Table of contents
- Plant
- Care
- Location
- Pour
- Fertilize
- Cut
- hibernate
- repot
- multiply
- Conclusion
The cape aloe captivates with lanceolate, sword-shaped leaves, elegantly curved and up to 80 centimeters long. In early spring, a majestic orange flower rises above it to underline the exotic impression. The succulent, reinforced foliage and the breathtaking flowers are enthroned on a 3-5 meter high trunk. This expansive habit calls for a large garden and spacious conservatory to create a tropical flair here. The following guide shows how to plant and care for an aloe ferox skilfully.
Plant
In order to professionally plant a ready-made or hand-grown Cape Aloe, the focus is on the condition of the tub. In view of the rapid growth, the pot should have a sufficient volume of at least 20 liters to begin with. With good care, even larger planters will be required. Not only the size is decisive for their usability, but also an opening in the floor as a water drain. Airy, loose cactus soil or a mix of 2 parts standard soil, 1 part sand and 1 part perlite can be used as a substrate. How to handle the planting correctly:
- Lay out a 5-10 centimeter high drainage made of chippings, potsherds or expanded clay above the floor opening
- A fleece that is spread out prevents crumbs from the potting soil from clogging the drainage
- Fill in the recommended substrate halfway up
- Insert the potted aloe ferox in the middle
- Surrounded with potting soil as high as before in the nursery pot
- Press the substrate down with your fist so that no cavities form and pour on
In view of a minimum temperature of 8-10 degrees Celsius, planting in the bed does not make sense. The South African cape aloe will only survive the local winter in exceptional cases. To give the impression of a bed planting, creative hobby gardeners plant the plant in May without further ado together with a bucket in the ground to get it out again in the autumn for the move to winter quarters.
Tip:
Since the adult aloe ferox has a considerable weight, knowledgeable hobby gardeners place the bucket on a plant trolley for unrestricted mobility.
Care
The successful care of a fire aloe rests on three pillars: location, water supply and nutrient balance. If these three factors meet the demands of the grass tree plant, it forgives one or the other omission with good-natured tolerance. Beginners among the hobby gardeners are therefore happy to take on the cultivation of a cape aloe.
Location
In its native South Africa, aloe ferox thrives in the sun-drenched, sandy, lean Capeland. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the ideal site conditions:
- Sunny to full sun
- Warm temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius and higher
- Ideally protected from rain
- Normal to warm and humid humidity
In room culture or in the conservatory, the tropical beauty wants to be placed as close as possible to the window. If the sun only hits the magnificent crown on one side, either additional lighting provides compensation or you turn the cape aloe by a quarter every 3 days. Otherwise, the long leaves will search for more light, causing an uneven habit. Thanks to its flexibility with regard to humidity, the tropical tree feels just as comfortable in the heated living room as it does in the warm and humid ambience of the bathroom or the indoor pool.
Pour
Despite its ability to store water in its long leaves, fire aloe requires a balanced water supply. If, exceptionally, there is a longer dry season, for example while on vacation, the tropical tree easily bridges this phase thanks to its succulent foliage. How to properly water an aloe:
- Water moderately when the substrate surface has dried 2-3 centimeters deep
- Use lime-free rainwater or stagnant tap water
- Pour out a coaster after 5 minutes at the latest
The Cape Aloe should not be confronted with a completely water-soaked substrate or even waterlogging. When in doubt, prudent hobby gardeners water too little rather than too much.
Tip:
Spoiling an aloe-ferox with lime-free water from a spray bottle from time to time promotes the matt green, reddish-tinged foliage color and vitality.
Fertilize
Although the aloe ferox develops an enormous biomass in the course of growth, it is modest in terms of nutrient requirements. How to properly handle the care factor:
- Pamper with cactus fertilizer every 4 weeks from March to October
- Do not apply the preparation to dried soil
- Pour clear water beforehand
The magnificent leaves of the succulent appear even more beautiful if they are rubbed with seaweed juice on the top and bottom from time to time. At the same time, the leaf pores absorb valuable nutrients. Wearing thick work gloves and glasses is recommended to protect against the powerful spines along the edges of the leaves. Incidentally, this precautionary measure is advisable for all planting and care work.
Cut
The cape aloe does not receive a pruning. Withered leaves should remain on the trunk as long as possible until they fall off by themselves. During this time, the plant assimilates the remaining nutrients from the dying foliage. If this appearance bothers you, simply peel off the sheet.
The inflorescence, which can be up to 100 centimeters long, is trimmed after wilting. Particular caution is required here, as you have to reach into the rosette-shaped crown and come dangerously close to the sharp thorns.
hibernate
The year-round cultivation in the room or conservatory is possible without any problems. A hibernation from November to February nevertheless has a beneficial effect on the vitality of an aloe ferox. If it is allowed to rest in a bright location at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius for a few weeks, this circumspection benefits growth and the abundance of flowers. In the course of the hibernation, the amount of irrigation water is reduced. Fertilization will only start again from the beginning of March.
If the exotic ornamental plant moves to the terrace or balcony in May, it spends the first week in partial shade. Only when the leaves have become accustomed to direct sunlight will there be no burning of the plant tissue.
repot
If the previous planter no longer offers enough space for the roots, the fire aloe is repotted. A favorable time for this care measure is early spring, shortly after the end of the winter break.
If you bought a young plant in the garden center, it is often in an unsuitable substrate, such as conventional potting soil. On the one hand, this is too rich in nutrients and, on the other hand, it tends to compact, which is not conducive to root growth. In this case, immediate repotting in one of the recommended substrate mixes is beneficial.
multiply
A well-established Cape Aloe forms side shoots in the root area. These Kindel are excellent for uncomplicated propagation. Spring is the best time to start breeding. Here's how to do it:
- Cut off side shoots with a length of 15-20 centimeters
- Fill a pot halfway with a mix of herb soil and sand
- Plant the daughter plant as deep as the mother plant and water it
In a partially shaded location at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, rooting will progress within the next few weeks. To speed up the process, cover them with a plastic bag or place them in an indoor greenhouse. The substrate should be kept constantly moist without becoming waterlogged. The growing aloe ferox does not yet receive any fertilizer. As an incentive for root growth, resourceful hobby gardeners fill in a layer of mature compost under the growing substrate. Successful propagation is signaled by fresh shoots. The transparent hood then falls away. Once your little one has completely rooted its pot, it is repotted in normal succulent soil in order to be cared for as a full-fledged plant.
Conclusion
Reducing Cape Aloe solely to its medicinal properties in the succulent leaves does not do justice to this exotic tree plant. The evergreen fire aloe boasts an imposing crown over which bright orange flowers rise in early spring. The majestic stature with a height of 3 meters and more requires a sunny place in the large garden, the spacious living room or the conservatory. Planted in an exemplary manner in large tubs, in loose, permeable cactus soil, care is limited to a few aspects. Moderate watering and fertilizing at intervals of 4 weeks does not pose any particular challenges, even for beginners among hobby gardeners. Only the leaves, which are armed with hard thorns, require special precautions.
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