Agave care at home watering. The main rules for watering aloe at home. Schedule and types of watering. Principles and methods of irrigation

But do not forget that any plant care, in particular feeding aloe, will be useful only with the right approach to this seemingly simple matter.

When carrying out the fertilization procedure, the following points must be taken into account:

  1. It is recommended to feed only completely healthy plants with fertilizers. Flowers that are sick or damaged by pests must first be cured, since due to their condition they will still not be able to absorb micronutrients received through the roots.
  2. Under no circumstances should you fertilize the soil of recently transplanted plants, because fresh soil still contains a large amount of nutrients. In addition, the roots of flowers after transplantation are very vulnerable and can easily be burned by the applied fertilizer. The procedure for feeding transplanted aloe can be carried out after 6 months from the date of transplantation or after the appearance of new shoots.
  3. To avoid burns on the leaves and stems of aloe, fertilizer is most often applied in the evening or on a cloudy day. The next day, it will be useful to sprinkle the leaves of the plant with warm water in the morning and evening.
  4. Before applying any fertilizer, it is necessary to water the soil thoroughly so that there is no dry soil left. Otherwise, during the feeding procedure, the root system and, as a result, the entire flower may suffer.
  5. It is recommended not to feed aloe planted in a special soil mixture for cacti and other succulents, since a high concentration of beneficial microelements can cause a negative effect.
  6. Feeding is necessary during periods of increased plant growth, namely from May to September. In this case, plants must be fertilized periodically once every 2-2.5 weeks.
  7. When purchasing a plant during the growth period, fertilizers should be applied 2-3 weeks after purchase, when the aloe has gone through a period of acclimatization in the new conditions.
  8. It is best to apply it in liquid form from below, pouring it into a tray, or from above, onto moist soil, carefully ensuring that the fertilizer does not get on the leaves or stems of the agave.

An important principle in caring for aloe, including with the help of fertilizers, is that all good things need to be in moderation.


When feeding aloe, it is important not to overdo it with the amount of fertilizer applied, because sometimes it is better to underfeed than to enrich the plant soil with too many beneficial microelements. Therefore, it should be remembered that any fertilizer should be applied in exactly the doses indicated in the instructions, and strictly follow the recommendations.

Today you can buy fertilizer in almost every specialized store, which offers a wide range of fertilizers for house plants and garden crops. Often, the use of garden fertilizers can lead to illness and even death of homemade aloe. Therefore, when purchasing, the main thing is not to save money, but to opt for those fertilizers that are intended for cacti and succulents.

If such special fertilizers cannot be found, when choosing suitable fertilizers for plants, you should take into account that under no circumstances should peat or any fertilizers made on its basis be added to the soil in which aloe is planted. And nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers will be especially useful for agave.

Fertilizer selection

Today, there is a huge number of different fertilizers for house plants, and, as mentioned above, you should choose special fertilizers intended for cacti and succulents. Let's list some of them that can be found in almost every store.


Organomineral fertilizer Power of Life

Complex organomineral fertilizer “Power of Life” for cacti and succulents

It is used for feeding various succulents, such as astrolobes, aloe, crassula, dudley, kalanchoe and others.

  1. Strengthens root system cacti and succulents.
  2. Provides the necessary amounts of micronutrients during plant growth.
  3. Reduces the acclimatization period after flower transplantation.
  4. Increases the speed of metabolic processes in plant cells.

The fertilizer is presented in the form of a concentrated solution, which must be diluted before use in accordance with the instructions. For root feeding (during the period of active growth) with regular watering for aloe, use a solution of half a teaspoon of concentrate in 10 liters of water. This preparation is not used for foliar feeding and during the dormant period of plants.

Bona Forte (Bona Forte) - fertilizer for cacti

Concentrated fertilizer in liquid form, containing a complete complex of micronutrients, provides:

  1. Complete nutrition for cacti and various succulents.
  2. Strengthening photosynthesis processes.
  3. Complete absorption of beneficial microelements.
  4. Support and strengthen the immunity of flowers.
  5. Stimulation of active plant growth.

To obtain the best positive effect, it is recommended to combine root and foliar feeding with a concentrate solution prepared according to the instructions.


