Aloe Blossomed

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The genus Aloe is numerous - about 500 species, varieties and hybrids. These are perennial plants, grassy in indoor conditions, and in natural - shrubby and even tree-like up to several meters in height. The name of the genus comes from the Arabic word "aloe", which translates as "bitter plant." All of us, probably, have been treated at least once by him and we know that the juice is really bitter.

Aloe (Aloe) - a genus of succulent plants of the Xanthorrhoeae family (Xanthorrhoeaceae), common in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

In indoor floriculture, the most common are: Aloe treelike (Aloe arborescens), Aloe vera, or Aloe vera and Spotted Aloe (Aloe maculata).

Aloe arborea is better known as the "agave."

Among cultivated plants, representatives of this genus are famous for their medicinal properties. In folk medicine, more than 30 types are used, and in official medicine - about 10. Aloe is used in cosmetology, such as Aloe vera, whose juice is part of creams and other cosmetics. Tree aloe juice is used for healing wounds and burns, for acute respiratory diseases, diseases of the gastric tract and as an immunostimulating and bracing agent for severe diseases. Aloe juice contains trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, etc.

Flowering agave

There is an opinion that aloe does not bloom, but in fact - it blooms. In natural conditions this is a common occurrence, and in indoor conditions it is rare, but under comfortable conditions and when the agave reaches a certain age, flowering can occur on your windowsill.

Aloe blooms for a long time. Peduncle appears in the axils of the upper leaves, most often one, occasionally more. The flowers are cylindrical, bell-shaped, on long pedicels, of different colors.

In aloe vera, the flowers are pink to reddish, in aloe vera yellow-pink, spotted aloe is orange. In our conditions, representatives of the aloe genus most often bloom in winter, but it happens that at other times of the year.

Aloe cultivation

Aloe is one of the easiest plants to grow in indoor floriculture. It does not require special conditions. It should be transplanted every 2-3 years, preferably in a wide pot, since the root system is superficial. In winter, aloe watering is moderate, in summer sufficient. Soil mixture for growing - leafy, turfy soil with the obligatory addition of sand, expanded clay can also be added.