Growing Aloe Vera

How to Care for Aloe Vera Plants

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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:

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.

Aloe vera plant

Care

How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant

Lighting: 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.
Temperature: Aloe vera do best in temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C). The temperatures of most homes and apartments 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.
Fertilizing: Fertilize sparingly (no more than once a month), and only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at ½ strength.
Repotting: Repot when root bound, following the instructions given in “Planting,” above.

Watering Aloe Vera

Watering is the most difficult part of keeping aloe vera healthy, but it’s certainly not rocket science! The aloe is a succulent plant that’s accustomed to arid environments, but its thick leaves still need sufficient water nonetheless.

Water aloe vera plants deeply, but infrequently. In other words, the soil should feel moist after watering, but should be allowed to dry out to some extent before you water again. If the soil stays overly wet, the plant’s roots can rot.
To ensure that you’re not overwatering your plant, allow the top third of potting soil to dry out between waterings. For example, if your plant is kept in 6 inches of potting soil, allow the top 2 inches to dry out before watering again. (Use your finger to test the dryness of the soil.)
Generally speaking, plan to water your aloe plant about every 2-3 weeks in the spring and summer and even more sparingly during the fall and winter. One rule of thumb for fall and winter watering is to roughly double the amount of time between waterings (as compared to your summer watering schedule). In other words, if you water every two weeks in summer, water every four weeks in winter.
When watering, some excess water may run out the bottom of the pot. Let the pot sit in this water so that the soil absorbs as much as possible. Wait 10-15 minutes, then dump any remaining water.

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.

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

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.

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Reader Comments

Densely populated

Thank you so much for this! I learned I was doing at least 2 things wrong. I was told that aloe like to be densely populated with a bunch of other aloe. Is that correct?

Indoor Flowering Aloe

I live in MASS. I brought a matured aloe home from a friend's to "save", She was root bound. I placed her in a larger container. January (winter) she flowered. My snake plant (mother-in-law tongue) flowered also. These plants have never been outdoors. I recently segregated three pups from the Aloe. Mama has 8 additional pups growing & one of her three pups has begun growing pups of her own. I am not a green thumb. A little sun, water & love, you can have a flowering succulent indoor, in the winter. (I have pictures)

Fantastic

Fantastic blog post, filled with useful information. I'm feeling much more confident about taking in my girlfriends aloe plant! Thanks.

Wet Soil

Hi there, how long should the soil stay moist after watering? I watered my aloe plant about 3 days ago and the soil still feels moist. My other plants' soil (Heartleaf Philodendron and Ghost plant) typically dry out after a day or so. I'm worried about the aloe plant getting root rot, and I read a lot of articles saying since aloe is a succulent it easily gets root rot if it sits in wet soil for too long. However, none of the articles say exactly how long is too long, not even a range. Is there some sense of how long is too long for soil to dry out? I really appreciate it!

Aloe plant

It’s a question, How often should I water aloe plant in the winter months?

Watering Aloe in Winter

During the winter months—assuming the plant is kept in a window indoors—it will be getting less light and will therefore not need as much water as it does in summer. One rule of thumb is to wait roughly twice as long between waterings in the winter as you would between waterings in summer. In other words, if you water every two weeks in summer, plan to water your aloe every four weeks during the winter months. Of course, your watering schedule should ultimately depend on the wetness of the soil; always check that at least the top third of soil is dry before watering again. This could ultimately mean that you actually need to water every three weeks or every five weeks—it all depends on the environment in your home!

Storage

I see that you have a harvest/ storage section, but it doesn't quite cover how to store the aloe. Would you suggest putting it in a container?

LOA vERA

I have an Aloa Vera plant that I repotted to a 14" X 12" deep pot. The plant has grown very Large and given many pups. Unfortunately the stem grew very thick and tall and has now fallen over. Any suggestion as to how I should now treat this plant.

Aloe Vera flower

I live in Hereford England and have an aloe Vera plant which has just started to grow a flower. The aloe is getting to big for its pot should I repot now or wait until the flower has gone.
Thanks

Flowering

Wait until the plant finishes flowering and the flower fades. Otherwise, the plant will need to spend energy resettling its roots rather than producing the flower. Generally, the best time to repot aloe is in the spring, so you’re better off waiting until then!

Zone

I live in Nevada. I wanted to know what zone is that and what succulents do best in this zone. Thank you Just starting out

Nevada Hardiness Zones

Nevada is a diverse state with quite a few different zones (it ranges from Zone 4a in the mountains to Zone 10a at the southern tip), so check out the USDA’s zone map to see which one you live in: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

It really depends on the type of succulent, but generally they are hardy into Zone 8.

Aloe being edible

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

Aloe Vera Juice

Yes, processed aloe vera juice is a common drink! It’s the unprocessed gel or liquid from the leaves that can cause poor reactions if ingested.

Droopy, Thin Leaves

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!

Watering

Watering is the right move. Leaves will get thin and droopy when not given enough water, so it sounds like yours just needed a drink!

Overwatered aloe possibly due to potting conditions?

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

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.

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

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

Are they a danger to cats or even dogs ??

Aloe Vera Toxicity

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

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

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

This article was just absolutely amazing and so helpful!

PLANT

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

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

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

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 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.