Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera Plant Care Guide

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The Aloe Vera plant is an attractive succulent with thick, variegated leaves that fan out from its center base. Aloe vera plants are easy to keep and useful, too, as the juice from their leaves will relieve pain from scrapes and burns when applied topically. Keep the aloe vera plant in a pot near a kitchen window for everyday use.

Planting

Plant in wide containers with a well-draining potting mix, such as those made for cacti and succulents. Aloe vera plants are hardy, but a lack of proper drainage can cause rot and wilting.
Place in indirect sunlight or artificial light.

Care

Water aloe deeply, but in order to discourage rot, allow the soil to dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep between waterings. Water even less often in winter.
Aloe vera plants produce offsets—also known as plantlets or “babies”—that can be removed to produce an entirely new plant.
Knock your aloe vera out of its pot and find where the offsets are attached. Sever them from the mother plant with a knife. Allow the cuts on the offsets and the mother plant to callus over for a day or two, then pot them in a standard potting mix. Put in a sunny location. Wait a week to water and keep the soil on the dry side.

Pests/Diseases

Aloe vera plants are susceptible to common garden pests, such as mealybugs and scale.

Some common diseases are root rot, soft rot, fungal stem, and leaf rot. Avoid overwatering to prevent these conditions from developing.

Harvest/Storage

Aloe Vera Gel

To make use of the aloe vera plant’s soothing properties, remove a mature leaf from the plant and cut it lengthwise. Squeeze the gel out of the leaf and apply it to your burn, or simply lay the opened leaf gel-side–down on top of the affected area.

Recommended Varieties

Other especially attractive aloes include the Tiger or Partridge Breasted Aloe (Aloe variegata) and Lace Aloe (A. aristata).

Wit & Wisdom

Aloe vera will decorate a kitchen shelf with quiet grace while doing double duty as a self-regenerating first-aid kit. Read more about the natural health benefits of aloe vera.
One of aloe’s most famous uses is to soothe sunburnt skin, and it can be also used for cold sores.

Reader Comments

Weak aloe vera

Hi, I just got a 2 aloe vera plants from my friend. However, I didn't have any soil so it stayed in my room for a while and now, its brownish in colour. I've planted my aloe Vera's but I used a professional seed raising soil which said it holds extra water. I can't buy a new soil or sand to mix it in. Would it be alright? And also it's the last month of Winter so would I have to bring it in my room? And my aloe vera is in a pot which looks much TOO big for it. I would really appreciate some answers. Thanks

Weak Aloe Vera

Hi Elisa,

It sounds like the plants have gone through a couple of different shocks: First they didn’t get any water or soil, and then they were planted outside and watered plenty. They might not come back, but the best thing to do would be to let their soil dry out to a depth of about 1 inch. Water sparingly. Also, this advice depends on where you are located. Here it is currently the middle of summer.

Reply

Hi,
Thanks for the tips. Right now, it's the last month of winter and my plants are so much better now. They are green in colour and thick with gel. However, should I water the plants once a week? Since I have this soil which "holds extra water" I'm not sure how much I have to water. Thanks, Elisa

Aloe Vera Care

Because you are using a water-retaining soil, you will need to wait longer between waterings. You should only water when the top inch of soil has dried out thoroughly. This may mean that you water once a week or once a month, depending on how fast the soil dries out. Remember that it’s always better to water too little than it is to water too much.

Aloe baby

A lady I work with gave me an aloe pup from her plant. She told me to remove the brown part at the both and to plant her right away which I did. However I didn't notice any root whatsoever. I don't know anything about these plants and now she look wilted. I've taken her out of the pit and put her on some napkins because I think she was too wet. Any hope of saving her

Aloe Vera Pup

Like all succulents, aloe vera are very susceptible to root rot, which can occur when the soil around their base retains too much moisture. It’s good that you took the pup out of the soil and are letting it dry out a bit. Does the base of the plant feel mushy or look discolored? If so, then this is root rot and you will want to cut it off, if possible. If you make a fresh cut, wait a couple days before potting the plant.

When you pot the plant, you will want to use a well-draining soil mix. Succulent soil mixes are readily available at garden centers and hardware stores, but you can also create your own by combining equal parts perlite and standard potting soil. Your soil should be slightly moist when you plant the pup, but do not water for about a week afterwards. Eventually, the plant should grow roots.

Aloe vera

Hi... I have a no.of aloe Vera plants, one in particular has grown really big and is starting bending round on itself,if stretched out it would be about a metre long.. I'm not sure what to do with it or how to or when to cut it back?

Large Aloe Vera

Wow! That sounds like quite a plant! You could cut the top 10 to 20 centimeters off (basically, right below the lowest leaves) and replant this cutting in a new pot. If you cut back the remaining stem to 5 or 10 cm, there’s a chance it may sprout some new leaves. If it’s kept indoors at an even temperature year-round, then it doesn’t really matter when you prune it. However, if it is exposed to cooler wintertime temperatures, it would be best to wait until late winter or early spring to make the cut.

New Plant

Hi all,

I just got a new aloe plant and because of the lack of windows in my apartment, I bought a grow light. I put the aloe plant directly under it (there is about a foot of space in between). In the article here, it says indirect sunlight. Does that apply to artificial lights? And if so, how far away do you think I should keep it?

Aloe Vera under Artificial Light

Sunlight is a lot stronger and harsher than your average grow light will be, so your aloe should be just fine under the artificial lighting. Keep the light at least a foot above the top of the plant, unless the light puts off a lot of heat, in which case it should be moved farther from the plant.

Help with aloe plant that has leaves going thin

I have aloe Vera plants growing but couple have gone all thin in places and dunno what to do as don't wanna water to much and don't want them going thinner is there away to sort it as I have try cactis food for succulent and cacti but nothing

Bent leaves

Some nice of my leaves are bent over on the outer edge of my aloe plant. I read on some other comments below that chopping these off would help. Where abouts should I chop them (how far down the leaf) & is there a max number of leaves you should cut at any one time?

Cutting off Aloe Leaves

If you don’t mind having odd-shaped tips, you can cut just below the bent parts. Otherwise, you can remove the whole leaf by cutting at its base. Note, however, that mature aloe leaves may bend slightly downward at the tip naturally. As far as removing leaves goes, it’s best to only remove one or two mature leaves at a time to ensure that the plant stays healthy.

Aloe

Hey, I have an extremely large aloe vera plant and it is like twelve+ inches from side to side
it is mostly healthy except that its leaves are not squishy like they should b with gel
i watered like two or three times in the last two weeks to encourage more gel but it isnt improving. the ends of the leaves are beginning to shrivel

please help!!!!!

Aloe

Hi Ethel,

There are a few reasons your aloe is not doing well. Aloe needs to be watered infrequently, only when the soil has just become dry; you could be watering it too much. Aloe needs partial sunlight: If it’s been in direct sunlight for a long time, it could be a little shocked. Last, the pot might be too small. Try repotting the plant in a larger pot with fresh succulent soil. We hope this helps!

What size pot should I plant aloe vera plant.

Please help how many aloe vera plant can I plant in a container? What size container and what type.Thank you in advance for your assistance.

growing aloe vera

The number of aloe vera plants depends on the size of your container. A general rule is that your aloe vera plant roots should take up ⅔ of the container. That may seem crowded but these plants like their roots to be tightly packed. When you pick a pot, for a wide mouth, not deep pot. And be sure the pot has drainage holes!

My New Aloe Plant

Hi! I just got a new Aloe Vera plant! I have done a bunch of research on it since I got it. Is it fine if I don't have a cactus potting mix? I just have normal potting mix. That's all I can get right now and I was wondering if my Aloe will be fine if I keep it in it. Also, one of my young aloe's leaves is turning s little brown... should I be worried? Another thing is it necessary to cut of mature leaves of the plant? One last thing. Do you have to clean your Aloe at all? Will it make it healthier if you do?? Thanks so much!

Aloe Plant Care

We appreciate your enthusiasm as a new plant owner! To answer your questions:

The problem with a normal potting mix is that it will retain too much moisture, which could cause rot. A succulent mix allows for better drainage, and is therefore recommended. You could make your own succulent mix by combining 2 parts potting mix, 1 part perlite, and 1 part coarse sand or crushed pumice.
Browning leaves can be a sign of overwatering. Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings.
If you want to use the aloe leaves, it’s best to cut off only mature leaves. Otherwise, the plant does not need to be pruned.
There is no harm in wiping the dust off of an aloe plant every once in a while, as long as you do so gently and with a dry paper towel.

Potting Aloe plant

I want to repot my Aloe plant. It has leaves 12 to 14 inches long. What size pot should I choose? Does Aloe like to be root bound?

repotting

Usually, repotting is only needed if the plant becomes top heavy–crowded roots are tolerated by this plant. If you do decide to repot the mother plant(s), use a slightly larger pot more wide than deep; be sure to provide new potting soil with fresh nutrients. You will find guidance for repotting above.

Issues?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this is a 1st, at least for the aloe plants for you to address. I live in Chiang Mai Thailand, and my condo came with a nice little garden box on the patio, which includes a nice, healthy aloe plant. This past week, a pair of very tiny birds that resemble sparrows, only MUCH smaller, that I take to be a variety of "fly ctacher", have decided to build a nest in my aloe plant. My question is, do you see any issues with this, and if so, is there anything I can do to mitigate it short of eviction? Frankly, if it comes to it, i'd be willing to sacrifice the plant for the sake of the birds(cute little buggers), but obviously, the plants health is good for both me AND the birds- I get free sunburn medicine, they get free lodging. The built in box gets good indirect sun and has built in drainage, so it suits the aloe, it's 14 stories up, so protects the birds from predators. I'd like to think all three of us species can co-exist, but advice is welcome.

Dark green wilted leaves?

I bought an aloe Vera plant a little over a week ago, I went to water it and noticed that several of the leaves turned dark green and mushy. What causes this and how can I tend to my plant and save the healthy leaves?

RE: Dark Green Wilted Leaves

I had something similar happen to mine, it was sunburn. Crazy as it sounds they really do not like direct sun. Not sure if that helps you or not.

Need advice

I need advice on how to grow aloe commercially. Is there a phone number I can use to talk to you and ask you for some advice?
Thanks

Sorry, we are regular

Sorry, we are regular backyard gardeners and do not have advice on commercial production nor provide consulting services.

Flopping!

I had a question about my aloe, the leaves are big and juicy, very long and there is new growth in the centre, but the external leaves are flopping outwards is the best way I can describe it! I'm worried I'm doing something wrong. They're flopping to the point they are horizontal, but they're still big & juicy. I wondered if these need to be harvested for the plant to stay healthy? I'd really appreciate some advice! x

Juicy Aloe

Hi Abi,

It sounds like you are doing nothing wrong at all! Aloe plants can get too big and need to be harvested from time to time. Simply trim the outer floppy leaves off to keep the plant happy and healthy.

Full sun or not?

The heading for aloe plants (next to the photo) indicates "full sun." However in all responses to email questions on this, a more indirect lighting is recommended. Perhaps the heading is incorrect?

Part Sun

Hi Merna, thanks for bringing this inconsistency to our attention. Aloe plants do best in indirect sun.

aloe drainage

I just got an aloe plant and I noticed that the container does not have any drainage holes. Is it necessary? If I replant, do I need to put stones in the bottom of the new pot? Should the plant be watered from the dish or from the top? Thank you!

Aloe Drainage

Hi Jem,

Drainage holes are not necessary, but aloe plants are sensitive to over-watering. If you decide to replant, stones in the bottom or drainage holes are perfect. Water from the top: If you water from the dish, the soil will soak up all of the excess water and not just what the aloe plant needs. We hope this helps!

