2022 | How to Care for Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

The Aloe Arborescens is commonly known as the Torch Aloe, Krantz Aloe, and Candelabra Aloe, is a member of the Aloe family, best known for its medicinal and ornamental uses. The name “Torch Aloe” was given to it due to its appearance like a burning torch. This plant is native to Africa and the Middle East and was brought to Europe in the 1600s, from where it traveled to America.

This is a sprawling, multi headed succulent plant with a large size (can grow upto 2 meters in height). It has blue-green thick leaves and yellow colored teeth along the edges. Torch Aloe is mostly grown for ornamental, medicinal, and natural fencing purposes. This plant can adjust itself according to the temperatures and can even frost for a short time.

How to Water Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

The Torch Aloe is a succulent plant and it has the same water needs as all the other succulents. This best method you can follow to water it is using the “soak and dry” method. In this method, you first let the plant’s pot soil completely dry, and then you provide it with water.

Follow the instructions below:

  • Let the pot soil completely dry, you can check the potting soil if it is dry or not by either picking up the pot and checking its weight or dipping your finger into the potting soil.
  • After this, you can water the plant, make sure to water it sparingly and keep watering until it reaches the bottom of the pot.
  • You can create a schedule for watering based upon your environmental conditions and climate. If it is hot and dry, you can water frequently, but in wet and cold regions less frequent watering is better.
  • On average you can provide it with water once in 10 days.

Lighting and Temperature needs for Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

This is a succulent plant from the African deserts region where it faces the sun almost all day long, but during the summer it requires some shade. Its lighting needs are the partial sun to partial shade in summer and full sun to partial sun in the winter. The plant needs plenty of light to thrive, so if you are growing it inside make sure to keep it somewhere it can get enough light.

They like mildly hot temperatures, but they can also survive the cold temperatures for a short time. The best temperature to grow them is around 70° F or 25° C but if you want to grow them in a cold region, it is best to keep them inside.

Soil needs for Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

When it comes to the soil, the Torch Aloe has similar soil requirements as the other succulents and aloe plants require. They need porous soil with the ability to quickly drain the water. Such soil mostly contains sand, perlite, pumice stone, volcanic lapilli, and other materials that help it quickly drain the water.

The plant needs a quickly draining soil because its roots are delicate and if the soil traps water inside it, that can cause its roots to rot, and the plant may die. To prevent this, make sure to use the proper well-draining soil.

Organic Succulent and Cactus Soil via Amazon

Fertilizer for Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

The Torch Aloe plant grows quickly in the optimal conditions, if you are growing it inside you might see a retarded growth. To boost its growth rate, you can feed it fertilizers, home plant fertilizers for the succulents are the best choice for this purpose.

You can add the home plant fertilizer to the potting soil before the plantation, after the plantation you can create a mixture of water and the houseplant fertilizer and then keep feeding it to your plant. This will help your plant to boost its growth.

How to Repot Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

Torch Aloe is a fast-growing species of the succulent plants, so, it often outgrows its pot. When this happens, you need to repot your plant to a bigger pot. The best season for reporting is the summer season.

First, you need to choose a bigger pot, with a proper drain hole and then you can add the soil that is best for the succulents into the pot. After this, you need to carefully uproot and transfer your plant to the bigger pot. Make sure that its roots remain unharmed.

How to Propagate Aloe Arborescens (Torch Aloe)

There are three methods to propagate the Aloe Arborescens.

Offsets:

The Torch Aloe plants grow smaller offsets that can be detached from the mother plant and then planted into another pot. To grow it from the offsets you need to cut it from the mother plant with the help of a sterile sharp knife. Water them after planting them into a new pot.

Cuttings:

It can also be grown using the cuttings from the mature plant. You need a sterile sharp knife to take cuttings and then allow them to be callous for several days. After that, you can transfer them to a new pot, water them and leave them in the sunlight for a few days.

Growing from Seeds:

It is possible to grow them with the help of their seeds. First, you need to keep their seeds into a moist environment for a few days and then transfer them to a pot with porous soil. Provide them water and wait for them to sprout, keep the pot outside for a few days.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Name the methods to grow the Torch Aloe?

Answer: There are three methods to grow Torch Aloe (1) seed (2) offset (3) cuttings. 

Question: Is Torch Aloe edible??

Answer: Yes, its flowers are sucked for their sweet nectar. In Japan, it is cooked as a vegetable and is considered a remedy for constipation.

Question: Is Torch Aloe good for skin??

Answer: Yes, the leaves of this plant contain vitamins and skin supplements that are good for taking care of your skin. 

 Question: How big can a Torch Aloe grow?

Answer: Torch Aloe can grow upto 2.5 meters in outdoor and optimal condition but in indoor conditions, it can grow upto 1.8 meters.

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