Growing Aloe Vera

How to Care for Aloe Vera Plants

By The Editors
Aloe Vera in White Pot
Sunwand24/Shutterstock

Share: 

The aloe vera plant is an easy, attractive succulent that makes for a great indoor companion. Aloe vera plants are useful, too, as the juice from their leaves can be used to relieve pain from scrapes and burns when applied topically. Here’s how to grow and care for aloe vera plants in your home!

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. The plant is stemless or very short-stemmed with thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s central stem. The margin of the leaf is serrated with small teeth. 

Before you buy an aloe, note that you’ll need a location that offers bright, indirect sunlight (or, artificial sunlight). However, the plant doesn’t appreciate sustained direct sunlight, as this tends to dry out the plant too much and turn its leaves yellow, rendering them subpar for use.

Keep the aloe vera plant in a pot near a kitchen window for periodic use but avoid having the sun’s rays hit it directly.

Please note: The gel from aloe vera leaves can be used topically, but should not be ingested by people or pets. It can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nausea or indigestion and may even be toxic in larger quantities.

Planting

Before Planting

  • It’s important to chose the right type of container. A pot made from terra-cotta or a similarly porous material is recommended, as it will allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings and will also be heavy enough to keep the plant from tipping over. A plastic or glazed pot may also be used, though these will hold more moisture.
  • When choosing a container, be sure to pick one that has at least one drainage hole in the bottom. This is key, as the hole will allow excess water to drain out. Aloe vera plants are hardy, but a lack of proper drainage can cause rot and wilting, which is easily the most common cause of death for this plant.
  • Select a container that’s about as wide as it is deep. If your aloe plant has a stem, choose a container that is deep enough for you to plant the entire stem under the soil.
  • Aloe vera plants are succulents, so use a well-draining potting mix, such as those made for cacti and succulents. Do not use gardening soil. A good mix should contain perlite, lava rock, chunks of bark, or all three.
  • A layer of gravel, clay balls, or any other “drainage” material in the bottom of the pot is not necessary. This only takes up space that the roots could otherwise be using. A drainage hole is drainage enough!
  • (Optional) To encourage your aloe to put out new roots after planting, dust the stem of the plant with a rooting hormone powder. Rooting hormone can be found at a local garden center or hardware store, or bought online.

Aloe vera. Image by cgdeaw/Shutterstock.
Photo by cgdeaw/Shutterstock

How to Plant (or Repot) an Aloe Vera Plant

If your aloe plant has grown leggy, has gotten too large, or simply needs an upgrade, it’s time to repot it. Here’s how:

  1. Prepare your pot. After giving the new pot a quick rinse (or a good scrub, if it’s a pot you’ve used before) and letting it dry thoroughly, place a small piece of screen over the drainage hole; this will keep the soil from falling out the bottom and will allow water to drain properly. A doubled-up piece of paper towel or newspaper can also work in a pinch, though these will break down over time.
  2. Prepare your plant. Remove the aloe vera plant from its current pot and brush away any excess dirt from the roots, being careful not to damage the roots.
    • If your plant has any pups, remove them now. (See the “Care” section of this page for instructions on removing and potting pups.) 
    • If your plant has a very long, spindly stem that won’t fit in the pot, it is possible to trim the stem off partially. Note that this is risky and could kill the plant. To trim the stem: Cut off part of the stem, leaving as much as possible on the plant. Next, take the bare plant and place it in a warm area that gets indirect light. After several days, a callous will form over the wound. At this point, continue with the repotting instructions below.
  3. Plant your plant. Fill the pot about a third of the way with a well-draining potting mix, then place your plant in the soil. Continue filling in soil around the plant, bearing in mind that you should leave at least ¾ of an inch of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot. The bottom leaves of the aloe plant should rest just above the soil, too. Do not water after planting.
  4. Ignore your plant (temporarily). After you’ve placed your aloe in its new pot, don’t water it for at least a week. This will decrease the chance of inducing rot and give the plant time to put out new roots. Until the plant seems to be rooted and happy, keep it in a warm place that receives bright but indirect light.

Aloe vera plant

Care

How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant

  • Place in bright, indirect sunlight or artificial light. A western or southern window is ideal. Aloe that are kept in low light often grow leggy.
  • Aloe vera do best in temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C). The temperatures of most homes and apartment are ideal.
    From May to September, you can bring your plant outdoors without any problems, but do bring it back inside in the evening if nights are cold.
  • Water aloe vera plants deeply, but infrequently. To discourage rot, allow the soil to dry at least 1 to 2 inches deep between waterings. Don’t let your plant sit in water.
  • Water about every 3 weeks and even more sparingly during the winter. Use your finger to test dryness before watering. If the potting mix stays wet, the plants’ roots can begin to rot.
  • Fertilize sparingly (no more than once a month), and only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at ½ strength.
  • Repot when root bound, following the instructions given in “Planting,” above. 

