Surely since childhood you have been familiar with the domestic representative of the Xanthorrhoeaceae family, and also with the medicinal Aloe. This succulent grows in many homes, its distinctive feature being fleshy leaves framed by thorns, arranged in a spiral in densely collected rosettes.
In the wild, there are about 500 species of plants growing in hot regions - Africa, the Mediterranean and Arabia. These species are very different in appearance; there are real giants - trees reaching a height of up to 20 meters. There are Liana-like Aloe and shrubs with long, about half a meter, spreading leaves. Decorative species of certain varieties grow in our homes. You can find out about the main ones in this article.
Read about caring for homemade aloe
Aloe tree (Aloear borescens) – Agave
At home, with proper care, it can grow up to 1 meter; in nature, there are representatives up to 5 meters in height. It has smooth fleshy leaves, greenish-blue in color, with teeth along the edges. In indoor conditions, the plant almost never blooms, but in nature, during the winter seasons, large reddish flowers with a pleasant aroma appear. Read more about the medicinal properties of agave.
Aloe Tree juice has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. If you accidentally cut yourself or burn yourself, you can anoint the wound with the juice of the plant, or apply a piece of pulp.
Asphodelaceae, Asparagusaceae, Monocots
The aloe genus includes more than 500 species of plants. But how to determine its type? They can usually be easily distinguished by visual characteristics such as leaf color and shape, leaf serration, stem height or flowers.
In principle, all types of aloe can be grown as houseplants, with the right location conditions, sufficient space and proper care being crucial. For comfortable living and good vegetation of the succulent, it is best to buy LECHUZA
. A suitable substrate is also a prerequisite for healthy growth. Since all species are succulents, there are small differences in watering and fertilizing.
The variety of aloe species is almost limitless. The spectrum ranges from dwarf forms to tall growing trees, as well as many leaf color variations. We will present you the most beautiful specimens and give you some recommendations for selecting LECHUZA flowerpots for each of them.
Aloe spinous (Aloe aristata)
This species is often confused with Haworthia due to their similar appearance. This plant has thick, arched leaves with a rough surface and white spots. At the end of the leaf there is a characteristic white thread. It usually blooms in late spring with red and orange tubular flowers collected in a raceme (Haworthia has white flowers).
To distinguish Aloe spinosa from Haworthia, you need to pay attention to the fact that Aloe is a solitary plant, and Haworthia has lateral children. Also, Aloe has a less pronounced pattern and convexity on the leaves. An adult Haworthia plant is small in size, in contrast to Aloe Spinata.
Description of the plant
Aloe belongs to the lily family, and has more than 260 varieties. Aloe is native to central Africa, so even selected varieties and hybrids based on wild aloe are drought-resistant. In the modern world, aloe is distributed throughout the planet; it gets along well in any climate. It is used for industrial purposes for the manufacture of masks, creams, balms and other cosmetic products. Aloe juice has rejuvenating and moisturizing properties.
Aloe is also widely used in medicine - it is an excellent remedy for burns, as well as a remedy that can relieve allergic irritations and promote the healing of mechanical damage to the skin. Aloe juice and products from this plant can be found in large quantities on grocery store shelves.
Externally, all types of aloe are perennial herbaceous shrubs, the leaves of which look like large fleshy blades of grass. These leaf blades form a rosette that grows directly from the root. Some species are covered with spines, while others are absolutely smooth, as if covered with a layer of wax.
Aloe blooms with beautiful flowers, which, depending on the variety, have different shapes of inflorescences and a wide color palette.
Aloe humilis
A small herbaceous plant, with dense groups of spines along the edges of the leaves, and a large number of papillae on the outer side. The leaves have a linear-lanceolate structure. Throws out a long peduncle (20-30 cm) with red or orange flowers.
Also read: Raspberry or Senecio: we grow it at home and in the garden
Aloe Vera
Like Scarlet Tree, it has medicinal properties. It is distinguished by fleshy leaves with a high water content (97%). The leaves have pale white patches. The composition of this species is very rich in minerals, amino acids, enzymes and beta-carotene. Actively used in cosmetology and medicine. In care, a moderate watering regime should be observed.
