An easy-to-care-for, eye-catching succulent that grows well indoors is the aloe vera plant. Aloe vera plants are helpful as well because the juice from their leaves can be administered topically to treat the discomfort associated with burns and scrapes. How to cultivate and take care of aloe vera plants at home is provided here.
Aloe vera is a species of succulent plant in the Aloe genus. The plant has thick, fleshy, greenish leaves that fan out from the stem at the center and is stemless or has extremely short stems. The leaf’s margin is toothed and serrated.
Be aware that you will require an area that delivers bright, indirect sunlight before you purchase an aloe (or, artificial sunlight). However, prolonged direct sunshine is not ideal for the plant because it causes excessive drying and yellowing of the leaves.
Keep the aloe vera plant in a pot near a kitchen window for occasional use, but keep it away from direct sunlight.
Please be aware that while aloe vera gel from leaves can be applied topically, it should not be consumed by humans or animals. It may even be harmful in higher doses and can result in unpleasant symptoms like nausea or indigestion.
- It’s crucial to pick the proper kind of planter. It is advised to choose a pot made of terra-cotta or another porous material since it will allow the soil to completely dry between waterings and be weighty enough to prevent the plant from toppling over. You may also use a plastic or glazed pot, but they’ll hold more moisture.
- Make sure you select a container with at least one drainage hole on the bottom when making your selection. This is crucial because the hole will let extra water drain away.
- Choose a container that is around the same width as it is deep. Choose a container that is deep enough to allow you to bury the full stem of your aloe plant if it has one.
- Use a well-draining potting mix, such as those designed for cactus and succulents, for aloe vera plants because they are succulents. Never use soil. A excellent mixture should include perlite, lava rock, coarse sand, or any combination of the three. Aloe vera plants are resilient, but poor draining can lead to rot and wilting, which is by far the most prevalent reason for this plant’s demise.
- There is no requirement for a layer of gravel, clay balls, or any other “drainage material in the bottom of the pot. Only space that the roots could have used is being taken up by this. A hole for drainage is sufficient drainage!
- Dust the plant’s stem with a rooting hormone powder before planting your aloe to help it produce new roots. You can buy rooting hormone online or in your neighborhood hardware or garden center.
- Place in direct or brightly-lit artificial light. The best window is one facing west or south. Low-light aloe plants can get lanky.
- The ideal temperature range for aloe vera is between 55 and 80F. (13 and 27C). The majority of homes and apartments have comfortable temperatures. You can bring your plant outside without issue from May to September, but if the nights are chilly, bring it back inside.
- Aloe vera plants need deep, but intermittent, watering. Allow the soil to dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep in between waterings to prevent rot. Keep water off of your plant at all times.
- Every three weeks on average, and even less frequently in the winter. Before watering, assess the dryness with your finger. The roots of the plants may start to rot if the potting soil is left damp.
- Use a balanced houseplant formula prepared at half strength only in the spring and summer, and fertilize seldom (no more than once a month).
How are succulent aloe vera plants cared for?
The easiest and best way to accomplish this, in my opinion, is to remove and divide those pups. These are the young plants that sprout from the mother plant’s base. The roots will be much better established if you wait until the puppies are a reasonable size before removing them. Check back soon for an article and video I’ll be doing to demonstrate how to do this.
It can also be done via seed, but that takes a lot longer. Although I’ve been warned that leaf cutting propagation is bad practice, I intend to test it out shortly.
You may have observed that while the mother plant is entirely green, your aloe babies have white spots. They will eventually lose that variation because that is just how newborns are.
Transplanting
Aloe vera can be transplanted at any time, although if at all possible, avoid the winter. It can be difficult to handle a huge one because this plant becomes heavier as it grows.
Aloe vera actually produces pups more readily when slightly potbound, so don’t haste to move it. When you notice roots emerging from the drain hole or every two to four years will do.