Brown tip

I just bought an aloe plant and on a few of the leaves the tips are brown. What do I do about this?

A Dry Subject

Hi, Chris: More likely than not, this plant has had too much water. Make sure that it is totally dry for a day or two before giving it a moderate watering. Thanks for asking and good luck!

First Time Dividing

Hi. So my aloe is huge, had him for 3 years. He started producing babies a while ago and I just left them because the pot was big enough. Well with Mother's Day coming right around the corner I decided to gift the babies, 5 bigger ones and a tiny baby. They all have their own root system though and I didn't have to cut them away from Big Daddy. Do I still need to callus them? I may have done a boo boo by replanting them already? I didn't find this article until after I replanted them while making a care sheet for the new aloe owners.

First Time Dividing

No they'll be fine. I have grown aloe for over 30 years and never heard of this method. Not to argue with article because I'm sure they're benefits. Just saying I've never done the callus method. Always put them in soil immediately and haven't lost one yet. So I know yours will be fine.

First Time Dividing

Letting the offsets callus over protects the plants from potential disease. It’s not a necessary step, but it helps ensure the new plants will be healthy.

Rethinking location

Do aloe plants grow better inside or outside?

Both

When I first had mine (3 years ago) I kept him in a large well lit window. When I replanted him to a bigger pot it was summer and I left him outside on my covered porch where he wouldn't get wet in the rain but still had sun and fresh air. By the end of September I had to replant him again. Was getting colder at night so he stayed in for the winter. What I'm getting at is if you have a good dry porch space, yea, they love that. If not then they do good inside too. I keep mine in a morning/ afternoon window now just because he got too big to move, he doesn't get evening sun but he's doing good.

Savanna my aloe plant

Hi, I've noticed on my aloe that a couple of her leaves are turning brown, I brought her over from Jamaica and survived the journey so when I got back I just grabbed some soil from the garden and planted them both together and seemed to be ok the first few weeks, so today I bought some cacti mix and repotted them separately, the new soil feels quite moist so should I just leave it to go dry before watering them? And when I do water them should I do it until the soil is completely wet or just partially wet?? Newbie here

Excited for my new plant!

I know the preferred place for the plant is the kitchen but my whole house is tiny. How do you think it would do in the bathroom, too wet? Also, if I'm not using the aloe leaves for anything very often, should I trim one off periodically to keep it smaller? Or does that promote growth?

best place for an aloe plant

The bathroom probably isn’t a great place, but you could put your aloe in the living room or bedroom if the kitchen is not an option. Aloe vera grows best if placed in indirect sunlight or under artificial lights. Aloe vera leaves will not grow back. The wound seals over quickly and the plant will continue to grow new branches and leaves from the center.

Newbie Aloe plant owner!

Hi, I got gifted an Aloe plant recently but don't know how to look after it. It took a few days for my cactus/succulent soil to arrive and my plant looks like it's dying. There are 2 plants in one small pot and some baby plants growing too. I brought 2 pots for them but then I read online that the pots need to have a drainage system however mine are black clay pots with no holes. Do I need pots with holes? also what do I do with the baby aloe plants? Put them in separate small pots? Some of the leaves have fallen off and some are turning brown. Is it too late to save the plant?

aloe vera plant care

Aloe vera plants do not ask for much: They thrive in poor soil (the soil you ordered will be perfect) in a pot with drainage holes (yes, you need drainage holes) and require little water and no food. Only water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, then water well, letting most of the water drain out the bottom. Brown leaves usually mean too little water. Even though aloes like dry weather, they need to watered correctly. When you water the plant, go slowly until its leaves plump up. Give it some time. It won’t recover immediately. Remove some of the soil around the baby plants and, using a clean knife, cut them off the mother plant. Plant the babies in individual pots with fresh soil and water as needed.

Don't know where to start

Bought little grocery store aloe. Kept 8 same pot for 3 years until roots broke pot. Plopped it in a big old metal corn pot. Now the thing weighs 70 plus Lbs and looks like it has outgrown this pot. Hundreds of babies, and every other size. It has been 5 years....I don't even know how I can get this out of pot to thin out. Are aloes hardy enough to be manhandled? There is one 'baby" that is growing outside pot resting on table that is 2 1/2 feet tall and at least that wide. I do use it alot, almost daily. The more I use, the more it grows. Don't want to damage Bertha, any suggestions where to start after years of neglect?

giant aloe "Bertha"

Congratulations on your success! You can divide the plant. I might be easiest if you could remove it from the pot…but it’s not critical. Use a sharp knife and cut off the “babies,” capturing, if possible, a hunk of root with them. It may be that you will have to cut off a few pieces and eventually be able to remove the plant from the pot. When you can do that, separate it into as many babies as you want and replant them. You do not mention the soil mix you use (we’ve seem 3 parts cactus mix combined with 1 part potting soil); whatever you’re using seems to be working so the operative word would be “Repeat.” A healthy plant should easily survive division, especially one as healthy as yours. Keep on keeping it on!

New Aloe

Hi. We bought a new, healthy aloe plant and repotted with cacti soil. The leaves are still in good condition. Nice, green and plump. However, they are all now practically horizontal. I wouldn't see flopping as they are not flimsy or limp. Plant was dry when we took it home and have only water once when reporting. There's still moisture in the top 2 inches but i certainly wouldn't consider the plant as over watered. Any ideas why the leaves are lying flat, and how to resolve. Appreciate your advice. Many thanks

flat leaf aloe

It sounds like your plant is not getting enough light. (If leave become thin and curled, it’s lacking water.) Indirect light is best, so put it closer to a sunny spot.

My aloe plant

I got an aloe vera plant a week ago and it has a bit of brown on it and it's really small. Should I water it everyday or there's a specific routine and amount of water. I live in Nigeria by the way.

I have a question. I was

I have a question. I was given my first aloe plant at the end of this past summer, it was just two little stems when I got it. I planted it in a small pot and it started to grow almost right away so I replanted it into a bigger pot with a hole in the bottom for drainage and it slowed down in growning, my question is...is my pot too big, did I replant too early, or since winter is just over should I give it more time? The stems are still nice and full and green also.

aloe vera care

It’s fine to repot to allow for more growth, but be sure to not increase the new pot by more than two pot sizes; too large a container can hold too much moisture that could lead to root rot. As long as you don’t have this issue, you probably just need to give it more time. Plants do not grow much in the wintertime.

Need Help

Hi, my Aunt about a month or two ago brought over her huge aloe plant and my family all had fun digging out all the babies which i got to keep 3 of. I've never gardened in my life so when I got them I guess I over watered one of them which caused a bit of rot, luckily it was only a little bit and it seems a lot better now.
Only issue is now i haven't watered them in a while (im scared to over water them again) and there seems to be some issues? Sort of like the pictures farthest right leaf is has odd bumps which might be because of irregular watering? Im not sure.
Not only that but the very tips of a few leafs are tan-ish and have no water in them. Is this because of me not watering very much? The rest of the plant is still very green and plump so i don't quite know whats going on.
These are my first plants and from what ive heard aloe plants are extremely tough so I would hate to accidentally kill them. Any feed back would be very helpful!

tips of aloe plant turning brown

Aloe vera thrives in poor but well-draining soil (cacti mix is good; use no compost or mulch) and with very little water. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Water it well but never let it sit in water. It likes bright sunlight, like that of a south or west facing.

easy grow

In 1993, I cut 2 large leaves off my mother-in-laws aloe vera. One leaf, I cut it into inch pieces, slicing the leaf open and laying the jel over a 2nd degree burn on my son's arm. Every 4 hrs, I would put a new piece over the burn. No scar on my sons arm. The other leaf, I stuck it in a pot of soil. I have given several hundred aloe vera plants since. My daughter has joined in the fun of giving. Last week, she transplanted 65 babies off her grandmothers plant. I transplanted 47 out of 2 small pots. We gave away 30 plants at the VA hospital in less than 15 minutes. One lady suggested we sale them. Nope. That would take away the fun of giving.

Power of Giving

Well said. I just got a few plants when I was in Arizona. I can't wait to see them grow, and I definitely plan on giving some away.

Aloe flowers

I put my aloe vera in cold dark workhsop for 6 months never watered it. Just left it alone with now it as had loads of babies and each baby as produced a flower..i have about 14 flowers is this unusual

aloe pups

It depends on the size of the aloe. Most aloes probably produce 5 or 6 pups, but we’ve known of a big mama who produced 25 to 30! You can just twist off the pups and give them away if you wish!

Question

There are two aloes in one pot at my workplace. One of them grew out of the pot very long. If I place the long stem onto another pot without detaching the plants will it re root in it? I don't want to immediately detach them because it's not mine but it looks like it should be separated.

two aloe growing in one pot

If there are two plants in a pot, it’s best to separate them. Carefully remove the plants from the pot and see if you can gently pull them apart. Make sure the roots look healthy. Plant in separate pots in new fresh soil.

Aloe plant

Have a aloe that is approx 2 years - has been doing great with south exposure but recently the the leaves are curling ( or rolling in) . Also they do not seem nice n plump and the new growth is not the vibriant green as before .
Overwatering ? Under watering ?
PS- I believe my soil mix is good

winter care for aloe

As noted below, In winter, bring the plant indoors and keep is away from windows that might be drafty. Resist the urge to put it in a sunny window; instead put it on a well-lit table. Also, do not overwater. Let it go dry between waterings; root rot and cold shock are common problems in winter.

Your plant may already have root rot; discoloration of the leaves is an almost-sure sign. Stop watering, set in light as advised above and/or give it southern exposure. If you can nurse it through the winter, it may come back to its full glory in the spring and summer.

NEWBE PLANT OWNER

I just bought a aloe vera plant. How often do I give it plant food? do I mix the plant food with water? When do I know it's time to pull or cut a leaf off so I can use the the aloe inside??? please help me?? I want my Charlie (my plant) to live.

Aloe advice

Aloe vera plants do not ask for much: They thrive in poor soil (cacti mix is good) in a pot with a large drainage hole and require little water and no food. Only water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, then water well, letting most of the water drain out the bottom. Note that it is a tropical plant that appreciates warm temperatures and bright light, such as in a south or west facing window.

Assuming the plant is healthy and thriving, you can remove a 1-inch wide portion of leaf with a knife; allow the open area to “scab” over. Apply “sap” to the affected area of an insect bite or minor burn.

We hope this helps.

Aloe vera plants

Do all aloe vera plants give the same type of gel inside the leaves ?

Aloe leaves bending in half

Hi, i have a large happy mother plant but my pups leaves always bend in half and don't recover. The plants continue to grow etc but why do they always bend in half please?

Aloe use

Hello, I've just recently acquired an aloe plant which seems to be doing quite well. I am wondering if there is a particular time in the stage of the leave, where it is most beneficial for the skin. In other words, is there a particular "ripe" stage to get the most out of its healing properties? Thank you for your time.

To heavy Aloe

I have an Aloe that is about 2' tall and have massive heavy leaves. My problem is that it is starting to tip over in its pot and I'm afraid of the pot tipping over because of so much weight on the side of the pot. How deep of a pot do I need for an aloe this size and how do I keep it upright?

I have the same problem!!

I had this problem, I bought

I had this problem, I bought a 4" and it came in a 4" pot, almost immediately I had to replant it in a 6" put because it was tipping over constantly and will need to replant in a larger pot soon. I'm not an expert but this worked for me! Hope it helps

not much root system

although I think my aloe vera plant seems to be doing ok, I have always noted it never seems to have much root system. in fact many times I barely touch and it falls out of the soil, i usual just pop it back into the soil and it just sits there....doesnt die, just sits there.... is that normal for it

growing aloe vera

Aloe vera does indeed have very shallow, horizontal roots. Make sure have loose (not compact) potting soil or a nice mixture of garden soil and sand. Get those roots back into the soil but do not bury any of the leaves. You might have to prop up your plant to get it to take.

