Aloe marlothii - Mountain aloe is found growing in bushveld vegetation along mountainous areas, rocky terrain and slopes at elevations of 0-1600 meter
Aloe marlothii, also called as Mountain aloe, Flat-flowered aloe, is a species in the Aloe genus. This species was described by Alwin Berger in 1905.
IDENTIFY ALOE MARLOTHII - MOUNTAIN ALOE
Aloe marlothii is native to Botswana, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique,
Northern Provinces, Swaziland. It is found growing in bushveld vegetation
along mountainous areas, rocky terrain and slopes at elevations of 0-1600
meters above sea level.
It is a large, perennial, succulent, single-stemmed aloe which reaching up to 6 meters tall that are usually solitary or sometimes suckering to form small groups of plants with simple, erect or decumbent, 1–3 m long stem clothed in withered leaf remains. The leaves are large, light green to greyish green to blue-green, up to 150 long and 25 cm wide, with reddish-brown spines along the margins and randomly on other parts of the leaf.
Mountain aloe blooms in late fall to late winter from the erect, to 80 cm tall inflorescence of a much-branched panicle that appears above the leaf rosette and having up to 30 racemes. The flowers color varies from the typical orange-red to yellow or bright red. The distinctively horizontal branches of its inflorescence is an easy way to distinguish this species from other aloes.
ALOE MARLOTHII - MOUNTAIN ALOE CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Aloe marlothii grow well in full or partial sun. When the plant doesn’t get enough light, it starts growing tall, become stretched and lose their color, their leaves are sparse around a long, thin stem. This means the plant is reaching for light. If you grow the plant indoors, place your plants near a southern or southwest-facing window that gets plenty of bright, indirect light, turn the plant occasionally to ensure that all sides of your plant get enough sun.
In the middle of summer, keep it bright but skip the very hot, and burning western sun, which can fry them. Also, the dramatically changing amount of the sunlight is a stress source for your plants. If you are going to move your outdoor succulents to the interior places, do it gradually.
Temperature:
Mountain aloe can grow outdoor in USDA zone 9-11. It prefers warmer temperatures of 70 °F or 21 °C to 80 °F or 27 °C, but will survive down to 40 °F or 4.5 °C. In others zone you can grow the plant in a container then bring them indoors to a sunny location for the winter or when a freeze threatens. During the winter, a few degrees lower will be ideal.
Substrate and growing media:
Aloe marlothii can be grown in variety of soils, but the most ideal soil for it is sandy loam that is slightly alkaline with a pH up to 8.5. The root system of this plant is shallow and does not penetrate deep into soil. However, water logged soil is totally unsuitable.
The plant can also grow indoor in container. COntainers have to filled a quarter full with drainage materail and compost consisting 2 parts loam and 1 part coarse sand, broken bricks and crushed limestone, with a bit of bone meal added. The plant should be potted in spring and watered carefully until established.
The plants are not particularly fast-growing and will only rarely need repotting. Repot them in the spring in a container a few inches larger in diameter every few years to keep it from becoming rootbound.
Watering:
Watering is the most important aspect of proper care. Water once a week for the first month following planting and reduce watering thereafter. Well-established plants can survive for several months without water. Be sure not to over-water in heavy clay soils. In winter, light watering 1 time a month is largely enough. Allow the soil to become dry between waterings. Under cool temperatures, keep both the soil and foliage dry. Humidity is not an issue as they are dry land plants that can tolerate wide swing with little difficulty.
You should water the plant once in a while, but pouring a big amount. Keep water running through the soil until it is completely wet and let the soil drain all the water inside. They do not like to stay in a wet soil. Repeat this watering process if needed. After you water your plant, you should wait a long period of time in order the plant use all the water storage inside its body.
If you notice that leaves are falling off, are wilting, turning yellow, or turning brown, it could be an issue with watering. Too much watering or too little watering can all affect the health of your plant.
Fertilizer:
Well-rooted plant will benefit from occasional applications of dilute liquid fertilizer in the summer. The best fertilizers to use are liquid 10-40-10 houseplant mixes, or mixes designed specifically for succulents. Avoid granular fertilizers. If your plant is in a container, water it thoroughly the day before feeding. This should flush out any lingering salts and reduce the risk of tip burn.
Pruning:
Little need for pruning except in old plants. The withered leaves form a natural petticoat and thus do not need to be pruned away. Prune dead flowers heads. The dead leaves around the trunk can be left or removed.
Rest period:
Mountain aloe grow mainly in Spring and Summer and nearly cease growing in Autumn and winter (their dormant period). Water and fertilizer should reduced or completely eliminated during this period. Over-watering causes the plants to fail at any time of year, but in the winter growers will find it a lot easier to over-water. Do not use self-watering pots and do not allow a lot of water to sit in detached catch pots.
Pests and diseases:
Aloe marlothii is known to be susceptible to white scale and aloe rust fungus. Control white scale by scrubbing either with soapy water or soap and oil or nicotine sulphate and soap. With rust fungus, remove infected leaves or entire plants if severely affected. Mealybugs, mites, scale insects, and snout beetles are all potential threats.
Propagation:
Aloe marlothii is easy to grow from seed in spring when planted in a container with drainage holes in the bottom. Place a layer of stones and cover with a small amount of compost before adding sterile soil. River sand also works well. Seeds may be sown directly onto the sand with thin sand covering. To avoid seedlings damping-off from the wilting fungus, a preventative fungicide can be applied. Mist the container and store it in a place with direct sunlight. Water each morning to afternoon, reducing frequency after germination. As the seedlings begin to show their succulence and aloe shape they require less watering, however they will develop faster with regular watering and care. The seedling may be transferred to a pot with more loamy soil over stone chips and compost at any point between three months and two years of age.
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