Read more about Aloe Vera care and healing properties.
Beneficial features
The juice and pulp of the leaves contain a large amount of vitamins, essential oils, simple acids, as well as flavonoids and phytoncides. The chemical composition of aloe is a real storehouse of useful substances. It is widely used in traditional and folk medicine to treat diseases of the digestive, visual and respiratory systems, as well as the skin. For medical purposes, fresh and evaporated juice (sabur) of adult plants is used, since they contain the highest content of useful substances.
Despite its beneficial properties, aloe can cause enormous harm to the human body, for example, the juice of young leaves and some species causes severe poisoning, and can also lead to kidney problems and miscarriage during pregnancy.
Aloe is a very common plant, loved by gardeners for its unpretentiousness, decorative qualities of leaves, as well as beneficial properties. When choosing a species, you need to take into account the characteristics of the leaf plate and the height of the bush.
Aloe variegata – Tiger Aloe
Variegated aloe is thornless and has dark green smooth leaves with a characteristic tiger pattern. Differs in slow growth. You need to be careful and moderate when watering so that water does not fall on the plant (this can lead to rot and death of the plant). You should also carefully accustom the plant to direct sunlight (it is very sensitive), and it is better to arrange shading if you have a south window. Flowering with red-orange inflorescences.
How to replant
It is recommended to replant an adult plant once every 2 years, a young one - once a year. The most favorable time is spring. A drainage layer (5 cm) must be placed on the bottom. For replanting, take a ceramic pot and soil “For cacti and succulents”. You can prepare the soil yourself by taking 4 parts universal soil and 1 part coarse sand.
So, let's imagine that we already have a pot of soil and the plant is ready for planting. Now we perform the transplant in the following sequence:
- Pre-moisten the soil.
- Make a recess.
- Add some sand there.
- Insert plant.
- Sprinkle with sand and soil.
- To provide stability, it is advisable to place pegs.
- Cover the transplanted aloe with a plastic bag, leaving room for air underneath.
- Place the pot on a windowsill where there is more sun.
- When young leaves appear, remove the bag.
At this point, the transplant process can be considered complete. The branches have young leaves - this means that the aloe has taken root.
Aloe erinacea
It has dense dark green leaves with sharp thorns. As they mature, the tips of the leaves and spines darken. The plant is small, bushy. In nature it blooms with tubular flowers of red and yellow colors. There are species with white spines; in some, the spine length can reach 1.5 cm.
Also read: Choosing succulents for planting in the ground in the garden
Soil and fertilizing
Add charcoal and brick chips to the soil where aloe will grow.
Or buy a substrate.
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out 2-3 times a year and only in summer.
You can use fertilizer intended for cactus plants. It is recommended to apply it to moist soil once every 3-4 weeks. Fertilization should begin in April and continue until the end of September.
Important! Aloe is not suitable for soil that is too nutritious. Do not overuse fertilizing.
Aloe Polyphylla - Aloe Spiral
A very beautiful species, with fleshy, triangular, pointed leaves arranged in a spiral. Flowering only in natural habitat - long peduncle up to 60 cm) with pink, rose-red or yellow flowers. The number of leaves per rosette, as a rule, is no more than 30 pieces. Quite a rare species. The spiral can grow clockwise or counterclockwise.
Aloe albiflora
The species is small in size with narrow serrated leaves of gray-green color. There are light blotches on the leaves. At home, it blooms in winter (with proper care throughout the year) with white inflorescences that look like elongated bells with green shelves. Growth is slow, not whimsical. Tolerates partial shade well.
Read about caring for homemade aloe.
Other differences
There are other differences between aloe varieties. These are contraindications.
- Agave should not be used for diabetes, problems with blood pressure, or blood vessels. Aloe vera is also not recommended during pregnancy.
- But agave is contraindicated only in oncology (the enzymes included in the composition promote the growth of malignant cells).
Knowing the difference between aloe vera and agave, you can understand what type of crop is needed for home cultivation and further use. But keep in mind that both plants are a real treasure of nature. Among the variety of other plant forms, it is impossible to find a green healer more valuable for health.