Fertilizer for Bona Forte cacti

When feeding through the roots, use 5 ml of the drug dissolved in 1.5 liters of water. During the period of active growth of aloe, root fertilizer is used every week, during the dormant period - once a month. You can prepare a solution for spraying aloe leaves (foliar feeding) from 5 ml of concentrate and 3 liters of water.

The remaining prepared solution can be stored in a dark, cool place for no more than 14 days. After the expiration date, the concentrated fertilizer does not lose its beneficial properties.

Soluble fertilizer for cacti and succulents

Dry water-soluble fertilizer is suitable for all types of cacti and succulents. Thanks to the balanced complex of micro- and macroelements contained in its composition, the fertilizer meets the needs of plants at different periods of their growth.


Soluble fertilizer "Agricola"

This fertilizer is suitable for root feeding of aloe. To prepare the solution, you need to take 2 - 2.5 grams of dry fertilizer granules and completely dissolve them in 1 liter of warm water.

The advantage of the presented fertilizer is that dry fertilizers for flowers are very economical due to their high concentration. They have no expiration date.

Fertilizing aloe with home remedies

In addition to purchased ready-made fertilizers, some gardeners like to use various improvised means to feed aloe at home, which can be found in almost every apartment, but are often simply disposed of. Here are some simple options for soil nutritional supplements for plants.


  1. Sugar. You can feed aloe with sugar once a week. For this method, 1 teaspoon of sugar is evenly distributed over the surface of the soil, after which the plant is watered as usual. You can also simply water the soil with a solution of 2 teaspoons of white sugar and a glass of warm water.
  2. Eggshell. It will be especially useful as a supplement when using mineral fertilizers for plants, which significantly increase the acidity of the soil. Before adding the shell to the ground, it must be thoroughly washed, dried and crushed very well. The rate of decomposition of the shell is very low, so it is not recommended to apply it often. Crushed shells can be poured into 3 liters hot water and leave for a week. After which you can water the agave with the resulting solution.
  3. Onion peel. Contains a useful component that destroys pathogenic microflora. A solution of 15 grams of husk and 6 liters of hot water is infused for at least 5 days or boiled for about 3 minutes and infused for 2 hours. After this, the product is used as a foliar feeding, spraying dust-free aloe leaves.
  4. Water from washing cereals. Many gardeners water aloe with water from washing rice, buckwheat and other cereals, which contains many microelements beneficial to plants.

Many people grow aloe vera, or agave, at home. It's valuable medicinal plant not only decorates the apartment, but also purifies the air. Caring for it is quite simple. However, to maintain its health, you need to know how to feed aloe at home.

By looking at the plant, you can understand whether it has enough nutrients or not. In its normal state, aloe delights the owner with rich greenery, strong stems, and “fleshy” leaves.

For nutritional deficiency:

  • the stems become thinner;
  • growth stops;
  • the leaves turn yellow, become smaller and lose their rich color;
  • the lower fragments die.

If these signs appear with regular feeding, it is worth transplanting the aloe into a larger pot: it simply does not have enough space in a cramped container.

Fertilizers and fertilizers at home

Fertilizing is an important stage in caring for indoor plants. Potted crops, unlike garden crops, cannot draw nutrition from the deep layers of the soil. Therefore, they, more than others, need timely replenishment of nutrients.

For aloe, fertilizers intended for cacti and succulents are suitable. They are produced taking into account the needs of the crops of this group.

Calcium is of particular importance for the normal development of the skeleton and needles. The right combination of components ensures active growth and protects against diseases.

Organic

Aloe responds well to the addition of humus. It contains potassium and nitrogen. Organic matter also promotes better absorption of mineral elements. Thanks to it, the quality of the soil improves and beneficial microorganisms are activated.

Aloe needs less nitrogen than ordinary indoor flowers. To avoid an overdose, it is enough to water it with a nutrient solution once a year. It's better to do this in the spring.

Wood ash is also suitable for feeding. It saturates the soil with potassium and phosphorus, promotes the formation of powerful stems and the active development of the root system. The raw materials are diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 3, left for 3 days and used for irrigation.

Aloe should not be fed with peat or any of its derivatives.

Mineral complex mixtures

The preparations presented in the table are suitable for feeding aloe.

