After the lockdown, more people have started cultivating vegetables at home to be self-reliant. In order to be self-sufficient in healthcare, one should have aloe vera plant at their herbal garden. The mucopolysaccharides filled in its leaves gives medicinal qualities to aloe vera. It is a rich source of calcium, iron, zinc and other elements.
Medicinal value
Due to the presence of antioxidants, aloe vera is good for improving health of skin cells. It has high amount of Vitamin E which can treat dry skin, wrinkles and pigmentation. Drinking aloe vera juice every day can enhance immunity, improve metabolism and resist cancer. Aloe gel can cure burn and cut injuries and also reduce diabetes.
How to plant
Aloe vera grows to a height of 1.5 feet only. It can be grown in grow bags or flowerpots. New plants are developed from the sprouts emerging from the bottom of the mother plant. Ideally, a distance of upto 1.5 feet should be kept between two plants.
Dry cow dung powder can be added as fertiliser. Upto 2 kilograms of cow dung powder can be applied for one plant. Dry cattle manure and vermicompost should be added along with slightly heaping the soil once in six weeks.
From third month of planting, aloe vera can be harvested. One plant can be harvested for about 5 years continuously. Aloe vera is an ideal for intercropping in coconut plantation.
Places where sunlight is available for upto 6 hours per day is suitable for growing aloe vera. Though it can resist drought, lack of moisture can affect the plant. The edge of leaves turn brown when irrigation is insufficient.
Excess moisture also is harmful for the plant. Black spots appear on the laves in case of surplus watering. The plant is likely to grow higher from ground and then fall flat as it ages. Adding organic fertiliser and moving soil is a solution for this. Normally, pests rarely attack aloe plant.
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