Removing & Replanting Aloe Vera Offsets (Pups)

Mature aloe vera plants often produce offsets—also known as plantlets, pups, or “babies”—that can be removed to produce an entirely new plant (a clone of the mother plant, technically).

  1. Find where the offsets are attached to the mother plant and separate them using pruning shears, scissors, or a sharp knife. Leave at least an inch of stem on the offset. 
  2. Allow the offsets to sit out of soil for several days; this lets the offset form a callous over the cut, which helps to protect it from rot. Keep the offsets in a warm location with indirect light during this time.
  3. Once the offsets have formed callouses, pot them in a standard succulent potting mix. The soil should be well-draining.
  4. Put the newly-potted pups in a sunny location. Wait at least a week to water and keep the soil on the dry side.

Aloe vera flowers

How to Get Your Aloe Vera to Flower

Mature aloe vera plants occasionally produce a tall flower spike—called an inflorescence—from which dozens of tubular yellow or red blossoms appear. This certainly adds another level of interest to the already lovely aloe!

Unfortunately, a bloom is rarely achievable with aloes that are kept as houseplants, since the plant requires nearly ideal conditions to produce flowers: lots of light, sufficient water, and the right temperature range. Due to these requirements (mainly lighting), aloe flowers are usually only seen on plants grown outdoors year-round in warm climates.  

To give your aloe the best shot at flowering:

  • Provide it with as much light as possible, especially during spring and summer. Aloes can be kept outdoors in full sun during the summer, when temperatures are above 70°F (21°C). If nighttime temps threaten to drop below 60°F (16°​​​​​​​C), bring the aloe inside.
    • Note: Don’t move your aloe from indoors to full sun right away; it needs time to adjust to the intense light or it may sunburn. Allow it to sit in partial shade for about a week before moving it to a brighter location.
  • Make sure the plant is getting the right amount of water—enough to keep it from drying out completely, but not enough to drown it! If the plant’s being kept outdoors, make sure that it’s not getting consistently soaked by summer rains.
  • Give your aloe a proper dormancy period in the fall and winter. Aloe tend to bloom in late winter or early spring, so giving them a period of rest consisting of less frequent watering and cooler temperatures may encourage them to flower.
  • Don’t be surprised if it still doesn’t flower. Despite our best efforts, indoor conditions just aren’t ideal for most aloes, so don’t be surprised if yours simply refuses to bloom!

Pests/Diseases

Aloe vera plants are most susceptible to the usual indoor plant pests, such as mealybugs and scale. 

Common diseases include:

  • Root rot
  • Soft rot
  • Fungal stem rot
  • Leaf rot

Avoid overwatering to keep these conditions from developing or worsening.

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. Learn more about aloe vera’s healing properties.

Do not ingest the gel, as it can cause nausea and other unpleasant symptoms.

Aloe vera gel

Recommended Varieties

Especially attractive Aloe include:

  • Tiger or Partridge-Breasted Aloe (Aloe variegata) – A compact aloe characterized by short, smooth leaves with uneven white stripes.
  • Lace Aloe (Aloe aristata) – A small plant with white-spotted, finely sawtoothed leaves.
  • Blue Aloe (Aloe glauca) – A larger aloe species with silver-blue leaves.

Wit & Wisdom

2021-gardening-calendar-postroll.jpg

What do you want to read next?

Reader Comments

Leave a Comment

Aloe being edible

Submitted by Wanda Carrol Warren on October 23, 2020 - 3:46pm

Aloe Vera juice is good to drink. I used to drink some daily, but it got too expensive. It's actually very good for you, and never made me sick. Thanks

Droopy, Thin Leaves

Submitted by Liza on July 30, 2020 - 12:58am

Help! My employer gave me an aloe plant at Christmastime - it was a pup off of a plant that was originally her late mother's. It looked really healthy until about 10 days ago when the outer leaves went from plump to thin and started drooping. The inner leaves are still plump and healthy looking. It also has a pup in the pot now and it looks healthy so far. I admit that I had forgotten to water it for a while, but I did water it when I saw it was looking sad. Is there something else I should be doing? I would hate to lose the plant!
Thanks!

Overwatered aloe possibly due to potting conditions?

Submitted by Ellen on June 25, 2020 - 6:02am

I bough an aloe plant that has been planted in what seems to be pebbles and without a hole for drainage. I overwatered it in the beginning, but water it less now, however one of the base leaves is still a bit mucky - looks like it's gotten too much water. Is this due to the pebbles and drainage problem and should I transplant it into a new pot with potting mix instead of pebbles? Or should I just water it even less?