Name Composition and features Concentration
The power of life Contains a complex of minerals in chelated form (NPK, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, boron, molybdenum, cobalt, aluminum, nickel), vitamins C, B1, B3, B12, organic acids. Improves the survival rate of shoots, reduces the duration of acclimatization, and accelerates metabolism. 0.5 tsp. / 10 l
Bona forte Health A source of almost identical macro- and microelements, enriched with succinic and ascorbic acids, vitamins PP, B1. Enhances photosynthesis, strengthens the immune system, ensures rapid growth. 5 ml / 1.5 l. Allowed for foliar treatment – ​​5 ml / 3 l
Agricola Dry water-soluble granules are popular. They are economical and have no expiration date. Used at all stages of the growing season. 2-2.5 g / 1 l
Etisso Provides balanced nutrition, additionally contains vitamin B1, which improves the absorption of other elements. Accelerates the development of seedlings, increases resistance to negative factors. 10 ml / 3 l. The temperature of the solution should be 4-5 °C above room temperature
Pokon Complex mineral fertilizer. It has a prolonged action - about 5 months. 10 ml / 1 l
Uniflor cactus Has an increased concentration of phosphorus and potassium. Chelated calcium promotes spine formation. 3 ml / 1 l
Green World Contains NPK, essential microelements. It has a positive effect on the condition of the root system and improves the quality of the vegetative mass. 5 ml / 1 l
Hylea It consists of an NPK complex, selected in an optimal ratio, and basic microelements. Strengthens the immune system, stimulates aloe to bloom. 10 ml / 1 l

Some gardeners prepare their own mixtures. Recipe for 5 liters of water (g):

  • calcium salt – 1;
  • magnesium sulfate – 1;
  • potassium nitrate – 2;
  • iron sulfate – 0.5;
  • superphosphate – 0.5.

The components are dissolved in water one by one. Pharmacy scales are used to accurately measure mass.


Homemade products

Eco-friendly, safe and affordable fertilizers are made from available materials.

Common options:

  1. Egg shells - reduces the acidity of the soil, nourishes it with calcium. The raw materials are washed, the film is removed, dried, and crushed. The resulting powder is scattered over the surface of the soil. But the shell takes a long time to decompose, so it is better to put it in water and let it sit for 7 days. The liquid should be used for irrigation.
  2. Sugar – once a week 1 tsp. pour into a pot, then moisten well. Glucose is released in the soil, which is necessary for the synthesis of lipids, starch, nucleic acid, cellulose, and proteins.
  3. Onion peel – has antimicrobial, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory properties. To prepare the fertilizer, 25 g of raw materials are brewed with 6 liters of boiling water and left for up to 4 days. After this time, the decoction is filtered and used for foliar treatment. Another way - “for the lazy” - pour the husks into a pot and water with warm water.
  4. The water remaining after washing the cereal is rich in phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, and iron. It is quite suitable for “vitamin” watering.

Folk remedies help you save a lot on the purchase of ready-made drugs.

Aloe juice fertilizer

Aloe juice is often used as fertilizer for plants. An organic growth stimulator is prepared from it, which:

  • contains a large amount of organic acids;
  • accelerates metabolic processes, cell regeneration;
  • increases resistance to adverse factors;
  • promotes the growth of the root system.

Preparation:

  1. collect old leaves from the bottom of the plant (they contain a higher concentration of nutrients);
  2. place the raw materials in a suitable container;
  3. crush until you obtain a homogeneous paste;
  4. 1 tbsp. l. pour the mixture into a glass running water, mix;
  5. seal tightly and leave for a week.

Add water to the concentrate to a total volume of 5 liters.


A growth stimulator for plants can be prepared in another way:

  • cut off mature leaves;
  • place them in a plastic bag and put them in the refrigerator for a week;
  • grind the raw materials in a meat grinder or blender, pass through cheesecloth to separate the juice;
  • use at the rate of 1 tsp. for 1.5 liters of water.

A biogenic stimulant will help out if the flower has weakened and began to wither. Plants are watered with it at intervals of 10-15 days.

Timing and frequency of application

The soil mixture becomes poor after just a couple of months - it needs to be fertilized systematically. In normal conditions, the frequency of fertilizing is 2-4 weeks from spring to autumn. In winter, the procedure is not carried out, because the plant is in the dormant phase.

