

(2001).įree to access UC Davis Botanical Conservatory (2009). Ĭabi Digital Library: Invasive species, Tree, Host plant, Crop. The best parts of Kenya to plant would be in areas like Kitengela, Ngong, Tala, Machakos, Baringo and other regions.Īmura, C. This is why experts recommend a minimum spacing of 3 feet all round.
ALOE PLANT STEM FULL
A typical Aloe Vera plant has 25 leaves which extend up to full length of between one foot and 2 feet. Spacing is extremely important for high quality harvest. When planting using seeds, aim at a spacing of 3ft by 3ft. If multiple plants are being planted, provide them with individual pots or plant at least 60 cm (24 in) apart outdoors. Refrain from overwatering to force the growth of new roots. The young plants should be planted in their own pot and watered deeply. Pups can be safely removed when they have several sets of leaves. The young plant should be cut from the parent using a sharp knife. The pups should be cut from the main root by gently uprooting the mother plant and finding the point of attachment. The suckers are commonly referred to as “pups”. It should be rocky and with low water content.Īloe Vera can be grown from seeds, but is most easily propagated from suckers which are readily produced by the mother plant.

The best type of sandy soil for this crop is one that mimics the dirt found in the desert. vera prefers rich soils, but can tolerate poor, saline, or sodic soil. It grows best on well-drained sandy or loamy soils with pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5. During the winter months in the subtropics, the plant becomes dormant and utilizes very little moisture. It is adapted to areas with mean annual rainfall in the range 700 mm to 3000 mm. It does not tolerate temperatures below 0☌, experiencing slight damage at -3☌. It prefers areas with mean annual temperatures within the range 19-27☌, but can tolerate temperatures ranging from 10☌ to 35☌.

vera grows best in full sunshine and requires little water for its establishment, growth and reproduction. It can also be found growing in arid and semi-arid habitats, Mediterranean shrub lands, dry forests, urban bush lands, riparian areas, sand dunes and other sandy coastal habitats.Ī. This adaptation allows plants to survive long and extreme drought periods.Īloe Vera is a sub-tropical plant, which means that this crop does not tolerate cold climate. It belongs to a large class of plants known as “xeroids” characterised for its ability to close its stomata completely to avoid loss of water. The plant itself can grow to be 1 m (3 ft) in height, it takes 4-5 years to mature and can live for up to 100 years if well cared for.Īloe vera is indigenous to Eastern and Southern Africa. Aloe vera plants produce a conspicuous inflorescence composed of densely packed pendulous yellow flowers on a spike which can be up to 90 cm (35 in) in height. The leaves may be flecked with white and are pale green or grey-green in colour. The Aloe vera plant has a short, stout stem and a rosette of fleshy, lanceolate leaves which have a serrated margin of small white teeth. Aloe vera is an herbaceous perennial in the family Liliaceae grown for its succulent leaves which have a variety of culinary and medicinal uses.
