Designing with SucculentsHow to incorporate succulents and cacti into your garden design
Aloe arborescens(torch aloe ) in flush . Photo by : Saxon Holt .
When you believe ofAloe , chances are the first thing that comes to head isAloe vera . However , there are over 600 coinage ranging in size from a few inch to 20 - invertebrate foot aloe Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . These evergreen plant succulent have fleshy leaf and are native to arid , semi - desiccated , and tropical regions . Their sensitivity to frost demarcation garden usage to frost - detached zones for the most part , but many can also be grown in container and moved to a ardent locating over winter . MostAloebloom in winter , pull in hummingbird to their bright tubular flower when little else is uncommitted .
On this pageboy : Aloe Basics|Planting Instructions|Care|Aloe Vera|Types of Aloe|Design Tips|Aloe vs. Agave
ALOE BASICS
Zones:
Most aloe can be farm outdoors in Zones 9 - 11 . There are a few diversity that are hardy to Zone 7 or 8 , and some heating - patient of to Zone 12 . The ideal growing temperature for most bitter aloes is 40 ° to 90 ° F , but many will do OK with abbreviated periods as depressed as 25 ° or up to 100 ° F .
Height/Spread:
Varieties range from small plant 2 to 4 inches marvelous and wide to tree diagram types at 20 foot or more .
Exposure:
aloe need full sun of at least 6 hour a day . Many miscellanea will benefit from partial good afternoon shade , especially in desert climates . Full sun further flowering , as well as boosts the crimson and orangish tones in the leafage . Ample sunshine also makes them less susceptible to plague , diseases , and rot from overwatering .
Bloom time:
MostAloebloom mid - wintertime ; some in summer and tardy fall . However , you’re able to come up species that blossom just about any time of yr . If year - round temperatures are soft enough , some may blossom periodically throughout the year .
Color and characteristics:
Aloehave tubular flower that bloom in clusters on tall stalks that buck up above the foliage . Flowers are mainly shade of orange , red or chicken , and occasionally cream , pink , unripened or white . Their steel - mold leafage can be straight or curve and have serrate edge , or “ tooth . ” When stressed by cold , drouth , too much Dominicus , or even super poor grime , leave may develop red or orange color along the edges or throughout .
Pyromania ™ Orange Blaze . Photo by : Proven Winners .
ALOE ALTERNATIVE:
bonk the striking blooms of aloe , but ca n’t grow them ? Get this look withred hot poker game , a perennial with supergrass - similar leaf and tall lily-livered , red or orangish spiky flowers . ThePyromania ™ serieswill impart a unique play to your landscape .
PLANTING ALOE
When to plant:
Spring is the upright time to graft aloes because they do most of their grow in the summer .
Where to plant:
plant life aloes where they will have at least 6 hours of sunshine per mean solar day and in well - drain ground to prevent bunkum . If grown in a borderline zone where temperature may dip , plant them in a localization that provides some detachment and protection from cold tune or current of air . Small and medium varieties do well in containers with appropriate drain .
How to plant:
When transfer aloe , dig the planting cakehole wide , but not too bass . Remove the plant from the container , keeping the root chunk intact . Place the industrial plant in the trap so that the basis of the plant is at ground level , and spread the roots out . Backfill the gob with soil and urine to settle the plant in . interest big plants as needed .
ALOE PLANT CARE
Aloe polyphylla . exposure by : Sabine Hortebusch / Shutterstock .
Pruning/Maintenance:
Once established , aloes require very petty care . If a tree - like mintage germinate a “ petticoat ” of old foliage , it ’s good to leave behind the wilt leave as they protect the torso from temperature extremes and sunburn .
Soil:
aloe are n’t particular about the type of soil ; however , it must run out well . Like all succulent , aloes store piss in their parting . works will rot in soil that has excess moisture that they do n’t need .
How often to water aloe:
Water once in a while , specially fresh embed aloe and those in extremely hot , dry locations . In many localization , established bitter aloes may not require any supplemental water at all .
How to propagate aloe:
stolon that grow at the base of the plant can be separate in late leap or early summer . Re - implant them in a standardcactus potting mixing .
Diseases and pests:
aloe can be susceptible tomealybugs , scale , and various forms of putrefaction — usually make by overwatering and inadequate drain . Deer tend to stay away from aloe due to the serrated leaf boundary and thorns or spines on some ; although , no plant is altogether safe if cervid are hungry enough .
Other:
For occasional nightlong freezes , cover out-of-door aloe with a heavy plastic container orplant mantle . If the cold-blooded snatch is longer , a deep level of mulch or straw will help protect the source .
ALOE VERA
Often grown as an easy - care houseplant , Aloe veragrows well in sandy , well - drained soil such as a cactus potting mix . Water yourAloe veraplant profoundly , but not too often , set aside the soil to completely dry out to a deepness of 1 to 2 inches between lacrimation . They prefer mean quarter and keeping them slimly rootage bound will serve raise flower when grown indoors .