For the procedure to be beneficial, some features should be taken into account:

  • Young seedlings that have recently taken root in fresh soil are fed for the first time six months later.
  • A plant bought in a store is fertilized after a month. It needs time to adapt, plus there is already a small supply of nutrients in the soil.
  • If aloe is sick, it is fed after eliminating the cause and proper treatment.

You can not only perform root watering, but also place the solution in the lower pan. The plant will “pull out” the necessary substances on its own.

Basic rules for fertilizing

You need to fertilize the soil correctly, otherwise the effect will be the opposite. The characteristics of the crop being grown should be taken into account. Don't wait for symptoms of nutritional deficiency to appear. Only with timely application of fertilizing will the plant become strong and have strong immunity.

Root treatments

Aloe is watered at the root, evenly irrigating the soil surface. To avoid causing harm, follow the recommendations:

  1. Fertilizers are applied only to moist soil. If it is dry, the solution will interact directly with the roots, which will negatively affect their condition.
  2. To avoid burns, do not allow liquid to get on the leaves.
  3. Fertilizing is not carried out immediately after transplantation - there is a high risk of root rotting. You need to wait until the microdamage heals (15-20 days).

Fertilizers are diluted in warm, settled or filtered water.

Fertilizers are applied in limited quantities. It is better to slightly underfeed the plant than to oversaturate it with nutrients.

Spraying

Foliar feeding – no less effective method nutrition. The leaf blades are covered with many stomata, through which elements are exchanged with environment. Spraying is especially useful after replanting or if the roots are damaged.

First, wipe off the dust from the sheet plates with a damp cloth.
Best time– evening hours or cloudy day. Under the bright rays of the sun, burns appear on the leaves - reddish spots.
Cannot be combined with root treatment. At least 10 days must pass.
Leaves are processed on both sides. The lower side absorbs nutrients better.
Spraying is not carried out in winter, when the plant is resting.

Common mistakes when fertilizing aloe

Many novice flower growers are not familiar with the nuances of caring for aloe. Most often they make the following mistakes:

  1. Fertilizers are chosen incorrectly - each type of plant has individual needs. Thus, aloe needs calcium more than other crops. These features must be taken into account when purchasing drugs.
  2. Doses are calculated incorrectly - with an excess of fertilizers, similar symptoms are observed as with a deficiency: yellowing of leaves, stunting of growth, wilting of shoots. Flower growers decide to save the situation and add another fertilizer. In this case, there is a high probability of plant death.
  3. If they don’t meet deadlines, you shouldn’t think that aloe consumes useful elements from the soil, as if from a pantry. They should enter the soil when the plant needs them. IN winter time development stops. When fertilizing during this period, the flower is deprived of the opportunity to rest, which negatively affects its health.
  4. They use expired preparations - some flower growers are sure that fertilizers do not have an expiration date and can be used at any time. Indeed, manufacturers label their formulations with the “period of agricultural use is unlimited.” When properly stored, they do not lose their properties for a long time. But if moisture got into the fertilizer, it froze or stood in the sun, you should not add it to the soil. The prepared solution is used within 3-4 hours, maximum 24 hours.

Aloe, like other plants, needs a balanced diet. To give feeding positive result, it is important to follow the basic rules of its implementation and take a responsible approach to the selection of the composition. Buying ready-made products or making them yourself is a personal decision for each gardener.

Among indoor flowers it is difficult to find a more common and useful plant than aloe. There are more than 300 types of aloe grown indoors. They are highly valued for their excellent decorative qualities and large quantities medicinal properties. Aloe is completely unpretentious in care. You don’t have to worry about it at all when going on vacation or a long business trip. But still it requires a special approach.

Watering frequency

The desert islands of Barbados, Curacao and the western Arabian Peninsula are considered the homeland of aloe. This is a succulent plant, during its evolution during the rainy season, it has learned to store moisture in thick, fleshy leaves and stems, and can easily tolerate long-term drought. Therefore, even at home, it does not require frequent, abundant watering.

If for most house flowers the indicator of the need for watering is dried soil in a pot, then in the case of aloe there is no need to rush to immediately take up the watering can. First you should loosen the top layer of soil and make sure that it is dry by 4-5 centimeters, and only after that water, avoiding flooding. The liquid should begin to flow out of the pot into the tray.

