Aloe belongs to the succulent houseplants, which, due to their spectacular appearance and healing properties, are very popular among many gardeners. Therefore, they are often interested in how to properly transplant this plant and whether it is necessary to divide it during this procedure. Consider this in more detail.
When can aloe be transplanted
When starting a transplant, you must not only take into account the basic rules of this process, but also decide on the most favorable time. The best time for a transplant is the growing season of a flower, which begins in spring and lasts until the beginning of summer.
The main feature of this is the growth of the apical part of the plant. It is during this period of time that the easiest way for a flower to tolerate violations of the rhizomes that accompany the transplant process is to get comfortable with the new capacity and fresh soil mix.
Autumn and winter are considered to be an unsuitable time for transplantation, since it is then that the plant is in a state of hibernation, and injury to the rhizome can lead to stress in a flower and even its death.
Necessary conditions for transplantation and further cultivation
The basic rule that should be guided in floriculture - as accurately as possible to reproduce the natural habitat of the plant.
The features of this reproduction include:
- temperature and lighting;
- soil composition;
- high quality containers.
Aloe as a bright representative of succulents - light-loving plant. The optimal place for this pot will be a well-lit window sill, veranda or balcony.
During the winter cold, a bright place with a temperature of + 10 ... + 14 ° С is ideal for aloe. With a lack of natural light, many growers use fluorescent light. However, in the case of aloe, this can contribute to the stretching of the main stem of the plant and the loss of the decorative appearance.
In the warm season, this flower feels great outside, but you should protect it from sudden changes in the weather. In order to avoid unwanted stress, when establishing warm weather outside the window, aloe vera should be taught to fresh air gradually.
Learn more about planting, caring and breeding aloe at home.
Over time, the period of stay on the street increases, but you still need to avoid direct sunlight on the plant. This is due to the fact that aloe leaves can get burned, resulting in a loss of appearance, as well as a change in leaf color to brown or red. When transplanting, it is possible to minimize the stressful effects of a flower, if the soil mix is compiled correctly. The main thing is that it should not be radically different from the previous one.
The main requirements for capacity, regardless of the material of the selected pot, are the size that must be suitable for the roots of the flower, and the presence of drainage holes at the bottom to remove excess fluid from the soil.
How to start transplanting
Before the transplanting process, some preparatory measures are needed that will have a direct impact on the further growth and development of the plant.
Pot selection
The main materials in the manufacture of pots serves plastic or clay.
Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- Plastic pots. The main advantages of choosing this material are low cost, ease and practicality. In such containers, if necessary, it is easy to make drainage holes, and the rhizome is much more evenly distributed. However, it is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of plastic adjacent to practicality - this is its fragility and instability, as well as the possible stagnation of excess moisture, which adversely affects the root system of the plant.
- Pots of clay. They are favorably distinguished by their porous structure, which contributes to the rapid evaporation of moisture and a decrease in soil temperature. Therefore, the requirements for watering in such pots are much higher than in plastic ones.
Immediately before transplanting, both new and old containers require treatment:
- plastic pots should be washed with boiled soapy water;
- clay containers should be roasted in the oven and kept in a solution of superphosphate.
Soil preparation
Substrate under the aloe transplant can be purchased in finished form. It is better to use soil mixtures intended for succulents or cacti. And you can cook with your own hands - for this you need to take 2 parts of sod land, 1 part of hardwood, 1 part of humus and 1 part of coarse-grained sand.
It is highly not recommended to introduce peat into such a soil mixture - this will increase the acidity of the soil (acceptable acidity with a neutral or low pH level) and will retain in it excess moisture.
In the choice of soil should give preference to loose earth. For looseness, you can add a small amount of broken brick. In order to disinfect the soil, it is necessary to calcine it in the oven or microwave, or add a small portion of charcoal to the mixture.
Did you know? Aloe is able to fully develop without water up to 7 years.
How to transplant aloe at home
There are several methods of aloe transplantation, most of which do not require certain skills and are easy to conduct, even for beginners.
With roots
Over time, the stems, leaves and root system of aloe grow so much that the plant needs to be transplanted into another, larger pot. Instructions for transplanting aloe roots:
- Remove the flower from the old tank, with minimal damage to the rhizome. This is not difficult to do, either by turning the pot with one hand and holding the bush itself with the second one, or by pushing the flower out of the pot with a stick, which is inserted into the drainage hole.
