A tough, heat loving hybrid for small spaces. Narrow, upright, blue-gray leaves contrast nicely with the pale orange flower spikes. This fuss-free succulent thrives in poor soil - perfect for rock gardens, waterwise borders or containers. Excellent for mass plantings. Foliage tips may have a reddish tinge in extreme temperatures. Evergreen.
Water newly planted "Blue Elf" aloes weekly to a depth of 1 inch during their first summer in the garden. Increase watering to twice weekly during periods of extreme heat or drought. Decrease watering to 1 inch every two weeks once established. Stop supplemental watering during rainy weather to prevent root rot.
Feed "Blue Elf" aloes in mid-winter with a high-phosphate, 10-40-10 ratio, fertilizer to promote abundant flowering in spring. Roughen the soil around the base of the aloe with a rake. Sprinkle a half-measure of the fertilizer onto the roughened soil. Water deeply to push the fertilizer into the soil.
Plant Aloes in a well-drained soil specially formulated for cacti and other succulents or make your soil mix.
Prune off the flower stalks after the blossoms fade. Snip them off as close to the base as possible without nicking or damaging the surrounding leaves. Clip off any dead or damaged leaves at their point of origin. Discard all pruned material into a green waste can.
Hardiness: Aloe 'Blue Elf' can withstand temperatures as low as 20 to 50 °F (-6.7 to 10 °C), USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b.