Pests
Orange aphids always attack my Santa Barbara aloe vera plants in the late spring or early summer. I simply hosed them down. Because they enjoy hanging out in the cracks and crevices of the leaves, mealybugs can also be a nuisance.
The aloe mite, which is unique to aloes, is very uncommon to become afflicted indoors. Mine in Tucson hasn’t been attacked by anything, and the aloe vera houseplants I grew haven’t either.
Problems
Yes, my buddy, sometimes there is evil along with good. Rot is one of the issues, which I touched on in the watering section. The plant starts to wilt and eventually turns to mush.
Environmental stress is the cause of the leaves’ fading tones of yellow, brown, or red. There may be too little water, too much sun, or both. This is what stressed out my Aloe, and this is what I did to fix it.
A stressed plant may appear like this. The harsh desert sun and maybe a shortage of water are to blame for the leaves’ brownish-red coloration. You can notice that the leaves are more slender and smaller than those on my aloe. I wanted to show you even though this is growing outside because something similar might occur to yours indoors.
Harvesting
I always remove the entire leaf, starting at the base or main stem. To make a clean cut, use a clean, sharp knife. Even if you only remove a portion of the leaf, the end result will be a large scab. I think it looks much better to remove the entire leaf. Keep in mind that this plant develops slowly, so it can take some time before you see the results.
Uses
There is a ton of information on the internet about using aloe vera. Here are some of the ways I apply it: as a hair mask, facial moisturizer, shave gel, for burns and skin irritations, and in smoothies. While I don’t often do any of them, I usually find aloe to be very helpful when I do.
Aloe is easy as can be & a great plant to have in your home. Here are the most important points for growing aloe vera successfully:
Aloe vera needs a lot of natural light, but stay away from hot, sunny windows.
Avoid overwatering this plant by watering it too frequently. Before you water it once more, let it almost totally dry out. A succulent, that is!
Aloe veras grow well in plastic, fiberglass, or ceramic pots, but I believe terra cotta is the perfect material for them. Just a fantastic combination. Your aloe would like spending the summer outdoors, but watch out for too much rain or it might “mush out.”
Our care guide mentions aloe vera. If you’re looking for more advice and houseplant goodies, check out Keep Your Houseplants Alive.
Isn’t it time you picked up a plant or two of aloe vera? If you can’t locate them locally, make sure to check out this internet supplier.
Aloe vera is what kind of plant?
More than 500 species of shrubby succulent plants in the family Asphodelaceae belong to the genus aloe, which is indigenous to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. Several species are grown for their decorative foliage, as indoor plants, and for their healing leaves.
What is regarded as succulent?
Any plant that has fleshy, thick tissues that can store water is considered succulent. Some succulents, like cacti, only store water in the stem and have no or few leaves, but other succulents, like agaves, primarily store water in the leaves. The majority of succulents are endemic to deserts or areas with a semiarid season and have deep or wide root systems. More than 60 plant families have succulent species, with the Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Crassulaceae having the highest proportions. Aloe, Echeveria, Kalanchoe, and other plants are among those that are grown as ornamentals and indoor plants.
The timing of the opening of stomata, which are tiny mouthlike structures on the surface of plant leaves and stems, is one adaptation shared by many succulents. Stomata enable the exchange of water and oxygen with the environment as well as the uptake of carbon dioxide from the environment. The stomata of many succulent plants are closed during the day and open at night, in contrast to those of most plants. As a result, less water loss (transpiration) happens during the hot, dry daylight hours, while carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake takes place at night. As a result, these succulent plants display crassulacean acid metabolism, a modified form of CO2 fixation and photosynthesis.
About Aloe Vera
Be aware that you will require an area that delivers bright, indirect sunlight before you purchase an aloe (or artificial sunlight). If your aloe is located in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight, you may need to water it more frequently because the plant might become overly dried up and develop yellow mushy leaves.
