Episode 176: Michael Dent from Aloe Aloe
Michael Dent has introduced a range of hybrid aloes to Australian gardeners which have spectacular flowers, dramatic foliage and architectural shapes. He chats with Deryn about how the Aloe Aloe range of plants can be used in modern gardens.
SITE SELECTION, SOILS AND GARDEN DESIGN AND PLANTING ALOES
It is important to understand the form of the aloe as they are all different. Some are clumping ground covers, others shrubs that form a hedge and others tall trees with thick stems
It is also important to understand the mature size of the aloe. Aloes should not be considered static like a piece of furniture. They grow and evolve over time and this needs to be understood and managed
They can be planted as a monoculture but personally I prefer using them with other companion plants particularly with contrasting textures and forms. The trick is to ensure those companion plants are able to tolerate the same conditions as the aloe .
Aloe flower colours comprise orange, pink, red, white, yellow and also many bicolours. Aloe-Aloe hybrids flower generally very slowly, thus providing a show for an extended period of time, in some cases for as long as 9 months. The decision points on species or cultivar selection are not only around size, shape and flower colour but also timing of the flowering- some are lates summer, others winter and some spring flowering
Leaf colours range from grey, green, yellow-green, dark green to red-green, and many with spots and speckles. In addition the texture varies greatly between cultivars, which range from very rounded, smooth leaves to leaves that are strikingly curled. Further leaves can have a smooth leaf margin whilst others have blood-red, black or white margins.
The rosette of an aloe can get very heavy so if planted in pots, the pot needs to be of a sufficient size particularly for tall growing aloes as the pot could fall over because of the weight of the rosette
Aloes will grow in poor light conditions but for good flowering, direct sunlight is necessary This is more important for the larger growing cultivars although there are certain smaller cultivars. Aloes in shaded positions will never thrive. They will ultimately elongate, will weaken, will be susceptible to disease and will never flower.
Aloes can tolerate poor soils (except clay and soils that don’t drain well) but will not thrive nor will the flowering be optimised. For a great flowering aloe it is important to have good rich soil and modification of that soil may be necessary to encourage humis. This can be done by adding cow manure.
An open , free draining soil allows water to pass through the root catchment area, which means that the aloe can absorb only what water (and nutrients) it needs.
Drainage can also be achieved from planting on a slope or a raised bed so that surplus rainwater is able to run off
When planting it is important that the neck of the aloe is not planted too deeply nor should mulch be put against the neck
Newly planted aloes will respond well to growth stimulants , tonics (like Seasol) and liquid fertiliser (neutrog)
There are many pure species of aloes from warmer regions' of Africa that are unable to cope with frost we experience in the colder parts of Australia. However all of the Aloe-Aloe range are born and bred at altitude in South Africa where light morning frosts and temperatures of minus 5 degrees in winter is a common occurrence. For this reason all the varieties have been tested to be able to cope with light frost and most varieties with moderate frosts
Australian native plants a generally very flamible so aloes are increasingly being planted in this country (as they are in California) as barriers to bush fire. The Yellingup home of Bill and Di Mitchell is a wonderful example and no doubt many of your WA listeners would have visited this garden
Increasingly across Australia gardeners are adopting these new flowering aloes as tough flowering perennials, providing colour for much of the year, mainly in autumn and winter when there is little else in flower.
LOOKING AFTER ALOES
Aloes are unlikely to die if there are extended periods of drought but the plants will benefit from some water in those time. Keeping them green and healthy (rather than stressed and red) will me that they are healthy, more resistant to pests and disease and will flower better
Despite being tough plants relative to other garden plants all creatures have natural predators and aloes are no exception
Aphids and mealy bugs are the foremost offenders, particularly after long periods of drought as rainfall would normally wash them off
Root rot can occur is the soil is not free draining and the roots get waterlogged
One pest to watch out for is parasitic eriophyid mites which wont kill the aloe but can cause unsightly galls on the flower or plants. Gardeners should be on the lookout for deformed flowers, a bubbly fringe on the leaf edges and orange-and-green growths where the leaves meet stems. These plants should be immediately double bagged and destroyed in general waste so as to stop its spread.
Some aloes produce side shoots which can be removed if apical dominance is preferred
After many years aloes can get too tall (Like a cordyline) and in Africa they might be knocked down by an Elephant. In our gardens they could fall over if they are top heavy and the soil is loose. In this case the plant should be supported with a stake or require what we call rejuvenation which is cutting the stem, drying out the rosette and replanting it after a few weeks
Aloes are heavy feeders and good nutrients don’t cause flowering but enable it so in my own garden I water in well rotted cow manure or chicken manure in the spring. A biological fertilizer like neutrog and a tonic like Seasol a would be perfect. Aloes in pots will similarly benefit particularly as the soils deteriorate more quickly in pots.
GIVE ALOES A TRY
Gardening is a wonderful journey of learning and growing. It is a journey of exploring, finding new things and including them in our gardens. With these new flowering aloes ‘green thumbs’ and 'black thumbs' alike are now discovering that they are able to enjoy colourful flowers for much of the year (mainly in autumn and winter when there is little else in flower ) with very little effort required.