From the second half of spring to mid-autumn, it is best to water aloe once every 7-10 days. In the cool season, the frequency of watering should be reduced and the soil should be moistened only when it dries to the very bottom of the pot (about once a month).

We should not forget that a young plant needs watering more often than a more mature one. Aloe over 5 years old requires rare and abundant watering.

Despite the fact that aloe is a succulent and does not like constant excessive moisture, you shouldn’t be afraid to fill it and water it “from a teaspoon” either. A constant lack of moisture for this flower is no less destructive than its excess.

It should be remembered that the frequency of watering is largely related to the intensity of lighting, air humidity, the size and density of the roots, as well as the volume of the container in which the flower is placed. In a small pot the soil dries out much faster than in a large one.

What kind of water is needed?

Tap water collected immediately before watering is not suitable for aloe. Ordinary tap water contains chlorine and many alkaline impurities, which can have a detrimental effect on the health of the flower. That's why It is recommended to collect water for aloe in advance and let it sit for at least 24 hours. During this time, most of the chlorine will evaporate from it.

Water for watering aloe must be soft. In areas with hard water, it is recommended to boil it and only then stand. And also to stabilize the acid-base ratio, use acetic or citric acid in a proportion of 3-5 grams of acid per liter of water.

Water for irrigation can also be softened by freezing. To do this, tap water is collected in a container and allowed to stand for 12-24 hours. Afterwards, the liquid is carefully poured into plastic bottles so that the sediment formed in the container does not fall into them. Bottles are stacked in freezer, where they are left until the water completely freezes. Then they are taken out and left in the room until the ice melts and the water warms up to room temperature. After this, it is suitable for watering.

The temperature of the liquid is equally important. In the hot season it should not be lower than +30 degrees, in the spring – +20.25 degrees Celsius. In winter and late autumn, it is recommended to water aloe with water that is 8-10 degrees warmer than the air in the room.

How to water correctly?

There are two methods of watering:

  • upper, when the soil is moistened from a watering can;
  • the lower one, when the liquid is poured into a tray, or the pot is placed in a container with water for several minutes until the ground is saturated with moisture.

For young aloe is more preferable n bottom watering method. This is especially true if the water needs to be heated a little before watering. This method allows you to avoid rapid leaching of nutrients from the soil and its excessive moisture.

For adult aloe, the top watering method is more desirable. It should be watered carefully, using a watering can with a narrow spout and at the root, so as not to wet the leaves. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the soil at the watering site is not washed away and the roots are not exposed. To do this, it is recommended to loosen the soil in the pot a little before watering.

About half an hour after watering, you need to check whether excess water has accumulated in the pan. If they have accumulated, they must be poured out to avoid souring and rotting of the root system.

The best time to water aloe, like most plants, is considered to be early evening, when solar activity has already decreased and water will not evaporate as actively as during the day. This is especially true in the hot season, since aloe is very demanding of lighting, and gardeners often place it in the sunniest windows.

Watering shoots and seeds

During active growth, in order to maintain the neat appearance of the plant or propagate it, aloe has to be picked and cuttings. Often, cut root shoots and cuttings place water to form roots, which is completely wrong. The planting material obtained from an old plant must be kept in the air in good light for 3-5 days, lightly sprinkling the cut areas with charcoal to prevent infection. When young roots emerge from the shoots, they should be placed in pots with dried soil and not watered.

Propagation of aloe by seeds is not very popular among gardeners, but nevertheless, this method is very effective, since this plant reproduces well by seeds.

Before planting, the seeds should be soaked for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect.

The pots are washed with a stronger solution, drainage and soil are placed in them, seeds are laid on the surface, and then placed in a container with warm, settled water. The liquid should reach 2/3 of the walls of the pot. When the soil in the pot is saturated with moisture to the top, it is taken out of the water, the bottom is wiped, and placed on a tray; the seeds are sprinkled on top with a thin layer of fine sand.

Watering during transplantation

When planning to transplant aloe into a larger pot, it is recommended to stop watering 2-3 weeks in advance. The day before transplanting, pour expanded clay and a small layer of fresh soil into a new pot and water a little. After transplanting, sprinkle the plant with soil and do not water it for the first 5 days.