- Clean the root system of the soil. In case of a high density of the earth coma, it should be temporarily placed in warm water. This will give the opportunity to release the roots without damage.
- Remove damaged portions of the roots with powdered cutting sites with sulfur or charcoal.
- The size of the new pot should be selected with such a condition that the rhizome does not reach the walls and the bottom by 1.5-2 cm. Before planting, lay a layer of pebbles or claydite on the bottom and pour 1-2 cm of soil mixture on top.
- Plant aloe in a new container. Next, the soil is well compacted and poured on top of a thin layer of fine gravel or expanded clay.
- The first week of rooting aloe does not water and protect from abundant lighting.
Important! Transplanted aloe does not need feeding during the first 5-6 months.
Without roots
When the flower grows, it often happens that the main stem of the aloe vera is strongly drawn out in length, thus becoming completely bare and leaving only a few leaves on the crown itself. The aesthetic appearance of such plants is completely lost, but do not rush to get rid of such a flower. Provided that at the top there are 5-6 formed leaves, there is the possibility of their separation from the main stem and transplanting into a separate container.
To the frequently asked question of whether it is possible to plant a flower with a complete absence of the root system, the answer is: yes, it is possible, if before that we grow roots. For this purpose, the top of the leaves should be carefully cut with a clean, sharp knife, carefully cut the cut point with charcoal, ground into powder, and put in a dark place for several days to dry.
After that, place the leaf top in wet sand or water until the first roots appear. In the future, the flower is suitable for planting on a permanent place.
Separation and planting process
Planting aloe shoots is perhaps the most common method of propagation and replanting a flower. An important detail of this process is not only the correct separation of the process from the main stem, but also the processing of the cut point.
Sinuses of mature leaves always have a lot of lateral shoots that can be separated throughout the year. The selected process must be cut at the very base so as not to injure the main leaf. The cut place should be carefully treated with charcoal powder or ash, and the process should be put in a dark place for several days. Then cut off the part should be put into the water. When the first roots appear, the flower can be planted in a prepared container.
Did you know? Aloe pulp is often used in Japanese cuisine as an additive in yogurt or juice.
Cuttings
The easiest way to reproduce aloe is to replant its leaf. The actions are identical to the process of transplanting of the shoots: the selected leaf should be carefully cut at the very base with a sharp knife, the cut should be disinfected with charcoal or ash, the cutting should be dried and dipped in water. After the first roots appear, the flower can be planted in a pot.
Further care
After answering the question of when and how you can replant aloe, consider the basic rules for further care of this flower.
Important! When transplanting aloe, instead of sand in the substrate, perlite can be used, which due to its porous structure improves the drainage properties of the soil mixture.
There are a number of recommendations, following which this plant will develop properly and for a long time please with its appearance:
- Temperature conditions - can be any, because aloe is unpretentious to the ambient temperature.
- Lighting - should be good and constant.
- Watering - moderate or minimal, no more than 2-3 times a month, because aloe is drought-resistant.
- Humidity level - should be at least at an average level. This flower does not tolerate dry air. In winter, when the batteries are turned on, aloe should be sprayed with water 1-2 times a week.
- Top dressing - like most houseplants, aloe needs to be fertilized every 3-4 weeks.
Why the plant does not survive?
It happens that after transplanting aloe never takes root in a new pot.
Consider the main reasons that can cause this situation:
- The soil. With all its simplicity, this plant requires a special soil mixture, which must be fertilized with all the necessary for the proper growth and development of substances.
- Violation of the basic rules of care. Lack of lighting and drafts can lead to plant fading, and excessive watering can cause root rot.
- Poor rooting. Often occurs when aloe is transplanted into a larger container. To avoid such a situation, after 5-7 days after transplantation, it is necessary to check whether the flower is swaying. Loose rooting of the plant indicates damage to the roots and requires a re-transplant procedure.
In general, considering the difficulties that a grower may encounter in growing aloe, it is safe to say that they are very minor. Instead, you can get a decorative flower with an unusual appearance that is able to decorate any home.