The healing and beautiful plant for the home is aloe motley. Features of care and growing
Aloe motley is an unpretentious and fairly hardy decorative flower. With proper care, each year grows by 5 - 6 cm in diameter. Planting and updating the bush in a timely manner, can grow up to 15 years.
Today we will talk about the features of growing this beautiful and healthy succulent, the rules for growing it and caring for it. You can also watch a useful video on this topic.
Botanical Description
Attention: In the scientific literature, this variety of aloe is commonly called variegata, in order to grow it, you need to know how to properly care. Among flower growers, a houseplant is called Falcon Feather or Tiger Aloe.This variety belongs to Asphodelaceae perennial leaf succulents.. The homeland is South Africa, Namibia. In nature, prefers rocky terrain. It grows in a compact bush up to 30 - 35 cm high. The stem is small. The bush is dense, compact.
A feature of the variety is that the leaves grow in three rows, arranged in a spiral. The leaves are deep green, spiky. They grow up to 12 - 15 cm in length, 4 - 5 cm in width at the base. The lower leaves die off over time, acquire a brown tint. They gather in a small outlet, tightly braid the stem. The structure of the leaves is dense, fleshy.
Feature of the variety - leaf coloring. Over the entire surface of the sheet are white marks - spots. Spots and stripes are located on the leaves symmetrically. At the edges of the sheet is covered with small spikes. The sheet is triangular in shape, bordered at the edges by a white narrow stripe. The root is powerful, well-branched.
Photo
You will see a photo of motley (brindle) aloe:
When and how does it bloom?
In the middle of spring, flower stalks grow from the center of the aloe outlet long, up to 25-30 cm. At the top are inflorescences. Perianth pink or reddish with greenish stripes. The middle of the flowers is yellowish. The flowers themselves are small, up to 3 cm in length. The flowers are elongated, tubular.
Important: Flowering occurs only in adult plants reaching 3 to 5 years of age. Flowers have a delicate pleasant aroma.Therapeutic and beneficial properties
The diverse and rich chemical composition of motley aloe:
- Amino acids - glycine, lycine.
- Polysaccharides.
- Flavonoids.
- Minerals - iron, chlorine, zinc.
- Vitamins - ascorbic acid, carotene, vitamin B.
In pharmacology, plant juice is used to make bactericidal preparations for abscesses and other skin inflammations. Used in medicine as a diuretic. Preparations based on natural raw materials are used for eye inflammation, runny nose. Aloe juice internally for digestive upsets.
In folk medicine, a sheet cut in half is applied to wounds and abrasions. Juice has a healing property. For cosmetic purposes from acne, masks and tonics based on the juice of the plant are used.
Home Care
Temperature
Motley aloe feels good at room temperature. In summer, the optimum temperature is up to 22 ° C. You can take out pots on an open loggia or a veranda. The flower loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts.
In autumn and winter, at rest, the air temperature should be reduced to 10 - 12 ° C.
Watering
Water the flower should be moderate, regular, 1 time per week in the spring - summer period. In winter, watering is reduced, a fairly light moistening of the substrate 1 time in 3 to 4 weeks.
This variety requires low air humidity of up to 40%. The flower does not need spraying. In the summer heat, it is advisable to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth from dust 1 time per week.
When watering, water should not fall on the leaves and in the socket, it is poured under the root. It should be watered with warm, settled water.
Shine
Aloe Variegata loves well-lit places. You can install pots on the southern windows. For lunch, it is better to shade the windows with a light curtain.
In winter, additional illumination of 3 hours per day is desirable.
Pruning
Shaping pruning of the bush this flower is not needed.
After flowering, dried stalks must be cut. Also clipped old, yellowed, lower leaves.
Top dressing
Fertilizers are introduced into the active phase of flower growth, in spring and summer, 1 time per week. In the fall, top dressing is reduced, it is enough to fertilize 1 time per month.
As top dressings, special complex mineral fertilizers for succulents are used.. Florists recommend using ash, humus, decoctions of vegetables as organic top dressing. Liquid fertilizers are applied through irrigation. Immediately after transplanting, fertilizers are not applied within 2 to 3 weeks.
Pot
For planting adult flowers, it is recommended to use ceramic or clay pots. With age, the root grows, the plastic pot can tip over. Young seedlings can be planted in plastic flowerpots up to 2 - 3 years of age.
In landing tanks, drainage holes are mandatory for good breathability. The pot should not be very deep, but spacious, wide.
Transfer
For transplantation, you must first prepare a special soil. The soil should be light, loose, well-drained. It is better to purchase a special mixture for succulents in the store. You can prepare the soil mixture at home.
The composition of the soil for aloe motley:
- Overcooked compost - 1 hour.
- Coarse sand - 1 hour.
- Drainage.
You can also use a mixture of turf land, leaf, sand, in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.
Transplanted flowers usually in spring. Young bushes require an annual transplant; adult plants are transplanted once every 2 to 3 years.
Transplantation scheme:
- A drainage layer 2 cm high spills out to the bottom.
- Soil is poured.
- The substrate is moistened.
- The transplant is carried out by transshipment, the flower is transferred to the pot along with an earthen lump.
- Air temperature - up to 20 ° С.
- Moisturize the soil regularly in small doses.
We recommend watching a video about transplanting motley (tiger) aloe:
Breeding
Shoots
Variegated aloe easily propagates by apical and lateral shoots. This method is very convenient even for a beginner grower. Shoots take root quickly, practically do not get sick, quickly adapt.
Scheme of rooting shoots:
- Shoots 6 - 7 cm long are cut off, dried in the shade for 1 - 2 days.
- The base of the shoots is treated with charcoal immediately after cutting.
- The drainage and the substrate are successively poured into the pot.
- Saplings are processed by any rooting.
- They are buried in the soil by 1 - 2 cm.
- Each seedling is tied to a temporary support.
- Within 5 - 7 days, the soil is not moistened, then moderate watering.
- After rooting, the seedlings are placed in separate pots.
Seeds
This method is less common. The process of growing seedlings from seeds is long, laborious, requires special conditions.
Seed planting scheme:
- Pre-seeds are soaked in a weak solution of manganese.
- A substrate is poured into a wide landing tank.
- The soil is cultivated with fungicide, well moistened.
- Seeds are slightly pressed into the soil.
- Seedlings are covered with a film or kept in a greenhouse under glass.
- The temperature of seed germination is at least 22 ° C.
- The greenhouse is ventilated daily for 15 to 20 minutes.
- When the first leaves appear on the shoots, seedlings are planted in small containers for growth.
- In spring, seedlings are planted in pots.
Disease
- With excessive watering, the root neck begins to rot. Rot quickly destroys a flower, it is required to isolate a diseased plant.
- With the wrong composition of the substrate, the flower does not grow, the soil should be replaced, sand can be added.
- From a lack of light, the stems are stretched, the leaves lose their attractiveness.
- From an overabundance of fertilizer, the leaves begin to turn yellow, you should strictly adhere to the timing and proportions of top dressing.
- From scabs, spider mites, the treatment of the bush with an alcohol or soap solution will help.
Conclusion
Aloe motley - exotic decorative flower. He needs to pay attention, monitor watering and top dressing, carry out preventive treatments for diseases and pests.