promoting the normal development of home potted aloe vera. and growth are very important.

1. Preparation of pot soil

The pot soil should have good drainage, water retention, air permeability and fertilizer storage properties. The commonly used potting soil formula is: the ratio of humus, garden loam, and river sand is 2:2:1. Use sawdust or cooked coal ash instead of river sand, and the proportion remains unchanged. Aloe likes to grow in a neutral environment. The most suitable potting substrate for aloe growth has a pH of 6.8 to 7.0. In addition, the pot soil is required to be relatively clean and hygienic, and soil disinfection and sterilization can be carried out with pyridoxine.

2． Choose a pot

Depending on the texture of the flower pot, there are clay pots, purple sand pots, porcelain pots, plastic pots, etc. Choose the appropriate flower pot for planting based on personal preferences and aesthetic taste. Mud pots with good air permeability are most suitable for growing aloe vera. If you choose a new pot, it should be soaked with water. Otherwise, watering after placing the pot will not easily penetrate the pot, and the semi-dry and semi-wet pot walls will damage the new roots. If old flower pots are used, the soil residue and moss in the pots should be washed clean and dried in the sun before use. This can not only increase the pot's breathability but also prevent pests and diseases.

3. Potting and repotting with soil

Selecting seedlings before potting is important. Strong aloe vera seedlings have short and thick leaves, dark green color, and more than four self-generated roots.

3.1 Potting

What is potting: The process of planting strong aloe vera seedlings into pots is called potting. Potting is the beginning of potting. The quality of this process is closely related to the growth and development of potted aloe in the later period.

Planting time: in spring and summer. The indoor temperature is more suitable when it is 15~18℃. At the right temperature, roots will grow quickly and the time to turn green will be short. It is not advisable to pot in winter, as the temperature is too low, which is not conducive to the formation of new roots, and may even cause "rot core" in the seedlings, causing the plant to die.

How to install the basin: Before installing the basin, place a broken tile on the bottom of the basin and press it on the permeable hole in the bottom of the basin, which can maintain drainage without leaking the pot soil. When potting, first place the aloe vera seedling upright in the center of the pot, try to stretch the root system, fill in soil to cover the roots, then gently lift the seedling upward, and compact it slightly so that the roots are in close contact with the pot soil up, down, left and right. Firm the potting soil, and then add the potting soil until it is 2 to 3 centimeters from the edge of the pot. Be careful to straighten the seedlings as much as possible. Finally, slowly pour water into the pot.

Management after potting: Do not expose the newly potted aloe vera to direct sunlight to avoid water loss and excessive nutrient consumption. It should be maintained in a semi-shade place, and then moved to a sunny place after the seedlings have slowed down. After taking root, you can get more sunlight. It is not advisable to water too much before the aloe vera turns green and takes root, let alone watering fertilizer. Root rot can easily occur when the pot soil is too wet. Generally, don't water it if it's dry, and water it thoroughly if it's dry.

After taking root, you can spray water on the leaves frequently to speed up the greening and rooting.

3.2 Repotting

Potted aloe vera generally needs to be repotted once every 1 to 2 years. It is better to repot every spring from April to May and autumn from September to October. When repotting, it is important to master the correct repotting technique. During the depotting process, keep the soil intact and try not to damage the root system. You can turn the potted plant upside down, hold the potting soil with your left hand, and slam the edge of the pot with the palm of your right hand. Knock several times, and the pot will naturally separate from the old potting soil. Then move the aloe vera and the soil ball into a larger new pot, add new potting soil around the new pot, then compact the potting soil, and then water it thoroughly. After changing the pot, it needs to be maintained in a semi-shady place for a period of time, and then moved to a sunny place for maintenance after the seedlings are completely slowed down.

4 Management

4.1 Fertilization

Fertilizers can be divided into organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. Organic fertilizer has more comprehensive nutrients and slower fertilizer effect. Inorganic fertilizers, also known as chemical fertilizers, such as commonly used ammonium nitrate, urea, diammonium, etc., have high active ingredients, fast fertilizer effects, and low dosage. The effect is better when combined with organic fertilizers. In order to ensure the quality of aloe vera, chemical fertilizers are generally not used as much as possible.

There are two methods of fertilization: base fertilizer and top dressing. Organic fertilizer is often used as base fertilizer. Base fertilizer is to thoroughly mix the fertilizer with the potting soil before potting. Generally, the ratio of pot soil to organic fertilizer is about 10:1, mix well, and then put them into the pot together. The organic fertilizer must be completely and fully fermented, otherwise the seedlings will burn. Top dressing is to dilute the fertilizer into liquid before applying it after potting. Generally, bean cake water or 50% water chestnut solution with a concentration of no more than 50% is used for pouring. The fertilizer solution should not be too thick, otherwise it will cause "fertility damage". Especially when using foliar spraying of extra-root fertilizer, the fertilizer concentration should not exceed 0.1%. Topdressing should be done every 30 days or so. Topdressing can also be carried out according to the growth conditions of aloe vera and different seasons. Generally, the growth is faster in spring and autumn, so the number of topdressings can be appropriately increased. In winter, the growth is slow, so less or even no fertilizer can be applied.

4.2 Watering

Aloe vera is extremely resistant to drought. It will not dry out if it is not watered for 3 to 5 months, but its growth will be inhibited and the leaves will be shriveled and juiceless, so it is of little use. reduce. Excessive watering and long-term dampness in the pot soil can cause root rot and eventually the entire plant will die. Therefore, it is necessary to flexibly control according to the different growth and development stages of plants and natural conditions. If the surrounding air humidity is high and the evaporation intensity is low, water less; if the air is dry, the temperature is high, and the air circulation is strong, water must be timely to prevent pot soil and the leaves lose water too quickly. Make sure to see dry and wet, water thoroughly when dry, and water properly.

During the peak growth season, large pots should be watered more frequently and more frequently. When the temperature is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius in spring and autumn, watering can be done once every 5 to 7 days. In summer, the temperature is high and evaporation is large, so you can water it once every 2 to 3 days. If necessary, you can spray water on the leaves appropriately every morning and evening, and be careful to prevent exposure to the scorching sun. Keep the pot soil properly dry to help the plants survive the winter.

Watering time: Spring and summer should be done in the early morning and evening, and winter should be done at noon.

It is best to use deep well water or rainwater for watering. Tap water should be dried before use. Pay attention to loosening the soil after watering to reduce water evaporation and facilitate the formation of new roots. To loosen the soil, you can use a single-tooth or double-tooth rake made of bamboo sticks and No. 8 wire to loosen the soil to a depth of 1.5 to 2 centimeters. Loosening the soil can cut off the capillaries and keep the pot soil in optimal moisture condition.

4.3 Overwintering management

Potted aloe vera will stop growing at 5℃. Chilling damage will occur when the temperature is below 3℃. Leaves will be frostbitten when the temperature is below 0℃, and finally the whole plant will die. Therefore, in some areas of our country, if we want to maintain temperatures above 5°C, we must take corresponding warming and insulation measures. Potted aloe vera can be moved indoors or in a greenhouse to overwinter. To control watering and increase light, place the pot on a south-facing balcony sheltered from the wind. If the humidity is very low, it can be moved out after 9 a.m. on a sunny day and brought indoors before 3 p.m. In addition, a transparent plastic bag can be placed outside the plant to allow sunlight to enter and increase the temperature and humidity, which is very effective.

Potted aloe vera can purify the living environment