Friendly plants for a lonely aloe plant.

I am interested in learning if I can pot another plant with my aloe plant. I like the permaculture model of gardening and need suggestions for plants with same water and light requirements. Thank you.

Aloe Companion Plants

Try other succulents like sedum, euphorbia, scenicio, or agave. Just be sure to plant them into a pot big enough to accommodate each plant’s root zone.

First timer

Hello, I've never grown an aloe, or have any idea what I'm doing when it comes to caring for one. My dad gave me what I think was a "pup" and it grew, once I was home I left it out doors and since it's been in the sun it got sun burned. I cut off any dead or burned leaves and now I think I should re-pot because the pot it was given to me in is very small. I've been reading comments and I see I should get some cacti mix, right? Should I plant it at the level of the lowest leaf? Please help!

Yes, plant it so the bottom

Yes, plant it so the bottom of the lowest leaf is just barely touching soil. And don't worry too much about sunburn -- the plant is good at healing itself. In the future, don't cut off the burn leaves, but let the plant prune itself -- whatever leaves are too burnt to survive will generally shrivel and fall off the plant. Succulent soil or cactus soil is also a good bet, but if you can't find any, you can also use a 50/50 mix of regular potting soil and coarse sand, such as builder's sand. Avoid finer sands like play sand, as those tend to retain moisture instead of making the soil mix drier (and we want dry soil for aloes!) Good luck with your plant!

aloe

My aloe plant is called Oscar. He has beautiful thick long leaves. He is usually on top of my upper cupboard close to the ceiling. Recently, I noticed that he is turning white. His leaves are also looking funny. Is it because of not enough sunlight? His leaves are practically white. The outer layer of the larger leaves seems to be blending into the same fluid color as that of inside the leaf. Help me save my aloe!

Help for Oscar

What a great name for your aloe! I’m wondering if he might be getting white because he needs nutrients. When was the last time you had added fertilizer, or had repotted in new soil? Aloes don’t like a lot of fertilizer, and this is best done in spring. Right now, Oscar should be winding down, getting ready for a winter nap, and doesn’t need (or respond well to) the extra energy boost (and also his water intake is less). If you think it might be fertilizer, keep an eye on the plant condition – if it seems to be getting worse, then you can add just a touch of diluted (half the strength that is recommended on the product) liquid fertilizer of 10-40-10 mix, but if you think it can wait until spring, then I’d suggest that. Fertilizing in winter can lead to fertilizer burn or shock, so be very sparing if you do add some. (Repotting is best done during the growing season as well, after the plant breaks dormancy.) Also, as you say, make sure that your aloe is getting plenty of indirect sunlight; if Oscar’s leaves are lying flat, it might be a symptom of too little light. On the other hand, sometimes aloes can change color during dormancy - perhaps it is just Oscar’s way of indicating that he’d like a little downtime for a while. Hope he feels better soon!

in door aloe plant

my aloe plant in turning white. new leaves are practically white. the outer layer of the larger leaves seems to be blending into the same fluid color as that of inside the leaf. help me save my aloe.

My Aloe plant died I can I

My Aloe plant died I can I get the leaf to grow roots?

ALOE VERA Leaves are BROW/RED ? ? & it's NOT GROWIN. ? ?

Why my OUTDOOR ~ ALOE VERA Leaves are BROWN / RED - Color & is NOT GROWING ANY MORE? ? ? ? ? ( DON'T PRODUCE ANY FLOWERS and the Leaves are NOT LOOKING HEALTHY ANY MORE. ? ? ? ?

How can I make it Grow HEALTHY & GREENER & QUICK FRESH LEAVES
Where is the best place to keep it during the COLD & WINDY & WET + FROZEN ~LONG-WINTER DAY'S

Yours Sincerely loving
The GARDENING ♥ GRANNY ♥

Aloe vera in winter

In winter, bring the plant indoors and keep is away from windows that might be drafty. Resist the urge to put it in a sunny window; instead put it on a well-lit table. Also, do not overwater. Let it go dry between waterings; root rot and cold shock are common problems in winter.

Your plant may already have root rot; discoloration of the leaves is an almost-sure sign. Stop watering, set in light as advised above and/or give it southern exposure. If oyu can nurse it through the winter, it may come back to its full glory in the spring and summer.

We hope this helps!

Bought second hand, kind of droopy.

I have been reading through the comments and replies to see how to properly take care of my new, secondhand aloe plant. My question is how long should the aloe plant get indirect sunlight a day? also some of the leaves are droopy and the plant itself does not seem to be in the soil correctly. Should I replant or should i just try to stick the plant back into the soil? I would really like the plant to thrive because I have a small daughter and I know i am going to be using the plant often. I also burn easy. Please help!

Long floppy leaves comeback after several repots

I bought a tiny Aloe Vera plant in a drug store 3 or so years ago. It has only grown 6-8 leaves at the max. They are thin, long (8"-10") and floppy or flatten out or have rottened off, etc. I have replanted several times in different pots as these things have happened. I use cactus soil. I only water when soil is at least 1-2" down dry. I used some fertilizer (that said it was ok for it) this spring. It gets indirect sun. I tried tying up the leaves but they never get where after about 6" they will stand up. I finally took it outside in indirect sunlight and it grew a couple more leaves this summer but they stayed floppy. I have now brought it back inside. The leaves are still floppy. A few of them are empty at the ends. I don't know how to make it a full plant!!! Are the thin and floppy leaves just the type of aloe vera plant???? HELP please!!!! Thank you!

Floppy Aloe

Hmm. It could be that part of the problem was that it does not have enough light when indoors (hence, the growing of more leaves when it was outside). You might provide supplemental light indoors to increase the hours, or change to a brighter window that gets indirect light (perhaps gradually, to let the plant get used to the increased light). However, the floppiness may also suggest a watering issue, although it sounds like you are doing about the right amount. You might experiment a little with the watering–the deflated tips may indicate too little water; try increasing the frequency just a tiny bit for a few weeks. Keep in mind, though, that the plant will not want as much water during winter. Good luck!

I have a big one for years

Can my momma plant root be cut back safely when I repot her. I have had her long time it also flowered last year. I don't want to hurt it

If you are re-potting the

If you are re-potting the “mama,” just clear away the old soil from the roots. Don’t cut the root. You do want to cut any “pups” from the main plant. The mama plant should be re-potted with the lowest leaves at the soil level, i.e., with the bare stem buried.

Outdoor visits

I know that with Ivy they will just blossom (well not technically) if given 25% of their time to outside indirect sunlight above 45°. Are there any rules like this that apply to Aloe?

When is it time for aloe to change the different pot?

How can I know when it is time to change aloe Vera plant from a small pot to bigger pot? The aloe is growing bigger but I am not sure when it is time to re potting it. I am worried if the roots might not have enough space to grow?

Repotting Aloe

If you’re worried, then it’s probably time to repot the plant. It is good to give it more space to grow. If you think it might be cramped, then it probably is.

Hi, i want to know how long

Hi, i want to know how long to grow aloe per year and when the time is for harvest aloe plant. another thing i want to know the price of aloe in the market per 1ton

My Aloe Vera plant is.....

Hi, my aloe vera plant is 2 years old and is growing in what I can only describe as a tight ball! I have re-potted it twice as it is getting wider but not getting any taller. Any ides's?

Aloe Vera

I have a piece of a plant without the soil what's the best way to keep it?

Are you intending to grow a

Are you intending to grow a plant from your cutting? Set the leaf aside for a week to form a callus. Then, plant into a moist growing medium. Let it dry out between waterings. Hopefully, in a month’s time, it will begin to take root. Be aware it will take some time to become a sizeable plant. If you are not looking to grow it, keep the leaf in the refrigerator.

Can I get a new aloe Vera plant to grow if mother plant died?

My dad killed his from not watering enough. I want to take his out of the pot to see if there is any "babies" that can be put to use. If so then how many do I need and do I use a flat edged knife? Also have a healthy one of my own I can use if necessary. How long do I need to nurture the new one for til roots have established and how long does it take to mature? I want to bring him a strong healthy plant. I told him he should Water once a week.

propagating aloe

You can propagate aloe vera by separating the “pups” from the mother plant when they are about about 2 to 5 inches tall; the pups may have some roots of their own already. Use a sharp, sterile knife to make a clean cut to separate the pup from the mother just below the soil surface. Allow the cut to dry for 1 or 3 days before planting the pup. To plant, sink it about ⅓ into proper potting soil for succulents. Once planted, place in indirect light; do not overwater. In 3 to 4 weeks, it should begin to develop more roots. Each baby (pup) will produce one aloe plant.

Aloe Vera stem

Hi there, quick question for you as I've read through most of the questions and haven't seen an answer for the problem I'm having with my Aloe Vera plant. My plant is quite a few years old and now has a long bare stem of approx 6", and is leaning over to the side so needs to be supported. Is this the right thing to do - continue to support it or do I cut so many inches up the stem and replant, is that even feasible to do? Any advice would be gratefully received as I'm rather fond of my plant even though I haven't cared for it as well as I should have. Thank you! Stacey

Cut the leaf off at the base,

Cut the leaf off at the base, but don’t nick the main stem to which it is attached. As long as the root is OK, the plant may come back. Just keep the soil moist and keep it in a sunny spot.

Aloe Vera stem

Hi again, thank you for your advice about the leaf, it was the stem that I was asking about as a good 6" of the stem of my plant is now bare and needs to be supported. How tall will an Aloe Vera plant grow to and is it normal for the stem to become bare? Thanks! Stacey

Propagating Aloe from Cuttings

Hi Stacey,

Try taking a cutting to propagate. Cut off about eight nodes and set the leaf aside for a week to form a callus. Then, plant into a moist growing medium. Let it dry out between waterings. Hopefully, in a month’s time, it will begin to take root. Be aware it will take some time to become a sizeable plant.

Sun

Aloe plants should be kept out of direct sun not full sun.

aloe vera care

Correct. Aloe plants need sunlight but also they can be sunburned in constant direct sunlight. We would suggest indirect sun.

How long does an aloe take to grow?

How long does an aloe take to grow from a small plant (from a small pot) to a nice big plant, like the ones on aloe farms? I saw somewhere that they grow 3mm a week - I cannot find any other website / info about growth rate. Many thanks. Awesome page.

Aloe Plant - Soil Problem

Just purchased an aloe plant. Watered it when I first got it and soil is developing a mould on the surface. What does this mean and what do I do about it?
Please advise.

Aloe and water

Aloe vera is a tropical, drought-tolerant plant; it does not need much water, and you may have given it a bit too much. It sounds like a mold has developed. You only need water aloe when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. That means an inch deep! The you should water it well, but never let it sit in water. It should drain off. If it is soaking, you should probably repot it, beginning with dry soil and adding only a little water. Use well-draining, good quality potting soil. Aloe does not require (want?!) a lot of attention, by the way. It’s often said to be best for the “forgetful gardener.”

Problem with Aloe

I've had my aloe plant about 2 years. it's a pretty big plant now and has been healthy. recently, i started to have problems with it coming apart at the bottom. it's rot I suppose, because it's discolored and slimmy and its barely attached to the plant anymore. I checked it today, and when I did, I had about 3 leaves come right off again. I'm not sure if its getting too much water or if it's something else, but would you know what would be causing it to do that?

It sounds like it has too

It sounds like it has too much water.