ALOE VERA LEAF GEL SHOULD NOT BE EATEN BY PEOPLE OR PETS. WARNING: Aloe vera leaf gel can be applied topically. It may even be harmful in higher doses and can result in unpleasant symptoms like nausea or indigestion.
Before Planting
- Selecting the appropriate kind of container is crucial. It is advised to choose a pot made of terra-cotta or another porous material since it will allow the soil to completely dry between waterings and be weighty enough to prevent the plant from toppling over. You may also use a plastic or glazed pot, but they’ll hold more moisture.
- Make sure you select a container with at least one drainage hole on the bottom when making your selection. This is crucial because the hole will let extra water drain away. Aloe vera plants are resilient, but poor draining can lead to rot and wilting, which is by far the most prevalent reason for this plant’s demise.
- Use a well-draining potting mix, such as those designed for cactus and succulents, for aloe vera plants because they are succulents. Never use soil for gardening. Perlite, lava rock, bits of bark, or all three, should be used in an excellent mixture.
- Dust the plant’s stem with a rooting hormone powder before planting your aloe to help it produce new roots. Rooting hormone can be purchased online or at a nearby garden center or hardware store.
How to Plant (or Repot) an Aloe Vera Plant
It’s time to repot your aloe plant if it has become lanky, has become too big, or just needs an improvement. This is how:
- Get your pot ready. Place a tiny piece of screen over the drainage hole after fully drying the new pot and giving it a fast rinse (or a good scrub, if it’s a pot you’ve used before). This will prevent soil from falling out the bottom and will allow water to flow correctly. Although these will degrade over time, a piece of newspaper or paper towel folded twice can also be used in a pinch.
- Get your plant ready. Remove the aloe vera plant from its existing container and, taking care to avoid damaging the roots, brush away any extra dirt from the roots.
- If your plant has puppies, get rid of them right away. (For information on how to take out and pot pups, see the “Care” section of this page.)
- Trimming the stem can be done if your plant has an extremely long, spindly stem that won’t fit in the pot. Be aware that the plant could die if you do this. Trim the stem by cutting off a portion while keeping as much of it attached to the plant as you can. Take the naked plant next, and set it somewhere warm with indirect light. After a few days, the wound will develop a callus. Continue now with the repotting methods listed below.
- Establish your plant. Place your plant in the soil after filling the pot with potting soil that drains properly approximately a third of the way. Remember to leave at least 3/4 of an inch of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot when you fill in the soil around the plant. The aloe plant’s bottom leaves should also be barely visible above the ground. After planting, stop watering.
- Neglect your plant (temporarily). Don’t water your aloe for at least a week after putting it in its new pot. This will lessen the possibility of rot and give the plant more time to grow new roots. Keep the plant in a warm location with bright but indirect light until it appears to be rooted and content.
How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant
- Lighting: Use artificial light or direct, bright sunlight. The best window is one facing west or south. Low-light aloe plants can get lanky.
- Aloe vera thrives at temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (13 and 27C). Most flats and residences have comfortable temperatures. You can bring your plant outside without issue from May to September, but if the nights are chilly, bring it back inside.
- Fertilizing: Use a balanced houseplant formula blended at half strength only in the spring and summer, and fertilize infrequently (no more than once a month).
- Repotting: When the roots become bound, repotted using the guidelines in “Planting, above.
Watering Aloe Vera
The hardest part of maintaining good aloe vera is watering, but it’s really not that complicated. Although the aloe is a succulent plant used to dry conditions, its thick leaves nevertheless require enough water.
- Aloe vera plants need deep, but intermittent, watering. To put it another way, the soil should feel damp after watering, but you should let it partially dry out before you water it again. The roots of the plant may rot if the soil is kept excessively moist.
- Allow the top third of the potting soil to dry out between waterings to make sure you aren’t overwatering your plant. For instance, if your plant is housed in 6 inches of potting soil, wait until the top 2 inches are completely dry before giving it another drink. (Check the soil’s dryness with your finger.)