Brown tips and dark spots on leaves

Submitted by Peggy on June 8, 2020 - 1:28pm

I hope you can help me! My aloe plant is fairly new and it has really taken off! But now I seem to be getting brown tips and spots on the leaves. I’m watering it carefully and have it in very bright afternoon light. What am I doing wrong??

Leaves drying out.

Submitted by Sheila Woodard on June 7, 2020 - 11:28am

I have a 2 pots of aloe in different pots & locations, but the bottom leaves closest to the soil are turning brown and dying. What causes this?
Also some of them have very short root base. Mainly both pots just have a lot of puppies in them.
Please help.

Aloe blooms

Submitted by Kathy Gladd on May 25, 2020 - 11:18am

My aloe and it’s repotted pup bloom every year. They are indoor plants put in a southern exposure. I live in Michigan and I’m going to put them outside for the first time this summer. They both have long thick stems and are growing out of the pot. I’ll have to trim a section out of the middle and repot. Wish me luck.

Aloe plants and pets

Submitted by Linda on May 20, 2020 - 7:30pm

Are they a danger to cats or even dogs ??

Aloe Vera Toxicity

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on May 21, 2020 - 2:12pm

Aloe vera is considered to be mildly toxic to humans and pets, although the gel is edible in smaller amounts. It’s not recommended to consume the skin, sap, or any part of the aloe plant other than the gel, as this can cause mild problems such as vomiting or indigestion. So, overall, aloe isn’t a danger to pets and some light chewing shouldn’t be an issue—but if your pet has a habit of eating entire plants, then consider keep aloe out of their reach.

LARGE ALOE VERA PLANT LOOKS SICK

Submitted by Delores Jackson on April 28, 2020 - 5:07pm

My very mature aloe Vera lives in a flower bed on m patio. It has grown tall spikes. The tips of the plant blades have grown brown. Is my plant dying? Will cutting the brown tips further harm my plant?

Neglected Aloe Vera Plant

Submitted by Robin on April 16, 2020 - 5:37pm

I have an aloe vera that had been neglected. Underwatered and in too small of a pot. It’s starting to perk back up . However there are some stems that look slightly dry. Should I get remove those or will they come back over time?

Wow

Submitted by Isabella on April 10, 2020 - 10:08pm

This article was just absolutely amazing and so helpful!

PLANT

Submitted by DAWN PLUMLEE on February 25, 2020 - 12:01pm

I HAVE A ALOE VERA PLANT I GOT AS A PUP AND IT HAS DONE REAL GOOD BUT THE TOPS OF THE PLANT ARE TURNING BROWN THE PLANT STILL LOOKS GREAT BUT THE SPOTS LOOK LIKE IT IS DYING ANYONE KNOW WHY ?

Brown Tips

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on April 16, 2020 - 3:49pm

Brown, burnt-looking tips can mean that the plant isn’t getting enough water. Make sure that it gets adequate water, especially if it is kept in a warm, sunny spot!

Aloe in water

Submitted by Sheila on February 12, 2020 - 5:49pm

DON'T!!!
Aloe comes from a dry place. Too much water will kill it.
Think about where a plant comes from and follow that every time. You should get good results.

Aloe Vera

Submitted by Katz on February 11, 2020 - 6:33pm

We got an Aloe Vera plant from a garage sale. Only problem is; it doesn't have much roots.
Surely it will die without much roots? Should we take it out of the pot and leave it in a glass of water to root? We can't find any root grow hormone powder. What do you suggest?

Aloe Vera Without Roots

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on February 25, 2020 - 8:50am

The best course of action would be to plant it in a cacti and succulent soil mix and wait. The plant will send out roots on its own. After a while, it will be firmly rooted in its pot and you can begin watering as instructed above on this page.

aloe leaves shrinking

Submitted by jewels on February 6, 2020 - 8:39am

my aloe leaves are loosing their juicyness, getting thin and starting to curl. what is happening and what can i do to turn it around?

No Sunlight?

Submitted by Desirée on February 5, 2020 - 7:10am

Dear Sir,

I have an aloe plant that has been saved by sunlight, even though I've read in other sites also that the plant prefers indirect sunlight, mine thrived after I placed it outside where it gets at least 4-5 hours of sunlight during the summer, and during the harsh winters of Boston, I place it inside the house at the window that gets the most sun. It might be the variety I have, but as far as I remember, the ones that we grow in Venezuela, my country, also prefer the sun, and the one I had in Louisiana got all the sun of the summer and gave me the most beautiful flowers after it matured on the ground. Is it a matter of variety?

What to use

Submitted by Brenda Arthurs on January 27, 2020 - 10:34am

I thank you for your wide selection of information, I need to know if I can use
CACTUS & SUCCULENT FOCUS

Proper Harvesting

Submitted by Katy on December 31, 2019 - 1:33pm

When you cut the leaf (or stem), do you need to cut the entire leaf off at the base of the stem or can you 'snip' off an inch or two at a time?

