Why do aloe plants flower

Aloe vera plants are more likely to produce flowers if grown in USDA hardiness zones These regions have the most favorable temperature conditions for this plant species to thrive and blossom. Aloe vera blossoms once annually usually from early spring-summer, which is its peak growth season. However, depending on where you live, you may notice sporadic blooming during any of the other seasons.

Take note though, that in the Northern hemisphere, aloe vera bud development starts in winter when temperatures are lowest and days are shorter meaning fewer hours of sunlight.

If you have a flowering aloe plant such as aloe vera, you can enhance its chances of producing beautiful blossoms by sticking to the proper care and maintenance routine. This includes providing the appropriate temperature conditions, fertilizing the aloe vera, and watering it when it needs water. Aloe vera plants prefer daytime temperatures of degrees Fahrenheit. However, if temperatures exceed degrees Fahrenheit, the plant is likely to suffer leaf burn. Therefore, during warm spring-summer weather, we recommend moving your potted, mature aloe vera outdoors during the day.

This may cause scorched or sunburnt aloe vera leaves and stems , as it needs time to adjust to the increased light conditions. Instead, place your aloe vera in partial shade for about seven days before moving it to a brighter spot. Aloe vera thrives in well-lit conditions. Place an indoor aloe vera plant on a brightly lit window sill such as an east-facing window and ensure it gets a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day to encourage it to bloom. Avoid planting your aloe vera in a black-colored pot.

Even worse, placing the black pot outdoors during summer days will likely exacerbate the problem. Another effective way to encourage flowering in your indoor aloe vera plant is to fertilize it with a liquid fertilizer at least once every month.

Meanwhile, for aloe vera growing in outdoor gardens, fertilizing it at least once from late winter-early spring will make the succulent produce flowers. For most succulents, fertilization and watering go hand in hand, and aloe vera is no different. Take note too, that aloe vera only needs enough water to prevent it from drying out, and too much water will drown the plant.

Always let the top two inches of the soil completely dry out between successive watering sessions. You can always test this out by inserting a finger into the soil mix and feeling for wetness. Plants grown indoors rarely bloom, so if you are going to get a flower you are quite fortunate! When they are grown in tropical climates outdoors, a flower emerges on a stalk from the center of the plant in winter.

You can expect a yellow or red flower, depending on the variety. Related: Ask the Master Gardener: Dishing on making the perfect dish garden. Dear Master Gardener : It seems poinsettias come in all kinds of colors. Which ones are natural colors and which ones are dyed? Is the plant safe to have around pets? According to the Random Acts of Flowers organization, more than 35 million potted poinsettias are sold every year in the United States, accounting for almost one-fourth of all flowering potted plants sold.

There are more than one hundred varieties of poinsettias that come in various shades of red, pink, white, and cream. Some are even mottled. All other colors are created with dyes. Red is the most popular color and accounts for about three-fourths of all sales.

According to the University of Vermont Extension, every state in the United States grows poinsettias commercially with California being the top producer with over six million pots grown, followed by North Carolina with 4. Like many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family, the poinsettia can ooze a milky sap, so touching the leaves can irritate the skin.

For pets, the poinsettia sap may cause mild irritation or nausea. You will probably want to keep your pets from snacking on poinsettia leaves - eating them could bring on vomiting and diarrhea.

Aloes grow well in warmer climates where winter temperatures do not fall below freezing. In areas where colder temperatures are possible, the plants must be protected if temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a few hours.

While they will tolerate full sun, bright, reflected light may become too much for them. In summer, water them every other week, and winter rainfall will take care of them the rest of the year. They prefer sandy, well-draining soil, and you should ensure it is dry before planting them in the ground. Aloes do well in low-water environments like dune scapes or rock gardens.

Aloe plants work well as edgings or borders, depending on size, and can also be planted in colonies for a dramatic effect.