The ecological environment of home potted aloe is different from that of field planting, and it is confined to a narrow basin. In order to meet the requirements of water, fertilizer, air, heat and other environmental conditions during the growth and development of aloe root system, it is very important to select various suitable substrates and scientifically prepare pot soil suitable for home potted aloe, which is very important to promote the normal development and growth of home potted aloe.
1. Preparation of potted soil
Potted soil should have good drainage, water retention, ventilation and fertilizer storage performance. The common formula of potted soil is that the ratio of humus, garden loam and river sand is 2:2: 1. Using sawdust or cooked coal ash instead of river sand, its proportion remains unchanged. Aloe likes to grow in a neutral environment, and the pH value of the potted substrate which is most suitable for aloe growth is 6.8 ~ 7.0. In addition, the basin soil is required to be relatively clean and hygienic, and the soil can be disinfected and sterilized with bibulin.
Choose a flowerpot
Judging from the texture of flower pots, there are pottery pots, purple sand pots, porcelain pots and plastic pots. According to personal hobbies and aesthetic tastes, choose a suitable flowerpot for planting. Pots with good air permeability are most suitable for aloe cultivation. If you choose a new pot, you should soak it in water, otherwise it will not easily penetrate into the pot after watering, and the semi-dry and semi-wet pot wall will hurt the new roots. If an old flowerpot is used, the soil residue and moss should be washed and dried before use, which can not only increase the air permeability of the flowerpot, but also prevent pests and diseases.
3. Pot filling and soil replacement
Selecting seedlings before planting is the key. Strong seedling aloe leaves are short and thick, dark green in color, with more than four roots.
3. 1 upstream basin
What is "cooking"? The process of planting strong seedlings cultivated by aloe into flowerpots is called "putting them in pots". Potting is the beginning of potted plants. Whether this process is done well or not is closely related to the later growth and development of potted aloe.
Pot breeding time: spring and summer. The indoor temperature is 15 ~ 18℃. Suitable temperature, fast root growth and short green turning time. Winter is not suitable for pots, and the temperature is too low, which is not conducive to the occurrence of new roots, and even seedlings will "rot", leading to plant death.
Pot installation method: Before installing the pot, put a broken tile on the bottom of the pot and press it on the permeable hole at the bottom of the pot, which can not only maintain drainage, but also prevent the pot soil from leaking out. When filling a pot, first put the aloe seedlings in the center of the pot, let the roots stretch as far as possible, fill the roots, then gently lift the seedlings upward and slightly compact them, so that the roots are in close contact with the pot soil, and then compact the pot soil, and then add the pot soil until it is 2 ~ 3 cm away from the pot edge, paying attention to centering the seedlings as much as possible. Finally, slowly pour water into the basin.
Management after potted: Aloe just potted should not be exposed to direct sunlight to avoid water loss and excessive consumption of nutrients. It should be maintained in a semi-shady place, and then moved to the sunny place after the seedlings grow slowly, so as to get more sunshine after taking root. Aloe vera should not be watered more before it turns green and takes root, let alone fertilized. Pot soil is prone to root rot if it is too wet. Generally speaking, if you don't water it, you don't do it. If you do it, you will pour it thoroughly.
After rooting, you can often spray water on the leaves to accelerate greening and rooting.
3.2 changing pots
Generally, potted aloe 1 ~ 2 years, and it is better to change pots in April ~ May in spring and 9 ~ 10 in autumn. When changing pots, it is very important to master the correct pot removal technology. In the process of moving pots, try to keep the soil intact and not damage the roots. You can turn the pot upside down, hold the pot soil with your left hand, and tap the edge of the pot several times with your right palm, and the pot will naturally be separated from the old pot soil. Then, move the aloe vera and the soil ball into a larger new pot, and then add the new pot soil around the new pot. Then, compact the pot soil and water it. After changing pots, it needs to be maintained in a semi-shady place for a period of time, and then moved to the sunny place for maintenance after the seedlings are completely slowed down.
4 management
4. 1 fertilization
Fertilizers can be divided into organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. Organic fertilizer has comprehensive nutrients and slow fertilizer efficiency. Inorganic fertilizer, also known as chemical fertilizer, such as commonly used ammonium nitrate, urea, hydrazine and so on. It has high effective components, fast fertilizer effect and low dosage, and the effect is better when combined with organic fertilizer. In order to ensure the quality of aloe vera, chemical fertilizers are generally not used as much as possible.
There are two ways to apply fertilizer: base fertilizer and topdressing. Organic fertilizer is often used as base fertilizer, which is to fully mix the fertilizer with the pot soil before filling the pot. Generally, the ratio of potted soil to organic fertilizer is about 10: 1. Mix well and put them into the pot. Organic fertilizer must be fully fermented, otherwise it will burn seedlings. Topdressing is to mix fertilizers into liquid, and then apply them after dilution. Generally, it is irrigated with bean cake water with a concentration not exceeding 50% or water chestnut solution with a concentration of 50%. The fertilizer solution should not be too thick, otherwise it will cause "fertilizer damage", especially when foliar spraying is used for topdressing outside the roots, the fertilizer concentration should not exceed 0. 1%. Top dressing once every 30 days, or according to the growth of aloe and different seasons. Generally, it grows faster in spring and autumn, and the number of topdressing can be increased appropriately. Growth is slow in winter, so you can apply less fertilizer or even no fertilizer.
4.2 watering
Aloe has strong drought resistance, and will not die if it is not watered for 3 ~ 5 months, but its growth is inhibited, its leaves are dry and juice-free, and its utilization value is reduced. However, excessive watering and long-term moisture in the soil will rot the roots and eventually the whole plant will die. Therefore, we should master it flexibly according to the different growth and development stages and natural conditions of plants. If the ambient air humidity is high and the evaporation intensity is low, it is necessary to water less; If the air is dry, the temperature is high and the air circulation is strong, water it in time to prevent the basin soil and leaves from losing water too quickly. Do dry and wet alternately, dry and wet, and water reasonably.
In the peak season, the amount and times of watering in large pots are much larger. When the air temperature is 15 ~ 25℃ in spring and autumn, it can be watered every 5 ~ 7 days. In summer, the temperature is high and the evaporation is large, so water can be poured once every 2 ~ 3 days. If necessary, spray water on the leaves in the morning and evening, and pay attention to prevent the sun from exposure. Proper drying of basin soil is beneficial to the overwintering of plants.
Watering time: spring and summer should be in the morning and evening, and winter should be at noon.
It is best to use deep well water or rainwater for watering, and dry tap water before using it. Pay attention to loosening the soil after watering to reduce water evaporation, which is beneficial to the occurrence of new roots. The scarification can be made of bamboo sticks and No.8 iron wire with single or double teeth, and the depth is preferably 1.5 ~ 2 cm. Loosening soil can cut off capillaries and keep the basin soil in the best moisture state.
4.3 Overwintering management
The growth of potted aloe stopped at 5℃, and when it was lower than 3℃, it would cause chilling injury, and when it was lower than 0℃, it would freeze the leaves, and finally the whole plant died. Therefore, in some areas of our country, in order to keep the temperature above 5℃, corresponding measures must be taken to increase the temperature and keep warm. Potted aloe can be moved indoors or in a greenhouse for the winter. In order to control watering and increase light, you can put the basin on a platform facing south. If the humidity is very low, you can move out after 9 am and move in before 3 pm on sunny days. In addition, you can put a transparent plastic bag outside the plant, which can not only let the sun shine, but also improve the temperature and humidity, and the effect is excellent.
Potted aloe can purify the living environment.