Quite widespread houseplant that is famous for its incredible healing properties became the flower of aloe care which does not cause much trouble. The name of this amazing plant has its roots from the Arabic «alloeh», the word means "bitter herb".

Sometimes the Aloe genus refers to a straight, but most scholars are inclined to think that aloe belongs to the family asphodeloideae. This race combines about trust family of succulent plant species that are most likely prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula on the island of Madagascar, as well as in the African savannas and steppes.

The aloe plant is interesting because its species diversity of the imagination. Most perennials up (no wonder the flower got its second name - agave), but there are also bush forms, tree, and oddly enough, the vines. In the light there like miniature and giant species of aloe. The leaves of this plant usually beschereshkovye, elongated, thick and juicy. The edges of the leaves are pulled soft spikes.

There were also those types of aloe, which do not form the stem and therefore his whole appearance reminded Haworth. On this occasion, the two plants are often confused with each other. In their homeland aloe produces flowers every year. Long stems, up to 80 cm, is formed from the sinuses. At the end of the flower stalk bloom yellow, orange, white or red flowers that are neatly collected in spicate or racemose inflorescences. Even if you are caring for the aloe plant according to the rules, it is still in the room conditions, this plant will bloom very rarely. In a pot of aloe able to spend 5 to 20 years, depending on the type of literacy and caring for plants.

The healing properties of aloe

Since time immemorial, mankind has used the extraordinary healing properties of aloe. This plant is widely used not only by the people of ancient Egypt, but also the Greeks and Romans thousands of years ago. Juice "agave" and aloe vera has special healing properties. This tool has been used successfully in the treatment of septic wounds, burns and other skin diseases. If the wound on the skin heals poorly, then it is applied as a compress fresh aloe leaves, from which the skin is removed beforehand.

From condensed aloe juice prepared a special preparation - aloes, which acts as a laxative and choleretic. Sabur improves digestion and improves appetite, has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action. Fresh aloe juice helps with inflammation of the gums, and chronic gastritis.

The healing properties of aloe associated with allantoin contained therein. This material is concentrated in the leaves of plants. In addition to allantoin in aloe contains natural natural antioxidants - vitamins C and E, vitamin B complex, and beta-carotene, turning inside the human body to vitamin A. The skin health is largely dependent on the presence of these nutrients. Experts have developed a lot of drugs based on aloe juice. In addition to the drug is a useful raw material in the balms, shampoos, gels and creams, successfully applied in cosmetology.

If you make aloe care at home, you can easily prepare a tincture of medicinal plants with their own hands. Recipe bracing tincture is quite simple: the leaves of aloe is necessary to thoroughly crush, take half a cup of raw materials and add ¾ cup honey. The mixture was infused for three days in a dark place. By the infusion should add 3 cups of red wine and re-send it stand in a dark place for one day. So, healing potion ready! The infusion should be taken three times a day before meals for 1 tablespoon.

It should be noted that the use of drugs based on aloe requires caution! Do not use this medication without a doctor's recommendation. Remember, the healing properties of showing only two types of aloe - Aloe arborescens (Aloe arborescens) and Aloe vera.

In order to understand how to take care of aloe is necessary to examine at least the most common types of plants.

Types of aloe

The most common type of aloe is considered Aloe arborescens (Aloe arborescens), which is better known as a medicinal plant aloe - Aloe Care helps to grow amazing leaves, used in the treatment of gastric diseases, cuts and various inflammations. Even in the distant past, it started to use as a therapeutic agent. Agave looks like branching shrub that grows well both in width and in height. In addition, the plant produces many side shoots. Tree juicy aloe has narrow leaves up to 20-30 cm, the edges of which there are soft spikes. With good care of the aloe plant quickly grows to 30-100 cm (in nature, even though aloe can reach a height of 3 ehmetrovoy).

The only species common in the Mediterranean in the wild, this Aloe vera -Aloe belief care which can be grown at home other than the cosmetic preparation. This bushy plant is a succulent plant with a short stem and multiple shoots. From the leaves of the plants form a dense group of sockets. The leaves of the aloe vera lanceolate, succulent, grayish-green, slightly grooved, have small teeth on the edges and reach a length of 50 cm. The closest relatives of Aloe Vera - Aloe indica Royle (Aloe Indian) and Aloe barbadensis (Aloe barbadenskoe). Aloe vera juice is used to make tools for hair care, as well as in numerous cosmetic formulations. How to care for aloe vera we describe in more detail.

