Aloe laeta

Aloe laeta

Native to Madagascar. It is a rare but extremely attractive slow growing stemless, or nearly so aloe. It forms rosettes maximally up to 20 cm in diameter, whose blue-grey-green, waxy leaves have dense red teeth on the margin. Its flowers appear in a head-like raceme and are pendulous, cylindrical, and carmine red.

Sowing instructions: Seeds germinate very well but may damp off if overwatered. Use a mixture of river sand, compost and soil to sow seeds in. Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the surface and cover with a layer of small pebbles. The pebbles help the seedlings to stay upright and prevent damping off. Keep seed tray in a dry warm corner and do not allow to dry out. Transplant the seedlings after one year.

Locality: Manando, Madagascar. Harvest: August 2024