Aloe aculeata, a spicy succulent

Water only when the potting soil has completely dried out. Your plant prefers one copious watering to several less generous sessions. In this way, it can build up its water reserves and its roots won't rot. The substrate should remain moist for two days, the time it takes for your succulent to store water.

Place your Aloe aculeata in its pot in your sink or in a container such as a bowl or terrine. Water the soil until the water begins to run into the container. Continue until you reach the height of the drainage layer (about two centimetres). Once this limit has been reached, stop watering and replace your pot in its saucer. Empty stagnant water when it appears.

To determine whether your fat plant is thirsty, observe its leaves. If they become less fleshy, thin or hollow, it's time to give them a drink.

Aloe aculeata grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.

In spring, transfer your Aloe aculeata to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Aloe aculeata plants need repotting only when their roots begin to emerge from the pot.

In this case, choose an earthenware pot with a hole barely larger than the previous one (about 5 centimetres) : it will promote drainage.

Lay down a layer of clay balls or gravel before pouring in a substrate suitable for succulents. You can also mix a third of sand with your potting soil. Tamp regularly to eliminate air pockets and replant your Aloe aculeata.

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

You don't have to fertilize your plant to make it grow. However, if you want to stimulate its growth, you can give itfertilizer for cacti and succulents.

You can remove the dead leaves.

It's important not to prune the tips of the leaves. This will stop the growth of your Aloe aculeata.

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Where's the best place to plant your Aloe aculeata? A sunny spot at the top of a slope, to encourage rainwater drainage.

Dig a large hole to give the roots room to spread out. As for repotting, place a layer of gravel at the bottom, followed by a layer of substrate. Place your plant in the center and cover with soil, possibly enriched with leaf compost. Press down to eliminate air pockets and water.

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Take the shoots that form at the base of your Aloe aculeata. The larger they are, the greater the chances of success. Choose shoots with several leaves.

Cut off the new plant and its roots with a clean, sharp blade.

In a pierced terracotta pot, pour a bed of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage.

Prepare a mixture of one-third potting soil, one-third garden soil and one-third sand. Pour it into your pot, on top of the drainage layer. Plant your cutting and tamp it down.

Place the pot in a room where the temperature is always above 18 degrees. The location should be bright and out of direct sunlight. You can, for example, place your cutting behind a curtained window.

To avoid drowning the roots, always check the condition of the substrate before watering: the surface must be dry.