Aloe info in general

When is Aloe Vera's growing season? If I kept my aloe in my room by my window would it be ok? About how many times a week during winter and summer should I water my baby aloe? What is the best depth of a pot for Aloe Vera's Thanks for the help.

Needing to re-pot my aloe

Needing to re-pot my aloe plant. Will top soil work ok?

Pot them in a standard

Pot them in a standard potting mix.

Watering

How do you when to water an aloe vera plant and how often should you water?

watering aloe vera

Make sure that the soil is completely dry down to an inch or so below the surface before watering, usually about once every week; in winter, even less. When you water during the growing season, give it a good soaking each time, so that water drains out the bottom of the pot (don’t let the pot sit in water); be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings. If leaves feel mushy, you are likely overwatering–leaves should be plump.

How dry is dry?

The top soil was moist, but one of the leaves was drying up.

Dried leaves can be caused by

Dried leaves can be caused by drying of the soil, too much water or too much artifical heat. Repot your plant in a bigger pot with nice quick-draining soil (cactus mix works well). Keep it in a sunny window but make sure that it’s not too close to a heat vent or radiator.

Temperature

My aloe Vera plants got quite a bit cooler than they should of got for a couple nights in a row and they are laying down in the pots and I was wondering if I could do anything to save them?

aloe vera flowering tips

do I remove the aloe vera flowers immediately or not at all?

Don’t remove the flowers.

Don’t remove the flowers. They will die and brake off naturally.

aloe vera plant

my aloe vera plant unfortunately has been watered way toooo much and now has completely become waterlogged and has lost all its roots..i just pulled the whole plant out and the roots are all mush.....what can i do for the remaining plant?? pls advise..thank you

Remove the mushy roots and

Remove the mushy roots and let the plant dry out. When dry put the aloe vera in moist (not wet) soil and see if it will grow new roots. Chances are that it will not survive.

Aloe is very hardy and can

Aloe is very hardy and can regrow it's roots completely. My aloe regrows all it's roots every time I re-pot it. I cut off all the small roots and most of the thick center part of the root, leaving a few inches to provide stability. You can even take off a bottom leaf or two if needed and/or peel off the crispy leftovers of leaves. I also peel the dry skin off the root. Then just stick it back in some good soil. Water it a little bit here and there, and within about 2 months it should regrow all it's roots completely. As stated, just make sure you have a good draining soil so this doesn't happen again. I lightly water and mist mine every few days and then do heavy watering with organic nutrients here and there, and it thrives.

I want to buy and grow indoor

I want to buy and grow indoor aloe vera plant ,i want to make sure that the aloe vera plant that i will buy are the large type that grows average 15 inches to 18 or maybe 20 plus inches, medicinal, succulent type, miracle plant,. i look in e bay, i am confused, thank you so much in your advice, GOD bless you.

Look for Aloe barbadensis. It

Look for Aloe barbadensis. It is the most commonly sold aloe vera houseplant.

Red/Brown tips

Hi, I've been growing Aloe Vera plants for years and I've never had this issue before, so I wonder if you could help me: I had a very large plant of about 7 years that was too big for the pot it was in so I had to repot it. It had four plants in it. I repotted three of them in one pot and the other one in a different one. I left the pot with the three plants in the same place it used to be and put the other pot on a windowsill. I used metal pots and new soil. The plants that are sharing a pot are doing ok but the other one's ends had started turning brown/red and to dry. I've moved it from the windowsill but I don't know if that's the reason. It was separated from the other plants, in a new pot with new soil, put in a different spot and we've started using a dehumidifier in that room too, so there are plenty of possible reasons. What's confusing is that the other plants are in the same room, in a new pot with new soil too but are doing well...
Thanks in advance,

Plant care

I use cactus soil for my plant. I think I need a bigger container. What is the biggest size planter I should get to replant my aloe Vera plant.

Aloe leave tear

Hi, I just bought an aloe Vera and on its ride home, i accidentally folded over a leave that tore partially. It tore about halfway through so that, if propped up, the leaf still stands straight. If i leave as is, is it possible for the tear to heal over, or do i need to break the leaf off completely at the tear to grow a new leaf head?

It’s best to remove the piece

It’s best to remove the piece of the leaf that tore. You can let the piece dry out for about 4 days and then put it in a small pot with moist soil to see if it will root. You can also put the piece in a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator to use on scrapes and bruises.

I plant aloe leaves not much

I plant aloe leaves not much time but well developed and easy to die when it rains, no way to fix this?

Help please

I got my aloe in the summer, and it is now winter. It was growing fine, but now it has come out of the soil, and there seem to be no roots under the leaves. What happened? Will it grow back?

In the winter the plant

In the winter the plant becomes somewhat dormant and requires less water. Shake off the soil and check for roots. There may be some hiding. If the plant has some roots you can repot it in fresh moist soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

My Aloe doesn't know what it wants

I have an aloe plant for few years now. It will be in one spot for a few months doing well then it's leaves will start to droop and turn brown. So, I'll move it to another spot and then it doesn't do so well. Any advice? I really don't want to lose it

Not sure what is going on

Not sure what is going on with your plant. Aloe vera grows best if placed in indirect sunlight or under artificial lights.

selling aloe

Does anyone have the contact info for a commercial buyer of Aloe? IM CONSIDERING GROWING AN ACRE'S WORTH FOR SALE Thankyou

There is a beautiful boutique

There is a beautiful boutique store in Manitou Springs, Colorado that sells lots of Aloe Plants. I will have to reply to you with the name of the place. I bet the lady who owns the store would possibly purchase from you or else maybe she can give you the name of the company she buys from. A piece of advice, grow more than one type of Aloe. I was there on vacation and I bought 6 different varieties of Aloe. There are so many pretty ones that look nice in any home. If you are close to me I would be happy to help you set up and sale online in exchange for just the plants. I can teach you from A to Z how to easily set up and sell to both wholesale and the end user all from 1 site that would link you to hundreds to thosands more as you continue to grow. I would also suggest marketing yourself to larger Greenery's in areas where their climate zones are not conducive to growing themselves. I am jealous yout have such a gteen thumb to grow in large quantities. Be sure you obtain insurance because if your crop is hit by mother nature one year, you might still be obligated to meet your supply orders unless you have well written contracts. Lots to know before jumping in or getting started. Joyce's Greenery in Storm Lake, Iowa has the greatest owners. I bet they might be able to give you more insight? Heck they helped me when our truck radiator blew out in front of their Farm/greenery. They even give us the truck to drive home for the day and started calling around immediately to help get our vehicle repaired. I thought that was beyond the Call of Duty for anyone. So I know that they are nice folks.

An acre of aloe

Did you go full acre on your aloe, and if so, how is it growing?

my aloe needs help

My aloe has 36 inch steams and is healthy looking but they droop slightly, and one steam curls up slightly? Is my plant root bound? I water it properly and is in a well lit area. What can I do to help it? I have another aloe plant that has 12 offspring that just recently showed up and I live in Minnesota and its mid winter. Do I remove them all now or wait until spring? Please help!

Make sure that you don’t

Make sure that you don’t overwater and have good drainage. The plant needs less water during the winter months. It also may need repotting in new fresh soil. The best time to transplant the new pups are in late winter early spring.

aloe vera flowers

We brought some plants up from Topock/ Golden Shores Az. after Thanksgiving and have noticed lately what appears to be some flower chutes in the middle of one plant. We have never experienced this before as we have several of these plants in the house. Is this a male or female or what? And what do we do with it if anything special?

It’s not too common for

It’s not too common for indoor aloe vera plants to flower. They need as much sunlight as possible to produce flowers and you may want to fertilize the plant with a diluted 10-40-10 liquid fertilizer. Mix the fertilizer with twice the recommended amount of water. Try to keep the temp. above 70 degrees in the room where you have the plant.

aloe vera nursery in winter

Is it possible to build a small nursery/ hot house outside for our aloe vera or would the winters we have in Utah be too harsh

Aloe Vera in Winter

Aloe vera does need heat, so a heated greenhouse/hothouse kept above 50 degrees Fahrenheit would be suitable, otherwise it would be better indoors.

My Aloe flowered once a few

My Aloe flowered once a few years ago and I had it near a kitchen window where it didn't get direct sun all day. They seem to flower more often when they get lots of sun, but I was lucky enough to get one flower, and it's pretty. :)

I have three small aloe

I have three small aloe plants (pups from my grandmother's plant that my mother inherited and then killed-bad, BAD winter in Michigan) that are in a medium pot. They care a lovely green color and seem to be healthy, but they do not seem to be growing. My mom's pups that she save at the same time are at least twice the size of mine. Any suggestions?

Make sure your plants are in

Make sure your plants are in indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings. Please see our planting and care sections above for more tips.

Hi my Aloe Vera plant has a

Hi my Aloe Vera plant has a little hole on one of it's leaves, what should I do? Should I remove it or will it go away eventually?

Great site. My aloe was

Great site. My aloe was growing sideways so he moved to bigger pot and was positioned so leaves pointed up. He grew sideways again and down side of pot,gripping lip.Most of him is outside of pot now. Is this ok or how do I help him grow up?

Great site. My aloe was

Hi, I have a huge mother

Hi, I have a huge mother plant that does wonderful, lately I've been harvesting tons of babies! But winter is coming soon and I don't have many places indoors where they will get adequate sunlight. I am looking for a type of light bulb I can use to keep them healthy. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated!

Any type of growlight bulb

Any type of growlight bulb should do the trick. If you have a lot of pots try an 4 foot long ordinary shoplight with growlight tubes or 1 cool white and 1 warm white bulb to imitate a full spectrum of light.

Hi I've never grown aloe

Hi I've never grown aloe before, mine is looking healthy but it's quite floppy in the pot. The inner leaves are upright and the outer ones are virtually horizontal. Is that normal? Thanks

Hi, Abbie: This is almost

Hi, Abbie: This is almost always caused by too much water. Gently tie up the floppy leaves with a piece of panty hose or light string for now. Stop watering for three or four days and see if it begins to get stronger. If not, you will need to very carefully remove it from its pot, discard any rotting or unhealthy-looking roots, discard the present soil, clean the inside of the pot, and then repot with succulent (aka cactus) soil mix. Lightly water one time to begin. Then water only when the entire pot is close to dry. This should do it... thanks for asking!

Droopy leaves

Mine Has droopy leaves as well is that from over watering and I have one that wants too go sideways .... please help..... the big one it's new leaves stand straight but after growing awhile they start too droop

hi everyone, I have an aloe

hi everyone, I have an aloe that is about 15 years old and it is in bad shape. I moved recently and i accidentally decided to put it in full sun for an afternoon to help it out. Since than it's old leaves have been burnt, they have dried out and are floppy. There is abundant new growth which is very healthy but it is growing up. So what i have is a ling stem with a bunch of floppy old leaves and some really healthy growth at the end. I want to cut off the old leaves but than it would make the plant look really weird. Can i trim the old and than repot the stem root back into the dirt so it doesn't look too pathetic? Can i cut the stem and than just plant it back in the dirt? Can i cut the root ball as well? Will be taking out the baby shoots too btw.
Also, it is in decent light (was never really in full sun in its life and still grows well), and i water it about once every 2 weeks.

Remove any dead or damaged

Remove any dead or damaged leaves. Remove the pups as well, to help the mother plant focus on new leaves--you can replant the pups. What is left might be a top-heavy mother plant with a leggy stem. If so, wait a few weeks so that any cuts from removing leaves or pups have time to heal over. Then you can repot the plant in a slightly larger container, sinking the plant in the soil up to just under the first set of leaves. The leggy stem, now buried in the soil, may form roots (some species are more fussy). Be aware that it might take a few weeks to months for your plant to adjust. Also, there may be a risk of rotting if this is not done properly; be careful as to how often you water, and repot only when the plant is growing; not when it is dormant. Good luck!

