Aloe ballyiReynolds

Rat Aloe

Family : AsphodelaceaeSubfamily : AsphodeloideaeGenus : Aloe

Aloe ballyi (Rat Aloe)

Photo byMike Musgrave

The specific epithet " ballyi(BAL - lee - eye ) " honorsPeter René Oscar Bally(1895 - 1980 ) , a Swiss botanist , taxonomist , botanical illustrator , and plant collector .

Aloe ballyiis native toKenyaandTanzania .

Aloe ballyiis a raresucculentwith a slender , unbranching stalk top with a crown of long , gray - immature leaves with white fringy teeth . The stem can grow up to 20 feet ( 6 m ) tall and 6 inch ( 15 cm ) in diameter . The leaves are mostly consecutive on untried plants , becoming recurve towards the bakshis with age , and can evaluate up to 3 feet ( 90 atomic number 96 ) long and 6 inches ( 15 centimetre ) wide . When broken , they give off a tone reminiscent of rat .

Aloe ballyi (Rat Aloe)

Photo byJkwinston

The tubular flowers are ruby-red to cerise - orangish and appear in a prongy blossoming that can grow up to 2 feet ( 60 cm ) marvellous .

brightness level : When growingA. ballyiindoors , commit your plant in a windowpane that make pot of bright indirect sunlight . Rotate the mickle once or twice a week so that all sides of the plant take in equal light . Outdoors furnish short subtlety , especially during the hottest parts of the day .

Soil : PlantA. ballyiin a well - drain land mix specially formulated for succulents , ormake your own . drain is crucial because too much moisture around roots can cause root rot .

Aloe ballyi (Rat Aloe)

Photo byJohn Ratzlaff

Hardiness : When temperatures shift below 50 ° F ( 10 ° degree centigrade ) , it is time to lend your plant back at heart . A. ballyican withstand temperatures as low as25 to 50 ° F ( -3.9 to 10 ° C),USDA hardiness zones9b to 11b .

Watering : This succulent needs regular watering but is very liberal of short menstruation of drought . piss deep , but only when the soil is ironic . Cut back onwateringduring the winter calendar month .   Do not let H2O stand in the rosette .

feed : A. ballyigenerally does not require fertilizer but may do good from the additional nutrients . Feedwith a fertilizer for succulents in saltation and summertime only , following the label guidance .

Aloe ballyi (Rat Aloe)

Photo by Bethan Hobbs

Repotting : This plant is not particularly fast - rise and will only rarely necessitate repotting . To prevent rootbound , repot it in the spring in a container a few inch larger in diameter every few age .

extension : A. ballyi   can be propagated using branch , cutting , or seeded player from a mature plant . In former spring or early summertime , transfer beginning from the female parent plant or take press cutting with a knifelike knife . For best results , sow seeds during the warm months .

Learn more atHow to develop and manage for Aloe .

A. ballyiis one of the few poisonousAloes .

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