Aloe aristata (aloe aristata) is often confused with Haworthia because of external similarity of these species. Leaves of plants form a rosette with a diameter up to 20 cm. Wide outlet constitute lanceolate leaves, which runs along the edge of the fringe of white teeth. Whitish soft spikes cover the lower surface of the leaves.

A small plant Aloe variegata (variegated Aloe) reaches a height of 30 cm and sick has a very short stem. The leaves of aloe motley collected in the rosette, and has three spiral, tightly curled rows. The shape of the leaf is lanceolate triangular form, and the leaves themselves extend transverse white stripes of irregular shape, the edges of which extend in most cases small soft spikes.

Aloe ferox (Aloe horrible or terrifying) is a powerful plant single stem can reach 45 cm (in the nature of such a plant grows up to 2m). The plant has thick fleshy leaves, over the entire surface of which stretch reddish-brown spines, making aloe warty. In adult plants are formed branched spike inflorescence, consisting of flowers in red.

Aloe bellatula (Aloe awfully nice or beautiful) is a plant with a short stem, narrow dark green leaves that make up the socket and reaches a width of 9-10 mm and a length of 10-13 cm. The leaves of the aloe beautiful on both sides and covered with white spots tiny warts. At the edge of the sheet stretch small spikes. Stems from this plant can reach 60 cm in height, it consists of a bell-shaped flowers of red and coral.

If you want to green your apartment, you can safely use any of the cultivated species called Aloe succulent. Any plant will cope with the task of planting space is not only apartments, but also terraces, balconies, shop windows, etc. Aloe - a constant attribute of rocky hills and miniature decorative compositions.

So, we are introduced to the most common types of plants, and now invite you to become familiar with how to care for aloe.

Aloe Care and breeding

Aloe Care + reproduction begins with choosing the right location for the plant. Succulents - plants light-loving, so the location of aloe should have enough sunlight. Plants feel well on windowsills eastern and western windows. If your aloe is at the southern window, then Sami hot summer hours is worth pritenenie plant, which will protect it from direct sunlight.

For aloe care - a very easy exercise, because the plant is unpretentious to the growing conditions of temperature. For him, there is absolutely no need to create a special microclimate. Winter flower can spend the winter as in the indoor environment, and at complete rest in the temperature range 10-15 ° C.

How to care for aloe vera? It is enough to water it twice a week from early spring to mid-October.   Make sure to earth com time to dry out between waterings, or in such care need not. In the winter dormant period the plant sufficiently watered 1-2 times a month, it is advisable to use at the same time soft water. If the air in the room where is aloe, too dry, you should not reduce watering. However, be sure to keep track of, so that the water does not stagnate in the pan.

Aloe can easily move the dry air with sufficient irrigation, but the plant does not tolerate closeness. Fresh air for aloe is vital, so the room where there is a flower, should be regularly aired.

For the flower of aloe care can be supplemented with plant nutrition. From April to September is the period of active growth, during which the Aloe 1 fertilize once a month. This is done using a fertilizer for succulents, cacti or a weak solution of any mineral fertilizer. During winter dormancy plants do not need fertilizing.

How to transplant the aloe? Transplant subjected to both young and adult plants of Aloe. Every year, young transplant of aloe, and mature plants are subjected to transplant as necessary - every 2-3 years. For transplant special soil mixture is prepared, which consists of two parts turf ground, one piece of leaf, one part humus and one part of sand. To this was added charcoal and chips red brick. That's enough to properly solve the question of how to transplant aloe. In principle, any type can be grown aloe optionally entirely hydroponically.

Another issue that confronts many owners of succulent - how to propagate aloe? You can use different ways of breeding plants: use stem and apical cuttings, seeds and basal shoots. Purchase Aloe seeds begin to multiply in April, while the air temperature should be about 22-24 ° C. When cuttings are used for reproduction, then after they are cut, fresh slices are dried for 1-2 days, and then carefully powdered with powdered coal. Cuttings and basal shoots are planted in the substrate of one part peat, one part sand, buried with approximately 1 cm. During propagation by cuttings is not necessary to spray or cover glass jar, besides they can be watered infrequently. However, since, as the cuttings take root, watering should be increased.

Despite the fact that aloe vera is rarely affected by pests and diseases, it's worth carefully monitor the plant. The agave can stay uninvited guests - scale insects. The assistance from the pest is a special paste, which is made from soap and garlic with the addition of water. From time to time this gruel rub the leaves of the plant, Jose scale such "goodies" can not stand.

For Aloe Care + reproduction - quite simple lesson, but the benefit and use from these studies is a lot, considering that the plant comes to help man in many health problems . To successfully cultivate a large part of the genus, we need only follow the general rules on cultivation, propagation and transplant of succulent plants.