Home»Cactus - Succulents»Information About Aloe
Aloe ferox [ AL - oh , FER - oks ] , also known as bitter aloe , is a magniloquent , spiky species of aloe ( xanthorrhoeaceae ) from the family family Asphodelaceae ( Aloe plant life ) .
Native to Southern Africa , aloe ferox is widely distributed from the South Western Cape to KwaZulu - Natal and eastern cape responsibility .
The long - stemmed plant is also bump in the southeast end of the Free State , southerly Lesotho , and edge of the karoo .
The plant thrives best on grassy fynbos and capable jolting / bushy areas , often in a vast regalia , where it creates a breathtaking horizon .
The widely - populated aloe species is be intimate by a few uncouth names as follows :
Aloe Ferox Care
Size and Growth
mantle aloe is a succulent , tardily - growing plant with a superlative up to 6 ’ – 9 ’ feet tall and breadth up to 3 ’ – 5 ’ feet wide-cut .
It is a svelte evergreen works armed with shrill light-green - blue leaf , commonly structure in a little potato .
ordinarily , the baksheesh of the aloe leaves breaking ball in a down place . The spines at the edge of the leaves are red .
These thorn are also present on the upper and lower surface of the leafage .
When vernal , the flora is quite spiny but as it grow , it becomes less spiky .
Over time , the works produces impudent , newfangled leave-taking with small-scale orangey - carmine spine .
The old leaves remaining on the base are known as “ underskirt ” .
refer : Growing The Blue Elf Aloe
Flowering and Fragrance
scarlet aloe plantsproduce racemes of orangey - reddened flowers with intense orange stamen .
The shiny flowers are the most big feature of speech of the succulent , after the leave of absence of path .
Tubular and long - permanent , the showy flush are held in a clustering above the foliage .
The efflorescence resemble large , elegant candelabra with approximately 5 to 7 branches .
Aloe ferox evokes no scent whatsoever and is valued for its colorless leaf gelatin and acerb brown exudate with cathartic belongings .
Lighting and Temperature
As with most aloe species , this south African native prefer collateral sunlight or contrived light for tidy plant emergence .
When aloe receive low-down light it grows nice and leggy .
The ideal temperature for the growth of scarlet aloe is between 55 ° to 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 13 ° – 27 ° C ) .
The plant is intolerant to dusty temperature and does well in tender , moist weather condition precondition .
The USDA Hardiness Zones of biting aloe plants is 9 to 11 .
Watering and Feeding
This drought - tolerant flora is capable to make it without casual or frequent watering .
Ideally , the perennial flora prefers little or non - uninterrupted irrigation .
The aloe plant has minimum feeding requirements .
The plant necessitate to be aliment during the summertime months with fertilizer . Ideally , liquid fertilizing is applied 2 to 3 time per time of year .
Soil and Transplanting
Grooming and Maintenance
Aloe ferox is a depleted - criminal maintenance industrial plant and require trivial passementerie and clip in a year .
The works should be check into for old , numb leaves .
In the casing of discredited or brown leaf , rationalize them at the radical using a scissor or a tongue .
Avoid poor lighting , too much water , or too little water system when growing an aloe ferox plant . All these three element contribute to damaging .
How to Propagate Cape Aloe
The aloe plant often develops pups or suckers . Once these off - shoot plants develop some size they can be slay to grow more works .
This article share details on start newAloe pup or beginning .
The extension of an aloe ferox plant is also carried out through seeds .
This intact process may take up to 6 months or more .
Cape Aloe Pests and Diseases
Aloe ferox plants are susceptible to mealybugs , industrial plant scale , and mites .
Diseases like leaf spots , bacterial infection , canker / galls , and aloe rust commonly attack the pop succulent .
Root guff can have serious government issue to plant health . To control , deflect overwatering , plant is a lighter fat , well - drained stain . Clean the septic region and spring up in clean land .
Aloe Ferox Uses
The gel from the fleshy leaves is like to aloe vera gel and is employed in beauty product .
The not - so acrid gelatin has many medicinal uses .
The aloe colloidal gel of these medicative plant avail treat several skin conditions such as wound , burns , inflammation , etc .
The gelatin is also applied to the scalp to promote whisker growth and handle dandruff .
In addition to healing uses , the gel has edible aim too such as being a laxative .
In South Africa , the gooey liquid is used in reach jams .
It is also an active ingredient in many alimental solid food and drunkenness .
