 |
Age-Old Wisdom meets Modern Tools |
 |
Growing Aloe Vera
How to Care for Aloe Vera Plants
How to Care for Aloe Vera Plants
Sunwand24/Shutterstock
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.
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 planter. 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.
- 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 soil. A good mix should contain perlite, lava rock, coarse sand, or all three. 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.
- 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 online.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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).
- 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.
- 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.
- Once the offsets have formed callouses, pot them in a standard succulent potting mix. The soil should be well-draining.
- Put the newly-potted pups in a sunny location. Wait at least a week to water and keep the soil on the dry side.
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.
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
- 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.
What do you want to read next?
FREE BEGINNER'S GARDEN GUIDE!
BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter!
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Proper Harvesting
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
Feel free to only snip off what you need!
GROWING ALOE VERA
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
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...
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
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
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?
What is sustained lighting?
Sustained Sunlight
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?
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
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.
Aloe vera
To make sure that the plant dries out properly between waterings, remove the moss from the top of the pot. Place the plant in the bedroom with the south-facing window, but don’t put the plant in direct sunlight. It should be in a bright area, but NOT exposed to direct sun because it may get sunburned.
drooping leaves
my aloe vera plant is a pup, and i didn't know that i wasn't supposed to water it right after repotting. i watered it, and the leaves are drooping and look like someone bent the leaves but didn't break it. i just watered it two days ago with a little fertilizer mixed into the water. the water i used was drinking water. i heard that tap water isn't very good for plants as there's chlorine in it.
Drooping Leaves
Drooping leaves are usually caused by two things: too little light, or too much water.
In your case, keep your aloe in bright indirect light (NOT direct sunlight, as it may get burned) and give it some time to settle into its new pot. It should bounce back!
Is my aloe dying?
I just bought an aloe plant a month ago, and almost immediately, it’s leaves started to turn red and fold in together. Is my plant dying or getting too much sun? I have only watered it once, which was a couple days ago, and I keep it in a westward facing window. For the first couple days of owning it, however, I kept it in a southern facing window, which is when the leaves started to turn red, so I moved it to the west window. Did I get a dud, or am I just a bad plant parent?
Mistake!
I brought home an aloe plant today and since it had outgrown its pot, I re potted it. I didnt realize I wasn't supposed to water it right after repotting! Should I do anything now or just wait to see what happens? The good news I didnt water it a lot because the potting mix is still dry on top. Thank you for all this wonderful information!
TOO MANY PUPS HELP
It all started when i saved 1 aloe vera plant. Now, it produced so many pups (and its babies all big produce so many too) that i have too much aloe vera plants but not enough pots and soil. (Been giving out lots to other people too) what do I do so that may aloe vera plants wouldn’t produce too many pups (or not produce pups at all) T^T thank you
New Aloe Vera
I got a new plant fresh from the nursery. It has gotten about 6 hours of sunlight every day and I have watered it when the soil is dry to over an inch but the outer leaves of the plant have started dying. They turn yellow with brown spots and slowly shrivel and die completely. There are still new leaves that are growing strongly. I thought it could be the plants reaction to being overwatered before. Should I try to wait it out or is there something else?
Aloe Leaf Issues
Does it get full, direct afternoon sunlight? It may have gotten less light at the nursery and the sudden shock of full sun could be affecting it. Make sure it’s in a spot that gets bright, indirect light or direct morning sunlight. However, if this were the cause of the leaf problems, you would expect to see browning leaves throughout the plant.
Alternatively, the discolored leaves could be a problem with watering, as is usually the case. Cut back on the frequency of your waterings and see if that improves the plant’s condition any. New growth is a good sign, in any case!
Aloe Help
My Aloe plant appears healthy, growing new leaves with long and firm old leaves. However, the plant is very droopy. I wonder if it does not have enough support? Should I re-pot it? If so, how do I give it more support to hold up old leaves? Or is there something else I should do?
Aloe
Female aloes grow not up right like the male. I have many daughters from my Mother plant. I get male and female aloes. It’s always a surprise to see how many daughters have more. Good for my lotions and CP soap recipes.
Pups
so my plant has "pups" that being said they are so close to the big plant I don't know how to go in and cut them out??? Any suggestions??
Fingers
Hi Debbie! I always use my hands when removing the pup. If it has a root system already, you can just pull it out. If not, still okay to pull it out if it has three or four leaves already. This is a suggestion from experience since my aloe vera produce too many pups.
My Aloe Vera Stinks
Until recently I have been using the juice from my Aloe Vera plants as a wonderful face cream, but lately they they have started to stink so bad they are unusable. Why is that?
Great info! I just received a
Great info! I just received a bit of an aloe plant from a friend and I have 3 questions I was hoping to find some help with:
1. it's a little top heavy, would clipping most of it's leaves off be beneficial?
2. The pot I had for it is plenty big but no drainage hole at the bottom, it's terracotta, can I drill a hole or add rocks at the bottom?
3. can you store the leaves whole just in a jar or would I have to extract the gel and keep it that way?
Thank you, much appreciated!
Citations
I want to use this website as a citation for a paper I'm writing but I can't find the author, what should I do?
Citing this Page
You may simply cite “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” with a link to the article. Thank you for your interest in our page!
broken stems
My Aloe Vera pot tipped over and fell. Some of the beautiful big leaves broke off. Is there any way to save them or repot them? Some of the other leaves split but are not losing any fluid. It was just getting large and beautiful and now is damaged. So upsetting. Thank you.
Aloe Vera LEaves
Aloe can only be propagated through stem cuttings (or pups), so planting the broken leaves in soil won’t result in any new plants, unfortunately.
Outdoor Alo Vera
Outdoor full sun with sun shade in Central Valley of Ca, plant is growing exponentially and has several pups. Question what is best way to separate from mother plant, it has flowers now that are about 4' tall and growing. My wife (who planted it from kitchen window) says take a shovel and wack the pups off, I'm concerned this may harm plant.
Thanks for any suggestions
Pages