- Typically, you should water your aloe plant every two to three weeks in the spring and summer and even less frequently in the fall and winter. One general guideline for watering in the fall and winter is to roughly double the intervals between waterings (as compared to your summer watering schedule). In other words, water every four weeks in the winter instead of every two weeks in the summer.
- When watering, some extra water could leak out the pot’s bottom. So that the soil may absorb as much of the water as possible, let the pot stand in it. After waiting 10 to 15 minutes, discard any leftover water.
Removing & Replanting Aloe Vera Offsets (Pups)
Offsets, also known as plantlets, pups, or “babies,” are frequently produced by mature aloe vera plants and can be removed to create a completely new plant (a clone of the mother plant, technically).
- Utilizing pruning shears, scissors, or a sharp knife, locate the locations where the offsets are linked to the mother plant and remove them. Leave the offset with at least an inch of stem.
- For several days, let the offsets remain free of soil; this will allow the offset to develop a callus over the cut, helping to prevent it from rotting. During this stage, keep the offsets in a warm area with indirect light.
- Put the offsets in a typical succulent potting mix once they have developed calluses. The soil need to drain well.
- Place the freshly potted puppies in a bright area. Keep the soil on the dry side and wait at least a week before watering.
How to Get Your Aloe Vera to Flower
A tall flower spike termed an inflorescence, which is occasionally produced by mature aloe vera plants, gives rise to dozens of tubular yellow or red blooms. The already beautiful aloe is surely given a new degree of intrigue by this!
Aloes cultivated as houseplants unfortunately rarely blossom because they need virtually perfect growing circumstances to do so: lots of sunshine, enough water, and the correct temperature range. Aloe blooms are typically only found on plants cultivated outdoors year-round in warm climates due to these needs (mostly lighting).
To increase the likelihood that your aloe will flower:
- Give it as much light as you can, particularly in the spring and summer. Aloes can be kept outdoors in the summertime when the temperature is over 70F and the sun is shining (21C). Bring the aloe indoors if the temperature is expected to drop below 60F (16C) at night.
- Note: Give your aloe time to acclimate to the harsh light before moving it from indoors to full sun. Otherwise, it could get sunburned. Prior to relocating it to a more sunny position, let it remain in partial shade for about a week.
- Ensure that the plant receives the proper amount of water—enough to prevent it from drying out completely, but not too much to drown it! Make sure the plant isn’t getting constantly sopped by summer rains if it’s being maintained outside.
- Provide your aloe with a suitable period of dormancy in the fall and winter. Aloe often flower in the late winter or early spring; therefore, allowing them a period of rest with less regular watering and milder temperatures may encourage them to flower.
- If it continues to fail to flower, don’t be shocked. Despite our best attempts, most aloes simply can’t thrive indoors, so don’t be surprised if yours simply won’t blossom!
Aloe that stand out as appealing include:
- or Partridge-Breasted Aloe, the Tiger (Aloe variegata) Short, smooth leaves with irregular white stripes make up this tiny aloe.
- A little plant with delicately sawtoothed, white-spotted leaves is called a lace aloe (Aloe aristata).
- Aloe Vera (Aloe glauca)
- a bigger kind of aloe that has silver-blue leaves.
Aloe Vera Gel
Remove a mature leaf from the aloe vera plant and cut it lengthwise to benefit from the plant’s calming effects. Lay the opened leaf, gel-side down, on top of the burn, or squeeze the gel from the leaf and apply it to the wound. Find out more about the therapeutic benefits of aloe vera.
- Aloe vera serves as both a beautiful decoration for a kitchen shelf and a self-regenerating first aid kit. Learn more about how aloe vera can improve your health naturally.
- Aloe can also be used for cold sores, but its most well-known use is to soothe sunburned skin.
Scale and mealybugs, two common indoor plant pests, are most likely to attack aloe vera plants.
Typical ailments include:
- Root decay
- Hard rot
- bacterial stem rot
- Leaf decay