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In Article Flowering Aloe,
 Lm1929 <lm1929@aol.com> wrote:
>      I have an Aloe houseplant (I'm not sure if it is Aloe Vera or some
> other variety) that flowered last year and is flowering again this year. I
> tend to keep plants alive more by accident than design and am wondering
> under what conditions will an aloe bloom. I try to remember to water it
> the first of every month - only ever from the bottom. The plant is near a
> window that gets very little direct sunlight a day. In addition, I
> repotted the plant a couple of years ago. I also regularly cut off any
> leaves as nec. for burns, if the leaves bend, or just get in my way. 
>      I would appreciate any information on what I am doing right or wrong.

Lisa - 

There are quite a number of Aloe species, which I'm learning recently,
come from a variety of different places and climates in South Africa.
But I'm betting that you have A. vera chinensis, or perhaps another
common variety.  A description of the leaves and flowers would help me
assist you in the identification.

Aloe vera chinensis, common sold as a houseplant, has long leaves, only
slightly toothed, mostly upright, occasionally (especially on young
plants) lightly spotted with pale green or cream.  The flowers are in
vertical spikes, and usually orange to yellow.  The type species, A.
vera, has yellow flowers.  While this is the most commonly cultivated
'burn aloe', there are other species sometimes used, and most of the
Aloe species have similar properties (in some, the sap can stain and is
therefore less desirable).

Locally, many Aloes are blooming right now.  Here in the SF Bay Area,
those species from the winter rainfall areas of South Africa do very
well for us.  It seems to me that the cooler weather and the increased
rain promote the flowering, but there might also be a day-length trigger.
It is so effortless here outdoors that I've not given it much thought.
Some of the species from the summer rainfall regions of South Africa
can also be grown, and flower during those months, but are likely to
rot off in our winter dampness.  If you can somehow simulate our climate,
summer dryness and warm temps, cool to moderate winter temps and more
water, perhaps you find flowering as easy as it is here.

 
 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    http://www.dla.ucop.edu/~sao
 Oakland, California  94610-1459    h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 (510) 987-0577                     'a garden suited to its purpose'
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