growing aloes

Author: eurica

Article: When growing your aloes it is good to know what the aloe habitat of that aloe species is and try to imitate that as much as possible.  On the other hand, most aloes for sale are hybrids and even if they were a species, it is seldom possible to get the right identification.

There are a few rules that can be followed for any aloe.

Aloe hybrids are much easier than aloe species in that the hybrid has a wider choice of growing conditions inherited from at least two different aloes species.

In the wild aloe habitat most species occur on hill/mountain slopes or ridges.  Follow this pattern by giving aloe plants plenty large and small stones around the roots for drainage. Good drainage is essential; as is  humus and old manure.  In the wild, leaves and dry grass get blown amongst the rocks and stones.  Add some Dolomite gravel it will not harm the plants as it dissolves slowly so that it gives a good calcium/magnesium balance which is appreciated by most, and essential to some aloes. If dolomite is not available, sprinkle roughly one half teaspoon  Epsom salts and a full teaspoon lime around the plants at monthly intervals for 3-4 months in the rainy season.  Aloes can withstand some rain and water in a warm climate provided they get a chance to dry out every few days.  Aloes can also withstand short periods of frost in a dry climate.  Growing aloes in the open garden, in a wet cold climate  is near to impossible.  However by planting aloes in pots or containers and moving them inside you can still grow your aloes. 

Having said that -  Aloe polyphylla comes from the high mountains in Lesotho, covered in mist and often in snow - this aloe is very difficult  to grow in other areas in South Africa. However it is growing virtually without problem in the United Kingdom and many countries with cold wet winters, which brings us back to - ""aloes are easy to grow given the right climate and growing medium for that aloe species"".

Aloes are easy going and need very little maintenance.  The two ways to kill an aloe easy is with water and by aphids(with the help of ants).

For summer rainfall areas. An aloe can go for months without water, but they rot very easy when wet.   Keep them in a dry place and resist the temptation to water them.  They will not die of thirst.  How much water is the difficult question.  Once or twice per month in the summer -  only in desert regions.  Where summer rain occur, do not water the aloes.  In very cold climates, no water in winter.   No need to water in winter in any case, as they will get enough water in the summer. 

For winter rainfall areas.  Here the rules will be once or twice a month in the summer for the summer growing aloes only. Which is most aloes.  Plant the aloes on stones to keep the water running off quickly from the winter rain.  Not many aloes will grow in the winter rainfall areas, try to get aloes that have been doing well in your area.  We are in a winter rainfall area, but our rainfall is not very high and we get no frost.  The number one enemy of aloes are ants  Watch out for any sign of ants.   They carry the aphids into the crevices of the rosette where the aphids damage the plants and that is a very quick way to loose an aloe to  rot Aphids/ants:-  Wash the aloe plants with a dish washing liquid that contains lemon in a dry climate and where the infestation is still on a small scale.   However in a wet climate -  it will be necessary to use a poison powder in the case of damage where there are already a lot of aphids .  The danger of rot  is high, keep the damaged aloe plant dry.

wishing you green thumbs up

About the author: My husband and I have been cultivating aloes for some 30+ years. First in Namibia and we retired in South Africa. Both countries have large natural succulent and aloe habitats which we enjoy and love. At the moment we have at least 100 different aloes and we cultivate aloe seeds which we sell for all to enjoy around the world. our web address is http://made-in-afrika.com/aloes