Hi I just bought a new alo

Hi I just bought a new alo vera plant she was very root bound but also had 2 pups when i bought her i transplanted her right away but left the pups where they were as didnt know had to remove them and the roots were so intertwined i dont think i could have even gotten to cutting them off without damaging them so i repotted her with her pups with Miracle-Gro Potting Mix watered her with some plant food she seemed to be doing ok for the first few days but now the leaves are starting to go flat one of the smaller leaves turning brown while other leaves like i said are going flat in some places so they look kind of bumpy whats going on and how can i fix this

A common cause of aloe leaf

A common cause of aloe leaf problems is overwatering--make sure that the soil is dry down to an inch below the surface before watering, usually once every week or two; in winter, even less. When you do water in summer, give it a good soaking each time, so that water drains out the bottom of the pot; be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings. Also check that there is a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and that it is not sitting in water. Be sure that the soil is a cactus mix or one that has plenty of sand for good drainage. It could be just that the plant is adjusting to its new space, and going through shock; if you think this might be the case, check all conditions (light, temperature, water, etc.) and adjust as best you can.

Adding to part if the ? replanting the pups away from the mother

I read in one of the post above that you should let the let's sit out a day or two before you replant them. Sorry about my terminology but if you use your search function on this great page simewhere above then maybe you can find the correct verbiage that I am lacking. Sorry. Running into an appointment and don't have time to go back and copy/paste. Just wanted others to be aware of this if they read this post. I am a newbie to Aloe. So take my opinion lightly. Haha

Hi Marina, you should only

Hi Marina, you should only give the Aloe Vera and it's pups about 2 shot glasses worth of water and only when the top 2in. of the soil are dry, this will help encourage new root growth. Also, they should be kept indoors in a light room outside of direct sunlight, this prevents the leaves from being sunburned. I hope this helps you keep your plants happy and healthy as it did mine

Is it or is it NOT possible

Is it or is it NOT possible to plant an aloe vera plant i orchid soil

Sure, many folks use fine

Sure, many folks use fine orchid mix. We'd add some perlite. A more common soil is potting soil made for cacti, another desert plant.

Hello Almanacians!! I have

Hello Almanacians!!
I have had my Aloe Vera for sometime now. Over the past year my plant had babies as it usually does but I failed to repot it. Although I continue to water sparingly, the leaves have gotten thin as if they have dried out. some of the leaves have becoming purplish on the tips, but overall my Aloe Vera is still its beautiful green color. I repotted my plant today and gave it a generous amount of water. I am hoping that this encourages the leaves to become full and healthy as they once were.

Hi, One of my plants just

Hi,
One of my plants just recently started to get a lot of tiny brown dots on the tips of its leaves. Im not quite sure what thy are, as they do not look like bugs or holes.
I dont have it planted in a succulent potting mix, just some dirt from my yard. Could this be the problem? And is it not good to use?(im using a really light and almost dusty feeling dirt.)
Anything insight you have you be great, thank you.

You may have a small

You may have a small infestation of scale bugs (small brown bugs) although they might look like part of the plant they can hurt/kill it in a small amount of time. Try getting rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip or paper towel and rubbing the area of the leaf that contains the brown dots, that should get rid of them.

my aloe has grown a 16" stem

my aloe has grown a 16" stem from the center atop which its got a weird flower peachy in color. when the flower dies should i cut off at base or will the entire stem die. Never had an aloe quite like this one: ~7 10" branches w/very thorny edges that grow upward. very exotic but not sure how to care for it.- it is outside in shade for summer as direct sun almost killed it.

My Aloe Vera plant flowers

My Aloe Vera plant flowers every year. The stem will die off and come back next year.

This Cactus sounds like a

This Cactus sounds like a Bromliad.

I have an aloe plant that the

I have an aloe plant that the stems are fat and are almost see through.But its 2 plants that where one. I just wanna know how to take care of it so it wont die

and i have a devils ivy that the leaves are turning brown and dying what can i do for it i've had thia plant fora little bit over 6 years. i really don't wanna lose it. can you help me?

If you have two plants it's

If you have two plants it's best to seperate them. Carefully remove the plants from the pot and see if you can gently pull them apart. Make sure the roots look healthy. Plant in seperate pots in new fresh soil.

Can incorrectly removing pups

Can incorrectly removing pups compromise the mother plant?
I had a plant that was doing well and I removed the pups and have repotted them. But without being watered the mother plant started to show signs of rot. also, the plants are inside but we are having a very unusually wet spring here in Texas (record breaking rains, cool temps and cloudy days for weeks). Is it possible that too much moisture in the air can cause this? Or was it the removing of the pups?
I'm not new to aloe but this has thrown me for a loop. I've never known my plants to be so fussy before.

I was printing this article

I was printing this article to pass out along with the plants I'm giving to co workers. I'm not an expert. I just have a green thumb. It sounds to me that your problem started with the weather and most likely the new soil. Damp, cool soil leads to root rot and fungus growth. I would avoid buying bagged soil in the spring for immediate use. I'm referring to the "they just bought several pallets for the garden center sale" bags of soil. Try to find a bag that has been inside a store and sitting around for a while. That bag will have finished the composting cycle. Buy and store the bulk sale for future uses.

I would suggest re- transplanting in new soil. Remove all rot and allow the plant to heal for a week or longer. A tip I learned from my gma - unprocessed honey! Dip the area that will be below the soil line in a light coating of honey before planting. It will feed the plant until it establishes roots. It also helps to protect the transplant from diseases in the soil. Place transplant in a warm, indirectly well lit area until rooted.. Lightly spray mist some water on leaves and soil as needed.

I have seen my gma pull pups off the mother like she was weeding a dandelion. There are gentler ways. I doubt there is a wrong way.

I hope this helps.

I recently repotted my first

I recently repotted my first aloe plant. I've read that they need to be kept in the shade for a period of days so the plant can get used to the new soil. Is this true? If so how many days? It has been 2 days so far and the ends are starting to curl a bit and there are a couple of brown spots that have showed up.

i have a aloe plant that a

i have a aloe plant that a friend gave me it is turning brown i dont know what to do i have never tried growing one before please help i want to try and save it if i can

Tanya, There are lots of

Tanya, There are lots of reasons why plants fail to thrive. Here are a few things that you should check: Aloe vera thrives in poor but well-draining soil (cacti mix is good; use no compost or mulch) and with very little water. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Water it well but never let it sit in water. It likes bright sunlight, like that of a south or west facing. Does this describe your plant's conditions?
If conditions are they should be, you might ask your friend what her "secret" is.

I have already used a mulch

I have already used a mulch blend for my aloe plant should I just start over or my plant has a chance of life

If it has trouble start,

If it has trouble start, repot it in cacti medium. I had one years ago that did fine in a regular potting soil mulch but I put b it in with it's own soil around it. We used wood heat so air tended to be dry and was in a well lit, busy area by the kitchen. Different plants may need different care depending on stressors and environment and previous conditions.

Based on another article I

Based on another article I read your aloe plant is getting too much sunshine.

I was given a small baby aloe

I was given a small baby aloe vera, which I potted up and stuck in my conservatory last year. He seems very, very happy ;) as I notice he has his own babies and has produced a beautiful orange flower. Question is what do I do now the flower has finished? I have a long stem with dead petals now. Do I de-head it? Do I remove the stem? Or do I leave it alone. How do you encourage it to flower and can they flower every year?

Greetings.. I am very sad as

Greetings..

I am very sad as my neighbour lady had asked a couple of leaves of my big healthy Aloe Vera Plant to make some medicine. Today while I was not home and when I came back I found that from both my big plants she has taken a whole big bunch of leaves right from the centre of the plant. She has cut them with a sharp knife so brutely that the rest of the plant is looking so dull and badly treated.
I am worried, will those big bunch which she has cut right from the middle making a bigh 3 inches circle by cutting them, will that regrow back or not??? :( :( :(

Also while observing the remainder of my plants I found two or three new baby plants in the same pots. How should I handle those new baby plants?

I shall be very grateful if you help me with this as this is the first time I was trying to grow Aloe in my balcony in pots and I fell in love with them both.

Waiting for your reply.

Anuradha

Leave the two big plants as

Leave the two big plants as is and you may get some new growth from the center of the plants. Remove some of the soil around the baby plants and using a clean knife cut them of the mother plant. Plant the babies in individual pots with fresh soil and water as needed.

Thank you for always being so

Thank you for always being so informative. the aloe has been a staple in our medicinal garden for years and i thought i knew all there was to know about this awesome plant but i learned some new tips here today. thank you so much and keep up the good work.

Hi this forum is very

Hi this forum is very helpful!

I am new to growing... anything!

I am planning on growing 3-4 Aloe Vera plants indoor, I live in Scotland.

I was going to buy cactus soil from the store and mix with some perlite as I know conditions need to be along those lines.. would this be ok to use? Or is there any reccomendations for the best grow? Links to online places I could buy from or anything, just looking to be prepared lol I will be buying the plants this coming week! Thanks!

Hi Johno. I planted my one

Hi Johno. I planted my one and only aloe vera in cactus soil when I got it three months ago and put it in a sunny window. It is doing beautifully. They do like dry soil so cactus soil is the way to go. Good luck!

What should I do with the

What should I do with the brown leaves on my indoor Aloe Vera plant?

Brown leaves on an indoor

Brown leaves on an indoor Aloe Vera plant usually mean too little water. Even though aloes like dry weather, they need to watered correctly. When you water the plant, go slowly until its leaves plump up. Give it some time. It won't recover immediately.

I have an Aloe plant that

I have an Aloe plant that I've had for about 4 years. It started as a small little thing from the Walmart garden center and now has leaves about 24 inches long but only long leaves. It's kinda stopped growing a bit and some of the leaves are a little "hallowed" out- like they have a dip in the center and they droop. It's never gotten bigger or produced babies. The color is healthy except where I left it outside too long to "harden it" and it got sunburned. Some of the leaves tend to fall off but no signs of mildew or anything like that. But it IS in a terra cotta pot with Cactus soil and a rock bed at the bottom with a drainage hole. Does it just need a larger pot? It is in a sunny location and since it's April, I've picked up on watering it more often and it's in a sunny location. Any advice? Thank you!

Hi Charlotte, It sounds like

Hi Charlotte,
It sounds like your plant is doing OK but probably needs a bigger pot. You may also want to fertilize it. A liquid 0-40-10 houseplant fertilizers diluted according to instructions on the bottle will do the trick.

Seems to me it might be the

Seems to me it might be the water conditions. Terra cotta pots can be either really great for keeping water levels consistent or they can leach water from the soil, it all depends on whether you're keeping the pot continuously wet as well. Add that factor in with the well draining cactus soil and the rock bed, and it tells me that it's getting enough water to sustain it and make it grow but not enough extra water for it to store and make the leaves plump out.... that could be the reason your leaves have that "hollowed" out look you mentioned. I would try changing out the pot for something a bit bigger, and either using something other than Terra cotta or loosing the rock bed. I have mine in a Terra cotta pot with cactus soil as well, and I found putting it in the sink with about 2" of water for about 5 minutes every 2 weeks gives it ample water for growth and water storage. Hope it helps! :)

I have a aloe plant that i

I have a aloe plant that i have had for many years. it is healthy but the stem is leggy from the years of cutting the bottom leaves off. Now it is trying to uproot itself from the pot cuz its top heavy. How do i replant and trim it to make it grow better and not lose it. Also it has never flowered and i didnt know they could flower.