Watering with mineral fertilizers

The best time to apply liquid mineral fertilizer is the second half of spring, the beginning of summer, when the active growth phase occurs. The plant should be fed according to the instructions, but you should remember a few simple rules:

  • before feeding aloe, it is necessary to water it well, since applying mineral fertilizer to dry soil can lead to burns of the root system;
  • Do not feed sick, weakened or wilted plants;
  • It is not recommended to apply mineral fertilizers if aloe is used for therapeutic purposes.

The dangers of over-hydration

Like any succulent, aloe is very sensitive to excess moisture. If the water in the pot stagnates for a long time, the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, become flabby and begin to rot. To save the plant, you need to remove it from the pot, carefully disassemble the roots and let them dry a little. If necessary, remove rotted and damaged areas. While the roots are drying, you should change the soil and drainage in the pot, then return the plant, carefully sprinkle it with soil, and provide good lighting.

If the root system is severely rotten, or there is a distinct mushroom smell, it is better to change the pot. These measures are necessary because pathogenic microorganisms remain in the soil and on the walls of the pot, and can multiply again and cause harm to the plant.

Common mistakes

When watering, some novice gardeners make mistakes. Let's look at the main ones.

  • One of the most common mistakes that many people make is spraying aloe on top. This is unacceptable for the plant, since it leads to the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves, which subsequently turn brown. If dust has accumulated on the leaves, it must be wiped with a dry soft cloth.
  • Sometimes aloe suddenly drops its leaves. The reason for this behavior of the flower lies in the fact that the water for irrigation was too cold. This is most dangerous in the summer, if there was a very large difference between the room temperature and the temperature of the liquid.
  • Excess moisture that accumulates in the pan for a long time, in addition to promoting the development of bacteria and fungi and other microorganisms pathogenic for the plant, can cause significant cooling and death of the roots. This should be especially monitored in winter if the pot is located on a windowsill, since in such cases, during severe frosts, its bottom may freeze.
  • Insufficient watering also causes the death of the plant. The main signs of lack of moisture are fading, thinning leaves. To return them to turgor and a healthy appearance, the soil in the pot should be well moistened once, and then the regime and amount of watering should be correlated with the appearance of the flower.
  • A large amount of drainage in the pot and moderate, proper watering lead to the fact that the aloe does not drink water, since the liquid does not linger in the expanded clay, but quickly flows into the pan. If the soil dries out too quickly and the plant looks limp, then it must be removed and part of the drainage removed. At high layer expanded clay, water will not reach the roots even when watering aloe through a tray.
  • Failure to comply with the watering regime is also a common mistake of inexperienced gardeners. Instead of rare moderate watering, the plant is watered a little every day, which leads to gradual, not immediately noticeable rotting of the root system. One of characteristic features Signs that watering must be stopped is the appearance of a white or rusty coating and a mushroom smell on the soil.

I wonder if in the Russian sector of the Internet articles are written by people or parrots? You just enter a query in a search engine and on every search page you read the same thing. At the same time, the authors do not even bother to understand the topic.

For example, how to water aloe at home? Absolutely everything is repeated one after another: in winter once a month, in summer - once a week. Drain excess water from the pan. That's all. The information is over.

What kind of excess water? Where are they from? Aloe is a resident of arid desert areas. There is never any surplus. Otherwise, why does the plant need such thick, juicy leaves?

If you fill a flower to excess, then in the near future it will simply rot on the vine. And how many more nuances when watering aloe at home! Let's figure it out.

What kind of water should it be?

No doubt, aloe is enough unpretentious plant. It will grow contrary to all recommendations. But it can develop even better! First, let's turn on the logic. Where does water come from in the arid regions of Africa? That's right, out of thin air. That is, dew or rain. There is no trace of tap liquid there.

This means that aloe at home should be watered with water, as in nature. How to get such a liquid? Everything is very simple:

  • Pour water into any container and leave for 12 hours. Stir occasionally.
  • Then carefully drain from the sediment.
  • Pour into clean plastic bottle or a thick plastic bag.
  • Freeze through.
  • Thaw and leave at room temperature.

The resulting water closely resembles natural rain or dew from the air.

Advice. Water for watering aloe is not boiled. No boiling rain pours from the clouds. And the content of free oxygen in boiled water is very low, and the amount of unnecessary chemical compounds is off the charts.