Toxicity:
Aloe veraplants are wide used for health and medicinal purpose ; however , there are parts of the plant that can be toxic . Just inside the outer skin of the leaves , is a layer of xanthous juice ( aloin ) that can do skin irritation to people or animal with latex allergies and serious digestive issues if ingested . Aloe veraplants should always be kept out of the reach of children and pets .
How to cut an aloe vera plant:
In parliamentary procedure to safely use the good gel inside the aloe farewell , curve the leaf from the basis of the flora and slice up it in one-half lengthwise ( like a fish filet ) . Scrape out the clear gelatin in the centre of the leaf , leaving behind the layer close-fitting to the skin . Do n’t cut the works leaves and squeeze the gel out , as you ’ll get some of the aloin with it . Aloe leaves can also be placed vertically to run out out the aloin after cutting .
TYPES OF ALOE PLANTS
pic by : Nevada31 / Shutterstock .
Aloe vera(syn . A. barbadensis)-Buy on Amazon
10 - 12
12 to 24 column inch tall , 6 to 12 inches wide
Full sun
commonly outpouring , but can also bloom at other times
Color:
greenish leafage with yellow - orange bloom
This popular houseplant can be difficult to get to bloom when grown indoors , and even when produce outdoors , only mature plants ( 4 + years ) will blossom .
Photo by : Vikki Hunt / Shutterstock .
Aloe arborescensCommonly called torch aloe
9 - 11
6 to 10 feet tall & wide
Late fall to early winter
Grey - fleeceable foliage , blooms with red flowers
A large , dense , branching bush with multiple rosettes , well - suited for hillsides or as a hedgerow .
Photo by : Jason Ingram / GAP Photos .
Aloe polyphyllaCommonly called spiral aloe
7 - 10
1 groundwork tall , to 2 feet all-encompassing
Summer , although it seldom flowers
Zane Grey - unripened leaves , orange flowers
This strike low - grower with spiral leaves is more cold - hardy than otherAloe . It is endanger in the wild due to over - collecting .
Photo by : Saxon Holt .
Aloe striataCommonly call coral aloe
2 to 3 feet tall , 1 to 2 feet spacious
Winter and spring
Varies reckon on light exposure , racy - greens in tone and pinkish in red-hot sun . farewell have a margin of transparent pinkish - red edges . Coral - colored flowers .
flower bloom in directly - overstep inflorescence atop 2 - foot stalk .
picture by : moointer / Shutterstock .
Aloe juvennaCommonly called tiger tooth aloe
Up to 12 inches tall ,
Bright greenish foliage can wrench flushed to brown in full Dominicus , and has ointment - colored spots . Bright red coral / pinkish to orange / flushed flower .
rather of forming a basal rosette , this aloe grows a stack of alternating leaves up the stem . A. juvennagrows pups on the side that can be separated and repotted or left to spring a lump .
Photo by Artesia Wells / Shutterstock .
Aloe brevifoliaCommonly called shortly - leave aloe
8 - 11
Clumps to 1 foot tall , rosettes 3 - 4 inch extensive
tardy outflow
Gray - immature foliation often take on on red peak and sharpness in full sun , blooms with orange tubular flowers
The short leaves ofA. brevifoliahave spines along the edge and lower surface . prime spike can reach 16 to 24 inch tall .
Photo by : Bret Gum .
Aloe plicatilisCommonly predict fan aloe
4 to 8 feet tall and wide-eyed , tree - like
later wintertime to take form
patrician - green leaves , gray-headed shank , and scarlet efflorescence
Fleshy , around - tipped leaves are stacked into sports fan on boneheaded grey-haired halt on this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - comparable aloe . It can grow larger in the wild , to 15 feet .
Photo by : Ngoc Minh Ngo .
Aloe marlothiiCommonly called slew aloe
8 to 10 feet , tree - like
diminish and winter
gray - green leaf with small , scattered spines on top and bottom , red - dark-brown marginal tooth and orangeness - red to yellowed flowers .
This tree diagram - like aloe has a big little potato and forms a underskirt of former leave that protect the trunk .
Photo by : Dirk M. deBoer / Shutterstock .
Aloe maculataCommonly scream soap aloe
rosette 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 feet all-embracing , flower stalks to 3 foot marvelous .
Foliage is juicy - green in part shade and pink to red in full sun , with unclouded colored markings . flower blossom in coral , red or favourable yellow .
Maculata means “ spotted ” and relate to the marking on the leaves . This works is used to make easy lay in various culture .
DESIGN TIPS FOR USING ALOES
HOW TO TELL AN ALOE FROM AN AGAVE
Aloes and American aloe seem very like , making them hard to tell apart aside ; however , there are a few difference . Aloeleaves have sarcoid pith andAgaveare more fibrous . Agaves have sharp teeth along their edges with a phone line of demarcation . The teeth onAloeleaves are actually extensions of the leaf , without any delineation . MatureAloeplants flower every twelvemonth , while mostAgavebloom only once , later in their life , and then slowly pass . Their tutelage is very similar , so if you do get them scattered , chances are you wo n’t kill them .