Spring is a good time to

Spring is a good time to repot the plant. Get a bigger container and some new fresh soil (cactus potting mix works well). Plant the Aloe a little deeper in the pot to balance it better.

can i put my aloe plant in

can i put my aloe plant in all purpose soil but only water it once every 2-3 weeks?

if i cut a leaf from the aloe

if i cut a leaf from the aloe plant, how long would it take for a new one to grow and take its place? also, if i repot the plant, can i use a mixture of orchid mix and all purpose soil?

Aloe vera leaves will not

Aloe vera leaves will not grow back. The wound seals over quickly and the plant will continue to grow new branches and leaves from the center. Best soil mix for aloe vera plants are cactus potting soil that you can find at garden centers. Or you can mix all purpose potting soil with sand.

I would like to know if it is

I would like to know if it is benificial to the aloe plant if you wash the leaves and roots of the plant with hydrogen peroxide when transplanting to a new pot with fresh soil when the plant has fungus or mold on it and or on the surface of the dirt? Also if hydrogen peroxide is benificial to the plant would it be a good idea to rinse it in hydrogen peroxide when transplanting or splitting the plant for transplanting?

Thanks: Jason Holman

Hydrogen peroxide is

Hydrogen peroxide is beneficial to plants as it does kill mold and many fungi. To use, mix 2 cups of water with 5 tablespoons of household hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. You can spray this on the plant or the soil.

can it grow on sandy

can it grow on sandy soil or sand.plz help.
its leaves turning yellow one aft another

I think that it would be wise

I think that it would be wise to do sandy soil. As much as its a deserty plant, it needs proper soil

The top of my Aloe plant fell

The top of my Aloe plant fell off. What should I do?

Hey Andy. . . Keep it under

Hey Andy. . . Keep it under sun and dont water it for some time. . . And also losen the top soil.

Since aloe plants are a type

Since aloe plants are a type of cacti they don't die easily. The easiest way to kill it is over watering. The best thing to do is actually to replant the part that broke off. This will actually start to grow a whole new aloe, just give it time. Once your aloe(s) are big enough you could actually break off some of the stems to make more as well.

It's a misconception that is

It's a misconception that is from the cactus family, it's actually more closely related to the onion family xx

I have a baby aloe plant, cut

I have a baby aloe plant, cut from a mother plant. The plant has 5 leaves, and one new growth in the center. It was knocked over by my cat and I saw the roots are only about 2-3" long...it is currently in a pot that's about a 4" diameter. Should I pot in something smaller until the root system is more stable? Thanks for any advice..first time aloe plant parent;)

I would plant it a larger

I would plant it a larger pot. Maybe 3 inches wider. Since the cat knocked it over you may as well. I speak from lots if trial and error. They grow quickly and soon it will need a larger pot anyway !

What if the plant is indoors,

What if the plant is indoors, its winter time and not a whole lot of sun, when the sun does shin it its way to cold for my aloe plant to be outside, is there a type of lighting i can us for my aloe vera plant besides the sunlight?

The plant will do fine

The plant will do fine indoors as long as it gets some sunlight through a window. There is no need for extra lighting.

When I first got my Aloe Vera

When I first got my Aloe Vera plant it was in a relatively small pot with little soil, so I dug up a few handfulls of dirt and potted it (along with it's original soil) in that. A few days later it seemed to not be doing so well so I watered it quite a lot (before reading they don't need a lot of water) After I watered it that much I left it basically unattended in a place with little sun for about a month (because i travel a lot) I just came home to it today to see what looks like fungus or mold or mildue growing on the top of the soil and the plant leaves are really flexible (like they are filled with water) I just took it out of the soil and threw the soil away. What should I do? I really don't want it to die. Should I buy more soil from the store?

Hi Anica, Get some

Hi Anica,
Get some well-draining potting soil mix, such as for cacti/succulents. Repot the jade and do not overwater.
Good luck!

Hi! Just got an Aloe plant,

Hi! Just got an Aloe plant, very excited, but when looking at a leaf, it fell off, and I replanted it. It does have a bit of aloe in it, but I left it in. Also worried that if I smear aloe on the leaves, it will die, not sure about that one. Dipped in rooting powder, and it is Winter here. Keeping it in my room, next to a window, but not directly under window. Vent is down a couple feet from it, so the vent is far away. Do I have to do anything special about it? Plus, I accidently did the same with my Christmas cactus. I planted it, but it has a small bud on it. HELP! I don't want my plants to die.

Hi! Just got an Aloe plant,

How long does it take to grow

How long does it take to grow a Aloe Vera plant? I have to do a Science Fair and I am very interested in this plant and want to use it but NONE of the websites tell how long it takes to grow! Thanks! Reply soon!

I purchased my aloe Vera

I purchased my aloe Vera plant in June and it grew pretty big in about 2-3 mos. It doesn't take long for it to grow.

Hi, How can i be sure that

Hi,

How can i be sure that the aloe vera plant I keep at home is the correct variety that can be eaten. Please advise.

Regards,
Manu

Hi, Manu: With aloe vera, it

Hi, Manu: With aloe vera, it is not which type to avoid, but which part of the plant. It is highly inadvisable to ingest what is known as the latex. How to identify and avoid this is beyond the scope and space of what we can advise here, but you should be able to find plenty of reputable help online or at your local library or county agricultural extension service. Good question!

The one can consume that's

The one can consume that's the best is the Aloe Barbardensis it has prickles on the ourside edge of the leaf x

I've had this aloe plant for

I've had this aloe plant for years. It seems healthy, but I'm worried. Right next to plant in the pot it has been growing white fungus trees(I don't know what is it called lol). We have removed it several time but come back up. What should I do?

Remove the plant from the pot

Remove the plant from the pot and discard the soil. Shake off as much soil from the roots and then rinse the roots under water. Repot the plant in a new pot with fresh soil. This should take care of the problem.

I have a large aloe vera

I have a large aloe vera plant that is in a 5 gallon bucket. I have had it for around 5 years. For the past couple of years it has been indoors. From comments I read, I have apparently overwatered it. It has large, thick leaves and it droops. Today the large offshoot fell off. I thought perhaps due to weight, but it looks like the plant has rotted at the base. Only one leaf is still attached to the main stem and it look sickly. Everything else was already detached. I am confused by postings as to whether or not I can plant the leaves and it take. I do not want to lose the gel, but I do not want to harvest it, if I can get the leaves to root. I have a couple of sections with multiple leaves that are still attached to the stem and several large leaves that separated from the stem. I have had it in just potting soil with rocks in the bottom of the bucket to allow drainage. Any help in how to proceed would be appreciated.
Also, if it is a case I just need to harvest the gel, I know how to cut it out, but I see nothing in regards to how to store it when you have more than you can use, so suggestions for this is also needed.

Hi Karen, Remove the main

Hi Karen,
Remove the main stem from the pot and see if you can cut off the sections that have rotted and then replant it in fresh well draining soil (cacti potting mix or make your own with one part potting soil and one part sand). You can also plant the smaller stems in small pots to see if they will start growing. It's harder to start plants from aloe vera leaves, but it can be done. Let the leaf dry for a few days to make sure that the cut end is no longer wet. Then put the leaf (cut end down) in potting soil and water just a little once a week.
To store aloe vera gel you need to add vitamins C and E. You will find instructions if you google "aloe vera gel store".

I have a very big aloe vera.

I have a very big aloe vera. I tried to move it inside & some of the leaves broke off or had started to break. The leaves are 25 inches long, I have 4 of the long leaves that broke off . The person that gave it too me had it in a pot with no drain holes. I need to repot was scared more leaves would fall off. All the leaves are pretty green. I live in Centerville Tennessee. I had it outside on a covered porch with east, south & west sun. Mostly East/south.

Should I replant it now or

Should I replant it now or wait to spring? I've had the plant 3 years. I should have already repotted it!

I have had a aloe plant about

I have had a aloe plant about two months. Replanted it in 6 inch pot. Plant looks good but doesn't seem to be growing. How much direct sunlight can I give it. It's setting in a secondary window with very little direct sunlight. Appreciate any help I can get with it. Thank you.

Aloe vera grows best indoors

Aloe vera grows best indoors when kept in a bright south- or west-facing window and/or artificial light. (The latter refers to flourescent light at 6 to 12 inches above the plant for 14 to 16 hours per day.) In winter, water only enough to prevent shrinking and withering. Soak it, but the plant should be in well-draining soil to enable the water to run out. Do not let the plant sit in water and let it dry out between waterings. Inspring increase the water (frequency, not conditions). Fertilize in spring lightly. There's that word again (light). Aloe love sun!

You may need to put it in a

You may need to put it in a bigger pot. Plants can only grow so much in certain size pots until their roots have no more room to grow. Maybe upgrade to a gallon size pot and see how it does. Hope this helps.

My aloe was potted from some

My aloe was potted from some offshoots of a GINORMOUS aloe. Some leaves were only 2in when planted. I have it in my office, no sunlight at all, and it has never gotten bigger in 2 years. Is it all due to having no sunlight at all?

More than likely that is the

More than likely that is the problem. Aloe needs sunlight. I would put it in sun and see how it does.

I have two small aloe plants

I have two small aloe plants (the roots are about 3-4 inches long) my grandmother gave them to me, they both share a pot, its a fairly decent pot about 6-8 inches across. I moved them away from one another but now they are really close to the pots edge. Will they be fine sharing a Pot? Should I get two separate pots? Should I move them closer together so they aren't right against the pot? I have zero experience with desert type plants so I don't want to kill them they are so beautiful and useful. Also thank you for the watering advice I may have been over doing it as the leaves on one are starting to droop and I moved them to better sunlight.

Hi Natalie, If the plants are

Hi Natalie,
If the plants are happy leave them in one pot for now. In the spring you can divide them and plant them in seperate pots so that they have more room to grow.

Thank you so much. Alright I

Thank you so much. Alright I will thank you. :)

HELP,,,, my aloe is turning

HELP,,,, my aloe is turning grey and soft, what should I do ?? Its in a pot,outside,gets sun most of the day.

Mine was doing the same

Mine was doing the same thing. I guess I'd over-watered it. So we left it on the back deck under the roof eve to die and forgot about it. Two months later it's as healthy as ever. My suggestion... ignore it and don't water it for a while + sunlight.

Hi Norma, Not sure if your

Hi Norma,
Not sure if your aloe is doing better by now, but if not maybe this will help. I've never had an aloe that survived being outside and/or in direct sunlight. The one I have now is in "dappled" sunlight. Prior to this, it was in direct light and was doing poorly, now, it's doing great! I only water it when it's completely dry as well.

I bought a new aloe vera

I bought a new aloe vera plant, haven't had the chance to water (or overwater :-p) it yet, but it has started drooping. What seems to be different is the stem or central column is drooping. When I pout it the leaves went out to the side, now the stem is angled and one of the leaves that went out to the side is now facing up it's tilted so much. I repotted it slightly deeper to give it more stability, but that hasn't helped much.

Oh, and it has a few black/brown spots from overwatering from before I got it, so I'm not sure it that's the issue and I need to let it dry out a bit.

my aloe plant is healthy and

my aloe plant is healthy and looking beautiful, but two of the leaves that are healthy are really long and flopping over the pot. What should i do with the floppy leaves? do i leave them be or trim them?

You can prune the leaves. If

You can prune the leaves. If you keep getting floppy leaves, you may be overwatering. Aloe vera need very little water. Wait until the top 2 inches are dry before watering again.