We water aloe according to the time of year

If we are planning to grow beautiful, healthy aloe, then watering conditions should be as close as possible to natural ones. However, so are the conditions of detention.

In the natural environment, the amount of water a plant receives varies depending on the time of year. Subtropical deserts They differ from ordinary ones in that in winter there is no severe cold, and in spring there are periodic short, heavy rains. This is where we will begin.

Spring. Showers are rare, very strong, but short. Usually for spring period aloe absorbs so much water into tissue cells that its own weight increases several times. But then these reserves last for almost a year, until the next rainy season.

That’s why we water the plant directly from above, with a quick, sharp movement, straight from the watering can. You can place the pot in a pan or basin. We pour water for 2-4 seconds, no more. The liquid should be completely absorbed by the root system and not drain into the pan. Frequency - once every 3-4 days. They splashed like rain and that’s enough. Watering is carried out after 12 noon, but before 19 hours. It is at this time that bad weather most often rages in nature.

Summer. It is fiercely hot during the day and mildly hot at night. The temperature difference leads to heavy dew falling in the late afternoon. This is what serves as watering for aloe. There is no rain at all.

So, we water accordingly. In the evening, before dark, spray the plant with prepared water. How much to spray? Of course, not until the soil is completely flooded; it is better not to point the spray nozzle at the soil at all. Well, we've probably seen dew in nature - that's exactly how we spray it.

The plant should be completely covered with microscopic droplets. We stop when we notice the first drop flowing down the leaf or stem. Frequency: daily throughout the summer.

Be sure to wipe off dust from the leaves. Otherwise, spraying will make your aloe spotty and unsightly. Just try not to rub off the waxy coating. This is a kind of protection against sun tanning. Without this coating, the leaves become red, which greatly spoils appearance bush.

Autumn. Gradually, the difference between day and night temperatures is reduced. Accordingly, the amount of dew that falls daily decreases. The temperature drops slightly, which means the plant evaporates less moisture.

We continue to spray aloe every day from a spray bottle. Thus we create artificial dew. No watering, much less immersing the pot in water. There is no need to reduce the amount of dew, because we are not lowering the ambient air temperature yet. Moreover, at this time the heating is already turned on, the air in the room is dry. And in the fall this is not typical in natural conditions.

Winter. The subtropical winter in such deserts resembles the end of September or the beginning of October in the middle zone. The weather is cool, but dry and clear. There is no rain at all, dew falls very rarely. You could say it's late Indian summer.

In winter we do not water aloe. At all. Not a bit. Don't worry, our plant has had plenty to drink in the spring. But this is only when the content is as close to natural as possible. That is, the ambient temperature is from +15 to +19°C. Such conditions are optimal for aloe in winter.

Unfortunately, in an ordinary apartment the ambient temperature is always above +21°C. This is due to central heating. This content is not typical for aloe in the usual winter. Therefore, the plant has to expend more moisture from thick leaves for proper photosynthesis and good respiration.

This means that you will still have to water the aloe several times during the cold season. But, again, not literally water it. You need to make at least 5 spring rains in three months. This is approximately once every 16 days. Just don't rely on your own memory. It’s better to write it down in your diary or put a note in your phone. Then you definitely won’t miss the required moment.

That's all the subtleties of proper watering of aloe at home. Otherwise they will write down the average data for an unknown bush. It’s good if the aloe is mature and can cope with the abundance of water in the summer. Well, as the parrot authors advise.

What if the plant is young? It does not yet have a powerful, wide root system that can cope with excess moisture in the soil. Therefore, young roots begin to rot, and the soil begins to sour and become moldy.

Or another outcome. Let's say that the root system has coped with your generosity. What do succulents usually do? They absorb absolutely all available water. And they shake it into the stems and leaves. You pour, they pump. And so all summer. It’s good if the heat is above +40°C and the aloe has time to evaporate the excess.

What if the summer is normal, even? The thermometer does not show above +28°C. All moisture remains in the plant cells. You water everything, because that’s what it says on the Internet! The poor aloe is almost bursting with water, the soil in the pot is drying out, the root system is working properly.

Ultimately, your home beautician simply begins to rot. What are you doing? That's right, transplant the poor fellow into another soil and... water it!

At the first sign of rotting, stop feeding the aloe. Perhaps it will recover and survive despite your care and killing help.

