Home»Cactus - Succulents»Information About Aloe
When someone mentions aloe , Aloe vera plantsusually spring to mind .
This is a ignominy because manyother aloe plants , such as Aloe africana ( AL - oh af - ri - KAHN - uh ) , are much more striking visually compared to their more popular sib .
Commonly bring up to as either African aloe or Uitenhage aloe , this hardy perennial is native to South Africa and creates a tremendous evergreen plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that can be enjoyed all class long .
This phallus of the Asphodelaceae family is incredibly easy to deal for and may even be a contender for aloe vera ’s repute of being “ unkillable ” .
Aloe Africana Care
Size & Growth
African aloe is a slow growing succulent plant , accept 4 to 5 days to produce its first flower .
out of doors , it can grow to 12 or 13 ’ feet tall , but will usually be a smaller 6 to 8 ’ feet improbable when keep in containers .
It has a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - similar riding habit , which makes it compatible with a wide array of smaller succulent .
The farewell of this industrial plant are slight and narrow and grey-headed - green , bearing a fleeceable chromaticity when shaded but earn a purplish or pinkish chromaticity when in drought conditions .
They have a more or less messy appearance with the 2 ’ foot recollective leaves spreading out and curving downwards towards the tips .
Each folio has small , astute reddish tooth along the allowance .
The older , dried - out leaves cover this industrial plant ’s trunk below the inhabit stem canker .
While reasonably distinguishable from most other aloes , African aloe digest a close law of similarity to Aloe excelsa , Aloe ferox , and Aloe lineata .
The blooms are sometimes the easiest way of life to differentiate these four species aside .
Flowering and Fragrance
While the foliage is quite attractive , the real show comes when African aloe flower .
Blooms most often occur between January and March , but it ’s not unheard of for this flora to give rise flower at any point in the year .
The 2 to 3 ’ foot flower stalking may have anywhere from 0 to 4 branches .
Both branch and the central stalk are top by a spire of tight - packed , unscented tubular flowers .
While these efflorescence start as reddish - orange bud , they change color as they give until they ’re a yellow - orangish or even pure yellow hue .
In gain to the stunning gloss , this plant ’s flower form is quite singular .
They hang down , then turn sharply upwards at a nearly 90 ° degree angle towards the tip .
Light & Temperature
African aloe prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade for part of the mean solar day .
In climates where the sun is specially abrasive , place it where it can get lineal sun and have some light refinement or mottled sunshine in the afternoon .
Moderate to high humidity will run well for this industrial plant , although it can tolerate dry conditions .
Normal household humidness ( usually 40 to 60 % percentage ) is perfect for this aloe .
When get in the garden , this aloe is worthy for USDA hardiness zones 9b to 12 .
It ’s loosely frost - Oliver Hardy down to 40 ° level Fahrenheit but may tolerate brief exposure to frost or temperatures as humiliated as 25 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Watering and Feeding
Beforewatering your Aloeremember that aloe hates soggy soil , so the soak - and - dry method is most effective for this plant both in container and in the garden .
expend your finger to test the soil moisture and water only when the soil find ironic 2 to 3 ” inches down .
A balanced liquid houseplant plant food suitable for succulents is gross for this works .
Be sure to apply according to the package pedagogy , both in damage of dosage and frequency .
Alternatively , some organic compost apply once in the springiness and summertime will make your aloe very happy .
Despite this plant being evergreen and often blooming in mid to late wintertime , you should trim back back on feed in fall and wintertime so the plant can enjoy a inactive point .
Potting Soil & Transplanting
Uitenhage aloe is well - adapted for sandy soils but can handle a wide range of poor consideration as long as the grease is well - draining .
you’re able to expend any potting premix appropriate for succulent on this plant .
However , you should add 1 part uncouth sand or perlite per 2 parts soil to ensure right drainage .
It ’s a rare occasion when you ’ll necessitate to repot this plant .
Because it tolerate salt and poor soil , it ’s by and large not necessary to repot for the sake of shift out the soil .
However , if the plant stops growing due to becoming rootbound or has started tipping over , it ’s probably time to give it a fresh pot 1 sizing large , with some unexampled soil . Always utilise a sight with drain hole .
Grooming And Maintenance
This plant is ego - wield with the potential exception of remove any undesirable offshoots or damaged leaves .
How To Propagate African Aloe
This mintage is easy to disperse through both offshoots ( pups ) from the female parent flora and seeds .
There are some claims that the plant may be propagated through division , although this technique is much more difficult .
Africana Aloe Pests or Diseases
This aloe is highly springy and is tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions .
They ’re resistant to drouth , salt , and wind .
While not peculiarly frost hardy , they can go brief , weak frosts .
The plant is also resistant to verticillium wilt .
It ’s unusual for African aloe to become infested with mealybugs , scale louse , or suffer from diseases when properly water , although aloe snout weevil can be a trouble . Overwatering can moderate to root rot .
African aloe is considered toxic to both humans and deary and should not be wipe out .
Aloe Africana Uses
Due to its high resistance to both salt and wind , African aloe is a perfect addition to coastal gardens .
It plays well with most little - sized succulent .
The flora ’s singular blooms make it an attractive addition to many garden melodic theme .
When preserve in containers , they become a conversation piece during bloom fourth dimension .
The dentition of this aloe are acute and can snag on clothing or check the skin , so it ’s honorable to keep this plant away from walkways .
bee , hummingbird , and sunbirds are both attracted to this plant .
While the flora has some medicative use , consume it can run to digestive problem .