Aloe Trees? I've been raising

Aloe Trees?
I've been raising a lovely common indoor Aloe, dubbed "Friend". I've always had an affinity for plants and animals, so seven months ago, I found little friend for sale at a plant show. I believe his general leaf length was around 9" when I first took him home, now they are around 17" to 19"... He's grown extremely quickly next to a south facing window, even after being subjected to insects following a short dry spell and having an angry cat overthrow his spot upon my desk, leaving him with a cracked pot and character building scar. His leaves remain a vibrant green, no matter the abuse his surroundings have dealt. After a trip to town, I noticed a MASSIVE Aloe Vera plant in a storefront window, resembling a tree. After a few brief online searches, I have discovered that Aloe Trees do indeed exist and I hope that Friend will be able to grow into a fine tree, but I'm a bit lost regarding how to help him find that shape. A family member of mine has the same species, and has maintained a very neat and very small aloe plant over the course of around seven years with no sign of "tree-ing" Is it possible? If so, how?

Not all aloe plants will grow

Not all aloe plants will grow into tree aloes. To grow one, look for Aloe barberae or Aloe bainesii.

We have a farm full of Aloe

We have a farm full of Aloe Vera and would like to harvest.Can you suggest someone we should contact?

What is the price for half of

What is the price for half of a crop? I'm very interested.

I also would like a few small

I also would like a few small aloes that i could start in the house. If you would be kind enough to send some i would appreciate it. I love plants but cant afford to by them as im on ssi. My address is 24355 hwy.65 n.e. lot 2 East Bethel, Mn. 55005 and my name is deborah wood. Thank you for considering my request.

pup aloe's

Are you still looking for pup aloe

I have2 very large aloe vera

I have2 very large aloe vera plants with lots of pups extending from both. I put them outside in April but we had an unexpected frost day. My plants caught a chill and the appearance of both totally changed, to a point where I thought I had lost them. I went to throw them out so I could re-use the pots today and I find they are not completely gone .There seem to be some healthy leaves everywhere so I tore off the bad ones so I can re-pot them. I also notice that the root of the mother plant is extremely long and thick. Can I cut the root so I can re-pot it?

I am so glad i found this

I am so glad i found this forum! I bought a growing kit from hobby lobby exactly a week ago, today. it came with four seeds, a soil disk and a dome-like plastic container to grow it in. the instructions weren't very in depth. they left me hanging at "put the lid on and it should sprout in about 4-6 weeks"

..until i found this website and a few youtube videos later i learned that i should take the lid off as soon as they sprout, have fast draining soil and should water every few weeks or so.

The thing is *Here's my problem* I looked at my container today, exactly 1 week in and they have already sprouted from the soil, also it is very wet. I'm afraid this plant was doomed from the start.. I don't know what to do.

Remove the lid and put the

Remove the lid and put the container in a sunny spot so that the soil will dry up. Hopefully the seedlings will survive. When the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches long transplant in small pots with well-draining potting soil.

Thank you.

I bought the same planting

I bought the same planting kit, and i kept the lid on until they touched the top. Then i took it off, and left them in the window. I actually grew these at work! I now have 4 beautiful aloe plants that i only have repotted once, but keep getting new leaves all the time. I am sure they are fine!

Hello everyone, I've got a

Hello everyone,
I've got a large aloe, leaves about 20 inches or so long. I noticed the roots rotted. I cut off the mushy part of the root, which left just a stump. I had it sitting in a large container of water for a week or so hoping to see some roots. But after reading some posts from this forum I figured sitting it in water might not be a good idea. Its been drying out for about a week now. Should I stick it back in some fresh succulent or cactus potting mix now? Its a beautiful big old plant that I want to save. Any help would be appreciated. The.

Dip the bottom of the plant

Dip the bottom of the plant in rooting hormone before planting it in good potting soil. Just water enough to keep the soil moist.

hello i have one of those

hello i have one of those plants and its seem to be doing quite well. it looks healthy and after seeming the other people post i haven't seen anyone with the issues have maybe you can help.... my plant is growing but are the leaves suppose to grow upward? my are leaves are fat and pretty growing outward and low....is that ok or is it suppose to grow and standing upward or does it matter? after seeing the others post it may need to be in a larger container would that help

thanks
donna

If the leaves of your aloe

If the leaves of your aloe vera plant are growing horizontally, usually the reason is overwatering; they are succulents and getting heavy with water. Another reason can be not enough light.
Finally, as you guessed, it could be a sign that the plant is root-bound. It may be sending up new "pups" which need to be removed (and replanted if you wish). You may wish to transplant into a slightly bigger container.

Hi, I bought myself an

Hi, I bought myself an aloevera and unknowingly over watered it with tge result that the leaves are now turning yellowish. After reading some of your posts, I suapwct it needs a bigger pot also, can you advise me please if you think I can save it now by letting it dry out..can the leaves come back to health green colour?

I accidentally left some of

I accidentally left some of my pups in a rainstorm and immediately uprooted the plants. I left them out to dry and then repotted. Any leaves that browned I trimmed with a sharp knife. They are thriving! Aloe can survive without soil for a while.

I got my aloe vera plant

I got my aloe vera plant today. It is in a pot and 6'' tall. It is summer and i've put it under sunlight in my kitchen window. My question is, how many times a day or week should I water it. I don't understand the 2'' deep mentionded before by assessing it on a pot. Thanks!

When you water, it is not

When you water, it is not always based on a set number of times. An aloe plant is a desert plant. Stick your finger in the soil. If it is dry 1 to 2 inches down, water it well. Then wait for it to dry out again to avoid overwatering.

When I read on the site about

When I read on the site about the 2 inches down, I was a bit perplexed..Since I was testing for moisture I used a toothpick like with a cake..When it came up dry I knew water was needed..Its working well for me..

Sir, we want to grow aloe

Sir,
we want to grow aloe vera for commercial purpose so please help me out where we got aloevera small plant for planting purpose & tell me about in which type soil they are grow. with full detail. waiting for your response.

I just bought an aloe vera

I just bought an aloe vera plant one of the little ones say 4 inches it was in a small pot so i transferred it to the larger pot with cactus or succulent plant soil but i didnt water it has been four days i bought seems going good but dont know when to water it or fertilize it or if its going to be ok last one i bought died the leaves would get mushy within a month that plant dead now i am afraid to water it...could you suggest me what to do?

Water aloe deeply but then

Water aloe deeply but then allow the soil to dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep between waterings, in order to discourage rot; water even less in winter. In spring, you could give the Aloe Vera some fertilizer--a diluted solution of bloom type fertilizer (10-40-10).

Somebody helppp! I got an

Somebody helppp! I got an aloe Vera plant a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed healthy, but now leaves started falling every now and then. It is a tiny aloe plant and the roots seem healthy, it gets sun and all, but the leaves just... Fall off. I water it when it seems dry and I think I treat it okay, and I really don't want to lose it so somebody please help!

Oh, also, I MIGHT actually be

Oh, also, I MIGHT actually be under watering it! That is possible, I have done my research on the plant, and when I see people watering aloe, I notice that they don't too often, but when they do, it is lots of water. I mist it, but it is getting hit now days, soon going to be summer. Is this the problem?

Hot**

A common cause of aloe leaves

A common cause of aloe leaves dropping is overwatering--make sure that the soil is dry down to an inch below the surface before watering, usually once every week or two; in winter, even less. When you do water in summer, give it a good soaking each time, so that water drains out the bottom of the pot; be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings. Also check that there is a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and that it is not sitting in water. Be sure that the soil is a cactus mix or one that has plenty of sand for good drainage. Dropping leaves can also occur if it gets too little light; in this case, the leaves will be pale green or yellow, rather than bright green. The leaves may drop also if the plant gets too hot or too cold; if you suspect it is getting too hot, move it to a shadier location (but where it still gets indirect light). Or, it could be just that the plant is adjusting to its new space, and going through shock; if you think this might be the case, check all conditions (light, temperature, water, etc.) and adjust as best you can.

Well, I don't think it is

Well, I don't think it is pale green or yellow, and it has been in it's current pot for a while... I will leave it alone and not water it or anything for a while and see what happens. Thank you!

I have a huge Aloe Vera plant

I have a huge Aloe Vera plant which has always been very healthy and the shoots were 'fat'. Now the shoots have become really thin and others are dying off entirely. It hasn't been moved or changed in a while so I don't understand why this is happening now. Any ideas?

Check your aloe plant on the

Check your aloe plant on the bottom, are the roots protrusion from the pot or are at the very bottom? It could be possible you just need to change to a bigger pot so that your plant has more room to grow.

Ok, I've had similar

Ok, I've had similar problems, I have about 10 Aloe Veras. Make sure there is enough space for the Aloe to grow, should have 3 inches space from the edges of the pot. Depending on how hot it is and the sunshine climate be careful about watering. If you get about 6 hours of good sunlight and the Aloe is next to a window, then you should water it every week and depending on how tall the plant is. If the plant is still a baby which is 1-4 inches long, water it at about 1/4 cup. if it is taller just increase the amount. If you are in a place where you barely get any sunshine, for example I live in Seattle and in winter there is maybe 30 minutes sun, put it under a high lumen light for at least 4 hours a day. You won't need to water in winter that much, once every 2-3 weeks. Thanks for reading and if you have any other question feel free to contact me :).

So normally I don't garden,

So normally I don't garden, but a friend of mine has an aloe plant and it had a small 'pup' growing on it. I asked if I could have it and they said yes. However, they cut it when it was really small. It is only like an inch or so big. My issue is I don't know if it will be able to survive being as small as it is. It is warm where I live and such, but is there anything I can do to help it's chances of survival? I really want it to grow to become a mother plant with its own pups.

Hi, I am new to the aloe vera

Hi, I am new to the aloe vera plant and need some advice. I have a aloe leaf that was cut from the mother plant. I just wanted to know if I could start growing a plant from that

Well actually, I don't know

Well actually, I don't know for sure if this works, but I have seen websites and YouTube videos showing that if you cut a piece of an aloe vera leaf at an angle, let it heal, dip it in honey and give it time in soil, it will grow roots. Once again, I am not sure but am putting it to the test currently. And if you are wondering why honey is used, it has the same effect of a rooting hormone.

I had the same question as

I had the same question as you did and decided to look at a few Websites and Youtube videos as a way of saving my Aloe a few months ago and found that it does not work! I planted the Aloe Vera leaves as these sites suggested (cut off the leaf on a slant, dipped in honey and potted in a Cactus Succulent Mix, the same I had used for the Mother plant before it flopped on me after being quite healthy [ it literally just flopped one day not sure what caused it but I think it might have have been the leaves reacting to being Sun Burnt]) and after about 3- 4 months the leaves did not root at all and I had to throw them away recently and just got a new Aloe Vera. It might have not worked because I tried to do this around Autumn and let them grow during Winter and it gets pretty cold where I am, but it might also be because I forgot to Water (though that technically shouldn't matter since the leaves have water stores) but it just didn't work... I've heard that it is possible to propagate from the stem the plant, but I haven't tried it myself. I suggest you wait until you friend gets pups and ask for a few to try growing on your own or wait until your local nursery gets them in (which should be sometime soon).

Half of the leaves on my

Half of the leaves on my fairly small plant seem to be dried up inside. They're not brown, but they're flat and slightly crunchy when you squeeze them, not fat and firm like healthy leaves. I've been watering the plant as directed - water deeply, let top inch or 2 dry in between. What does it need?? Thanks!

I had this same problem when

I had this same problem when I first got my Aloe plants. I finally decided that I couldn't possibly be over watering them so I refused to give them more any more water until they shaped up.
Did the trick and a couple weeks without water resulted in plump greener leaves.