And further. Do not fertilize aloe. Never. In nature, it grows on stones and clay, there is no food there. An excess of minerals and organic matter will simply kill the plant.

How to water aloe at home? Now you know all the secrets for sure and your plant will be healthy, lush and beautiful.

Video: planting and growing aloe

Watering frequency and water quality are important for aloe. Water serves building material for his fabrics. Absorbed by the roots from the soil, moisture rises along the stem to the leaves and carries the nutrients necessary for the normal development of the plant.

Aloe has a thick stem and fleshy leaves. Aloe is a succulent that has the property of storing water in its organs.. Using these reserves, the plant is able to survive in the complete absence of external sources of moisture.

How often should watering be done?

How to water an aloe vera flower at home? This should be done in moderation. The frequency of procedures is determined by the humidity and temperature of the surrounding air, the amount of light, the time of year and the age of the plant.

The older the aloe, the less often watering is required.. Rooting young specimens are watered more often.

In summer, the substrate is moistened once or twice a week, in the late afternoon. The signal for watering is when the top layer of soil dries a few centimeters from the surface. In conditions of high humidity and rainy weather Frequent procedures can harm aloe.

Ordinary water taken directly from the tap is not suitable for irrigation - it contains heavy and alkaline impurities that negatively affect plants. The water must be soft. It is recommended to leave it for more than a day.

This will allow the lime and chlorine to evaporate. Another method of softening is boiling. To normalize acidity, it is recommended to add acetic or citric acid to water in a ratio of three to five grams per liter of water.

It is important to pay attention to the water temperature. In summer, the temperature should be from +30 to +35°C, in spring from +20 to +22°C, in the autumn-winter season - 6 - 8°C above room temperature.

How to properly moisturize a plant that is at home?

There are two ways to water aloe:

  • below;
  • from above - using a watering can with a thin spout.

When watering from below, pour a little water into a tray or small container. Then a pot with a plant is placed there. Moisture enters through drainage holes into the lower layers of soil.

The method is more suitable for those types of aloe whose suction roots are located in the lower part of the root system, at the bottom of the pot.

This method does not lead to soil erosion. Nutrients are washed away slowly. If the root system is powerful and thick, this method is not recommended. High drainage prevents moisture from reaching the upper layers of the substrate, which can cause root diseases.

If there is a thick drainage layer, you need to immerse the pot in a deep container of water for several minutes. Then allow excess moisture to drain and place the pot back on the tray.

Watering from above is necessary for large species . Such specimens need watering that flows smoothly from the root collar to the roots. It is important to saturate the soil with moisture at one time so that it reaches the bottom layer. If you don't add enough water, the root system may dry out. The method is not suitable for watering those aloe plants that have small root hairs.

With the correct amount of water, half an hour after watering from the watering can, moisture should accumulate in the pan. It should be poured out, otherwise the roots may rot.

You need to water very carefully, along the edge of the pot, avoiding getting the leaves and stem wet. Excess moisture on the leaves leads to their rotting. Aloe should not be sprayed or placed in the shower.. If dust has accumulated on the leaves, wipe them with a damp cloth.

In spring and summer, watering is periodically combined with. Once a month, apply a weak solution of mineral fertilizer intended for succulents.

How many times do you moisturize in winter?

Winter is the time when aloe is dormant. Watering should be done no more than once a month, preferably in the morning.. Make sure the soil in the pot is dry. In winter, aloe is not fed.

What happens if you don't follow the rules?

  1. Aloe is very difficult to tolerate excess moisture. In this case, its leaves turn yellow and soften. It is necessary to remove the plant from the pot, inspect the root system and remove damaged areas. Dry. Plant in new soil and provide good light.
  2. If an aloe plant suddenly drops its leaves, the cause is watering with cold water.
  3. Excessive moisture may cause water stagnation in the pot.

    In combination with low air temperatures, stagnant water provokes the development of root rot. The plant can be saved only at the early stage of this disease.

  4. If aloe for a long time do not water, its leaves lose turgor, become lethargic and thin out. Abundantly moistening the substrate will help correct the situation.

Watering aloe is not particularly difficult. The flower does not need frequent soil moisture and can survive short droughts without loss. Water quality plays a big role for aloe. Correct mode Watering helps avoid problems with the root system and keep the plant healthy.

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