Harvesting Aloe

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on January 3, 2020 - 2:55pm

Feel free to only snip off what you need!

GROWING ALOE VERA

Submitted by Uma Maheswar Nakka on November 28, 2019 - 9:34am

Good Evening Sir,

Thanks for sharing a very important and interesting article on Aloe Vera.

I have 2 plants and growing them in the balcony with sun and shade (Day & Night)
And I got 2 more additional from them.
One of them gave fowers even, but not the other ones.

My pet dog (Spitz breed) got rash, I took her to the Doctor. He gave some mediines and injections. It was okay for few days. But not completely cured.

Then I applied Aloe Vera Gel on the effected areas before bath and kept for one hour, before giving bath. Result was positive, the rash got vanished.

But after two months I found my pet getting rash. I repeated application of the gel.
Though the rash got vanished, it is getting back again after 2 months.

So can I give gel wash frequently, please advise.

Regards
Uma

Aloe Vera outside all winter

Submitted by Linda Willis on October 30, 2019 - 1:10pm

I bought an aloe vera plant two summers ago. I put it in a really large pot out in my back yard. The pot was so large, I couldn't move it to bring in the house for the winter. I live in the Dallas, TX area so winters still drop to freezing temps several times during the winter months. My plant actually survived the winter although it didn't look very happy. During the summer months, it grew like crazy. It's so full, I can't dig any of them out to transplant or give away to friends. Needless to say, it will have to endure another winter because I simply can't lift this huge pot! Is this a rare event?

over watered and left outside too long when it got cold...

Submitted by kristy on October 17, 2019 - 11:55am

I bought a BEAUTIFUL, large Aloe Vera this summer. My husband over watered it, and we had to cut off a bunch of the leaves, trying to salvage it. It was on our back porch through the summer, and I brought it in a few days ago because it had turned cold. It appears to have fleas?? And looks so so sad... I probably should have brought it in the house a few days sooner than I did. Any suggestions? How do I get rid of these bugs without hurting it further? If I can get it to last through the winter, I think I can save it. FYI The bugs were first thought to be fruit flies, but they arent flying. They are mostly crawling around.

aloe plant just broke from its root

Submitted by Caroline on October 11, 2019 - 10:36am

My aloe I've had for a year has struggled and as I tried to pull a dead leaf, the plant broke away from its root. How can I salvage it? How can I help it grow roots? Do I put it in water? I have no clue... Thank you.

Broken Aloe

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on October 15, 2019 - 4:42pm

Allow the broken plant to sit out of soil for a few days—a callous will form over the wounded stem, which protects it from bacteria and fungus. Then, place the plant in nearly-dry soil and wait. After about a week or so, the plant should begin putting out new roots.

What is sustained lighting?

Submitted by Dana Wolfson on September 16, 2019 - 1:42pm

What is sustained lighting?

Sustained Sunlight

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on September 18, 2019 - 2:58pm

In the context of this article, “sustained direct sunlight” means exposure to direct sunlight for a long period of time. The fleshy leaves of Aloe vera can be burned by too much direct sunlight, so we recommend keeping them in bright but indirect sunlight instead.

Fallen leaf/stem?

Submitted by Colleen Sarkesian on August 24, 2019 - 4:27pm

I've had this Aloe plant for a couple of months and I think it's doing well. I noticed a couple of days ago that one of the leaves was 'drooping'. This morning when I got up it was totally laying over on the top of the pot and the bottom of it, the part in the soil, was all brown. I moved it just a little and it came loose. There is no leakage of the 'stuff' inside. Is this normal and what do I do with the leaf that came off? The rest of the plant looks very healthy and it has two new pups since I bought.

New Aloevera

Submitted by Naveetha on August 12, 2019 - 2:30pm

I bought a small aloe Vera plant from online today. It came in a nice small pot with some moss on top of the soil. It has 4 to 5 leaves now but all the leaves are cut off the tips except one newly grown one in the middle. I confused what to do with the plant! Is it grow fine? My study room has easy facing window and bedroom has south facing window so which place is more good to keep the plant indoor. Should I remove the moss which is there on the top. Please help.

Pages

Growing Aloe Vera

Botanical Name Aloe vera
Plant Type Houseplant
Sun Exposure Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil Type Sandy
Soil pH Neutral
Bloom Time Summer
Flower Color Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow
Hardiness Zones 10, 11
Special Features

FREE BEGINNER'S GARDEN GUIDE!

Sign up for our email newsletter by entering your email address.

BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter!

The Almanac Webcam

Almanac Headquarters Cam

Visit the Almanac HQ Webcam

Chosen for You from The Old Farmer's Store