I picked up two gorgeous aloe

I picked up two gorgeous aloe plants today at a plant sale. I bought one aloe humilis, and one aloe variegata (tiger aloe). Im in zone 8, and only plan to grow these indoors, but can either of these varieties be used for medicinal purposes, or did I just buy two decorative plants? The good thing was that each plants came with a min. of 8 pups, so I have more plants than I was really thinking I would want, but I'm really looking for the healing properties. Thanks!

There are hundreds of Aloe

There are hundreds of Aloe varieties and only a few have medicinal heritage. Aloe Vera, of course, is the most potent.
Neither of your plants has proven healing power. In fact, A. variegata is toxic. However, they are great plants! Here's a good page with information on your aloe varieties:
http://greenhouse.ucdavis.edu/...

There many not be definite

There many not be definite proof of the Aloe healing, I can only comment on my experience. Abridged version - I burned my wrist on the palm-side. I sliced off a piece of aloe opened it up and rubbed the gel over the burn. I then split the piece of Aloe open, placed it over the burn and bandaged it on. I did this for 3 days. Today I have no mark or scar and it was a severe burn.

grow and sell them to plant

grow and sell them to plant store !!!

I have a large plant that

I have a large plant that bloomed for the first time this year. The plant is quite tall and it is much more narrow at the base by the soil then up high and the plant can not hold itself up, it needs to lean against a wall so it doesn't fall. Can I cut off the lower leaves and let them dry and harden off and then repot it deeper in the soil? It has pups which I have to repot as well but I don't want to damage the mother. Thanks

try repotting the mother into

try repotting the mother into a larger, wider pot. the roots are likely overcrowded.

I have a large clay pit with

I have a large clay pit with an aloe plant and another succulent that looks like elephant ears. I had them outside on my front porch all last summer but brought them inside for the winter. I am in southern Ontario and want to know what temperatures are safe to put the plant back outdoors? We are still hovering around 0C during the night, but daytime temps are rising rapidly (today is 14c tomorrow expected 20c). I am more worried about the nighttime temps. I don't want to freeze them by putting back outside too soon.

Wait for the nights to get

Wait for the nights to get warmer (above freezing) before you put the pot outside.

Hi guys, I swear by your

Hi guys, I swear by your advice. I have an also vera that is at least 15 years old. I transplanted it twice since then. The plant gets bigger & bigger. The mother plant has grown a second mother plant, I think. It is enormous, as big as the mother and they are both flowering. The flower ate my are at least 5-6 feet tall. Should I wait to 're-pot the plants? There are 20 or more other's growing off the main mother. What is your advice? I love this plant. It takes up approximately 3-4 feet of my Sun room. It loves the spot it's in, ans I don't want to harm it in any way. Any advice is appreciated. I would upload a pix if I could. For an inside plant it is pretty impressive.

We might suggest that after

We might suggest that after the flowers have faded from the plant that you remove any of the 20 smaller pups that are more than 4 to 6 inches tall (include their roots)--you can pot them up and give them away to friends. Pups can drain the energy from the mother plant.

As for the second mother plant, it's hard to know without a photo.
1) Perhaps that was a pup that had been allowed to grow very large. In this case, you can make a division, carefully removing it from the mother plant with a knife. Search the Web for "aloe vera" and "natural divisions" and you'll find some articles on how to do this.
2) Or, it is actually a part of the mother plant itself--another stem of the same plant. In this case, it's probably best to do nothing.
The plant sounds like it is healthy and happy (except that so many pups may indicate that it needs repotting), so, not knowing exactly what the 2nd mother plant really is, we might suggest leaving it alone (except for removing the smaller pups when they grow to a certain size). Usually, repotting is only needed if the plant becomes top heavy--crowded roots are tolerated by this plant. If you do decide to repot the mother plant(s), use a slightly larger pot more wide than deep; be sure to provide new potting soil with fresh nutrients, as the old soil is likely depleted because of the pups. Hope this helps!

Our aloes sits in direct sun

Our aloes sits in direct sun in a south facing window in Western Alaska, where there is very little light during the winter and constant light during the summer. The pot waters from the bottom and I usually only water it every 1-2 weeks. This year it did great during the winter without many hrs of daylight but now the 24 hour daylight is returning and the leaves are turning orange. The water well at the bottom of the pot has been dry every couple days when I check it.

Do you think I should just keep watering it more often--every 4 days or so while it's getting so much light or is there such a thing as too much light, and I should just move it to a North facing window? THANKS!

The red leaves may be

The red leaves may be sunburn.The plant enjoys the outdoors in the summer, but try to shelter it from the direct sunlight for a little part of the day.
On watering, let the plant tell you versus a set schedule. Completely soak the soil and then it dry between waterings, then completely soak again.
Make sure your pot has a large drainage hole--and that you're using the right potting mix so the water drains nicely. Cacti mix works well.
In the spring, you could give the Aloe Vera some fertilizer (a diluted solution of bloom type fertilizer (10-40-10).

I put down some aloe Vera

I put down some aloe Vera seeds in a pot. I watered every week for four months starting in January but the seeds will not catch. I even removed the bottom of my pot to reveal the drain hole but I see no plant all I see is white stuff in the pot what should I do.its been three months now and nothing is growing should I just start over growing it again from scratch or should I save the seeds.

Aloe vera grows best from a

Aloe vera grows best from a cutting. You can grow by seed but we find it challenging. It can take one to four months to germinate.
The white stuff suggests a fungal infection; if it's not too serious, you can remove it and dry the soil out; otherwise, we'd start over. Here are some tips:
First, use the right seeding mix of peat and sand.
Second, you barely want to cover the seeds as they need lots of light to germinate!
Water gently; in fact, we'd water from the bottom to avoid disturbing the seeds. Once the compost turns dark as it's wet, remove the watering tray so the plant doesn't sit in water.
You need to keep temperatures between 70 and 78 degrees so put a cling-wrap or a top across the seed pots. As soon as you see seedlings, remove the top so you don't get a fungal infection.
You don't need to water much--only if the soil dries out.
Once your seedings are large enough to hold, transplant into 3-inch pots filled with clean potting mix.

I live in Zambia.I am

I live in Zambia.I am thinking of growing aloe on a large scale. Where can I find the nearest market for aloe?

Hello Almanac Staff, I had

Hello Almanac Staff,
I had heard that Aloe Vera purifies air so I have put two of them in my room near a window. Is it safe to do so? Because I have heard that plants give out carbon dioxide in the night. The city I live in is very polluted, so I thought this would be a good and natural solution. I am afraid this plan won't backfire.

Yes, aloe vera plants are

Yes, aloe vera plants are proven to help filter or "clean" the air. It sucks up the pollutants. You can have as many plants as you wish and you won't come to any harm! According to NASA, 15 to 20 houseplants will purify the interior of a typical 1,800 square foot house. That's a lot of plants! Still, we imagine any aloe vera plants can only be a health addition to a home.

I have an Aloe Vera plant,

I have an Aloe Vera plant, I'm concern about it because I'm not sure if it will get enough sun from a North window. Can you please answer this question for me I don't have a South window to put the plant in. Please advise.

I have a 7" w x about 8" deep

I have a 7" w x about 8" deep pot with several babies from a large "mother" in a south-facing solarium. The smaller pot lives by kitchen sink in a N&W-facing window corner. The babies seem happy here. Recently I put them back by "Mom" in south-facing solarium for watering convenience while I was away. Babies turned greyish/brownish. Within a few days of returning to N&W window corner they became green again! They were used to more subtle, cooler light and did not thrive in the brighter, more heat intense environment!

I have an aloe vera plant

I have an aloe vera plant that is relatively healthy. I have harvested several leaves from the stalk. My question is, if I keep harvesting the leaves from the stalk, won't the main stalk eventually thin out too much then be completely cut off from the root? Is there anything I can do to strengthen the bottom root/stalk portion?

Harvest only the lower (close

Harvest only the lower (close to soil), outer leaves on the stalk; they also have the most potent gel. As you continue to harvest the lower leaves, you may get a bare section on the bottom of the stalk (where the old leaves connected to it), but still only harvest the lowest most leaves that are healthy and of good size.

The top, inner leaves are youngest; leave them alone so that they can mature. Leaves that are 2 to 4 years old should be OK to harvest.

If you remove too many leaves on the plant, then it will not have enough to make food for itself. We're not sure what might be the maximum number of leaves to harvest (anyone?)--it might depend on the individual plant and its overall health--but we might suggest leaving at least 2/3 of the leaves on the plant.

As long as you harvest correctly, the root-to-stem connection will be fine--just cut the leaves off at their base, but don't nick the main stem to which they are attached.

Some people have had success in cutting the stem of a leggy aloe plant, letting the wound dry and harden, and then replanting the top part of the plant with about a 5-inch section of stem in a pot filled with succulent soil mix and watering very lightly until the roots form, which can take a while. It can be risky, so unless your plant is not doing well, or has broken off, we'd suggest keeping it as is.

Removing pups is another story--remove any of those (with their roots) that reach about 3 to 5 inches tall, and develop at least 3 leaves. Repot them--the plants are still too small to harvest the leaves.

Thank you for your respond. I

Thank you for your respond. I will continue to only harvest the lower leaves. I just moved my plant away from the window as the lower leaves turned an orangy color, which from my research tells me it's getting too much sun.

I just bought my first aloe

I just bought my first aloe and I have heard that you should use Dead Sea salt. Can you advise how to do this?

I purchased a young aloe

I purchased a young aloe plant sometime last year and soon after, one of the older bottom leaves broke off. I thought nothing of it other than it wasnt taken care of well before I brought it home. Now, a year later, it has grown 6 more leaves and anpther peeking through in the center ♥ but while taking it out of its window to water and rotate another leaf came out. Black where it was attached to the mother. My question: why is this happening? I only water when soil is arid (im in canada and its still winter lol) is it normal for the leaves to fall off? It is starting to get a bit big for its pot which i plan to switch to a bigger one, and check for pups, when the weather turns warmer. But when I first bought it this happened and it was definitely fit for its pot.

Also, I had no idea these flowered! !! Im pretty excited :) when do they flower and how can I encourage this to happen??

I also forgot to ask: what

I also forgot to ask: what can I do with the leaves that fall off? Ive read only leaves at least 8" are usable for topical application or juices. This leaf is only about 4 or 5 inches.

Before I knew better, I used

Before I knew better, I used small leaves for years and the gel was very healing topically. I think you're not supposed to use the smaller leaves so that they have time to grow to their full potential first. Apparently the older leaves are more potent but that doesn't mean the smaller ones are useless at all. I don't know about internal use though.

I have an aloe that the

I have an aloe that the leaves became thin. I an answer you posted in a post up above.
" When aloe leaves appear limp and/or thin, it means the plant needs to be watered more frequently. This a sign that the plant is using up its own inner moisture stores."
Ok so I should water it more? Also it just has a straight root, is that how the roots are? How long does it take for babies to start. I've had it for a year and nothing yet. I have it sitting on a window sill that gets sun but not all day. All my plants do good there. I am going to get the cactus mix and repot it again. It is getting big for that pot. Can you let me know if there is anything else I can do to help it. Thank you in advance.

Ok, my mom has an aloe plant

Ok, my mom has an aloe plant in our kitchen. It sits up ontop of the fridge. It ha a few pieces that are dried up and dead but otherwise the rest of it seems nice as dark green and healthy, some of them are pretty tall,maybe 18 inches or more.
I just snipped off about an inch off the tip of one she had previously cut a piece off of and from the first cut a brownish liquid came from it and the insides (gel?) looks brown but still clear ish? Looking at it now the end I just snipped off looks brown/black. My mom says the gel was still clear but the inner wall was what was brown. Any ideas what this could be and how we might fix it? She says it used to be normal, I don't know when te last time she cut a piece was. Thanks

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Aloe Vera Plant Care Guide

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