Hey, you know what? There is a kind of aloe vera leaf that resembles the skeleton of an ancient fan, and it is the folding fan aloe vera. Imagine a fan-like aloe vera growing in the vast South African desert that brings a touch of life to this barren land. Why has aloe vera become a niche ornamental potted plant? So in this issue, let's explore the mystery together.
If you're looking to fill your houseplant harem with a small tree-like succulent, then Kumara Plicatilis Aloe Vera is definitely your top pick!
Kumara plicatilis, it was originally called aloe plicatilis, but people prefer to call it fan aloe. This is no ordinary aloe vera, it grows as tall as a tree, about 16 feet (4.).9 m) and is particularly easy to feed.
The most interesting thing about this fan of aloe vera is that some people think that it should no longer be classified as aloe vera. Therefore, Kumara plicatilis is classified as a plant of the genus Aloe Vera in the family Afuhua, and there are two flowering plants in this genus, both of which are in the subfamily Afuhua. There is also a plant called Kumara Haemanthifolia, which has won the prestigious award from the Royal Horticultural Society, the Garden Merit Award.
It is the star of the Finbos ecoregion between the towns of Franschhoek and Elansklouve in the Western Cape province of South Africa! However, it only appears within a specific range of a few mountain ranges, covering an area of 1,800 square kilometers.
When it comes to altitude, it can be a bit "picky" and only likes to live at altitudes of 150-650 meters.
Its habitat is also exceptional, scattered among 17 different populations, each of which can be large, with up to 500 mature individuals too! It is particularly fond of sandstone and often "takes root" in sandstone rubble on top of granite. It also prefers well-drained, sandy, slightly acidic soils and prefers to grow on very steep, rocky, south-facing slopes that are protected from fire. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and cold and wet winters.
In this area, there are a few other succulents such as Table Mountain aloe aloe commixta and a rare sister species, Aloe Haemanthifolia. However, there are also some invasive alien species, such as pine seedlings and Australian acacias. Fortunately, the densities of these species are not high and pose no threat to them.
How, don't you think this unique kind is interesting? What a unique environment it lives in! He seemed to say again: "In this world, in addition to the aloe vera tree is relatively tall, there is also my folding fan aloe vera!" ”
It is a very ornamental aloe vera variety, and now it has become a niche ornamental potted plant in China. You can choose to sow seeds and cultivate, or buy seedlings directly to plant, but ** is not cheap, a small seedling costs dozens of dollars!
There are only two varieties of Aloe Vera, one is Aloe Vera and the other is Aloe Vera. The leaves of potted plants are particularly neatly grown, and the plants are dwarf, which is suitable for viewing on the table. Its leaves grow very neatly, like a gentleman's orchid.
Because the aloe vera leaves resemble the skeleton of an ancient fan, it is sometimes called the "Otohime no Dance Fan". Aloe vera plants can reach a height of more than 5 meters, and the stems are gray with clusters at the ends of the branches. Its leaves are strip-shaped, each leaf is about 30 cm long and 5 cm wide, close to gray-green, with racemes and crimson flowers. Many times the leaves produce watery exudate that crystallizes into a yellowish waxy solid.
The plant was described by Heinrich Bernhard Oldenland in 1695, but Linnaeus's first valid Latin name in 1753 was Aloe Disticha (var.). plicatilis)。plicatilis means "foldable" and refers to its fan-shaped rosette.
A 2013 article in the Journal of Plant Taxonomy suggested that it be named Kumara Disticha, a name that first appeared in 1786. However, considering Linnaeus' naming of the plant in 1753, the final name was Kumara Palicatilis.
The aloe vera family is usually fleshy herbaceous or shrub-like, with occasional tree-like ones. Their roots are fiber-like and have tuber-like thickened parts. The thickness of the stems varies, some erect and some drooping. The highest records in the field show that the largest individuals are even more than 10 meters, and the short ones have almost no stems. The leaves are single-leafed, growing around the stem, and are shaped like a line, sickle, or lanceo. Most of them have rosette-like leaf discs at the tips of stems and branches, sometimes evenly distributed along the stems; Each leaf can live for several years and is distinctly fleshy with punctate or streaked lines.
Kumara plicatilis is native to South Africa and inhabits the rocky slopes of the Western Cape. It is a "time-honored brand" in the British houseplant world and a "star" among garden plants in the Mediterranean
Folding fan aloe vera is a "big name" both indoor and outdoor. It is a "frequent visitor" of drought-tolerant landscape planning and rockery decoration.
However, aloe vera that leaves its natural habitat is like a fish out of water, growing slowly and potentially being "bullied" by other plants.
Overall, Folding Fan Aloe Vera, like most aloe vera, is very "easy to get along with" and can be easily handled by both novice and experienced growers, and its needs are similar to those of most succulents.
Kumara Plicatilis prefers bright environments, with lots of direct sunlight being its "favorite". Like most succulents, it craves the sun's embrace so it can thrive. So, whether you're growing it indoors or outdoors, look for a sunny "comfort zone" for it.
Overwatering is the "nemesis" of the folding fan aloe vera. Like most succulents, it is insensitive to "wet feet" and is susceptible to root rot. To keep it well, never overwater it.
Aloe vera goes into "dormant mode" in the summer, meaning it temporarily "lies flat" during the hot months. It's resting, it's time for you to stop, stop watering and fertilizing.
Aloe vera is generally harmless to humans and pets. So if grown indoors, it won't pose a threat to your child or "furry child".
Kumara plicatilis is not frost resistant, which means you'll have to find ways to protect it from the cold, especially sub-zero temperatures. This succulent likes warmth and, like most succulents, has its most comfortable temperature around 70 to 80 °F (21 to 27 °C). The lowest temperature it can tolerate is 20°F (-6.).7°c）。With this in mind, if you live in a cold region, bring your fan aloe vera into the house.
Aloe vera can be infested with some "uninvited guests", such as root rot, scale insects and mealybugs. To get rid of scale insects, use gardening oil and prune infected shoots. If the infection is mild, rubbing alcohol can help. To get rid of mealybugs, wipe the stalks of the aloe vera with medical alcohol and moistened cotton.
If you want to make your folding fan aloe vera "fat and strong", you have to take care of its "lighting needs". Kumara Plicatilis loves to "sunbathe" and needs plenty of direct sunlight to grow, mimicking its native environment. Whether you keep it inside or outside the house, it is recommended to keep it in a place where you can get at least 4-6 hours of sun a day.
If you want to "spice up" the growth and flowering of the folding fan aloe vera, you can give it some "nutritious meals" to let it grow up healthy and happy. So how about feeding some? Our suggestion is to give it some fertilizer for cacti and other succulents. Remember, feed once a year, just in the spring.
If you want to make a well-drained soil, we recommend that you mix some fast-draining potting soil with sand or pebbles to make a potting mixture. Something as rough as sand and pebbles will keep the excess water drained out of the soil and protect your aloe vera from root rot.
Hopefully, the above will help you to learn more about the aloe vera and make it thrive under your care and bloom with the splendor of life! Let us work together to protect these precious plant resources, live in harmony with nature, create a beautiful green home, and contribute to the sustainable development of the earth!