Planting
When to Plant Aloe Vera
You can plant aloe indoors at any time of the year—yep, they’re that easy! I find they settle in best when planted in spring, which is when they’re actively growing.
Where to Plant Aloe Vera
Sunlight: Place your potted aloe vera where it gets at least 4-6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight—aloe loves the sun! A south- or east-facing windowsill that pets can’t reach is a great choice for indoor aloe vera plants.
You can also keep aloe vera in a sunny spot outside as long as temperatures stay above 50°F. Choose an outdoor spot that gets some shade during the hottest part of the day, especially if you live in a hot climate.
Pot type: Use terracotta pots with drainage holes so water can flow freely. Terracotta pots dry out faster than plastic ones, which can help prevent root rot. They’re also heavy enough to keep plants from tipping over.
Pot size: Choose a pot 1-2 inches wider than the root ball—aloe plants don’t have extensive root systems, so they don’t need much room under the soil. Small aloes grow fine in 4- to 6-inch pots, but you may need to move them to larger pots as they grow. Learn more about when and how to repot aloes and other houseplants.
Potting mix: Potted aloe vera plants grow best in potting mixes intended for succulents and cacti. To make your own, blend 2 parts standard potting mix, 1 part perlite or pumice, and 1 part grit or horticultural sand.
Did you know? If winters are mild where you live, you can plant aloes in a sunny spot in your garden. Just make sure the soil drains well.
How to Plant Aloe Vera
- Carefully remove the aloe plant from its nursery pot. Support the leaves with one hand to avoid accidentally breaking them. If the plant is stuck, run a butter knife gently around the edges to loosen the soil.
- Add several inches of well-draining potting mix to the bottom of your new container. Not sure if your potting mix is well-draining? Find out what it means and how to identify it. Gently remove some of the old soil from the plant’s roots.
- Place the plant in the new pot at about the same depth as it was in its nursery container. Cover the roots with potting mix, gently pressing it down with your fingers. If your plant has a long stem beneath its leaves, bury it so the soil comes up just below the lowest leaves.
- Water your newly planted aloe and settle it into its sunny new spot—easy peasy!
Harvesting
When to Harvest
- Harvest aloe gel when plants have had time to settle in, and the outer leaves are plump and healthy. Leave the smaller leaves in the center to keep growing.
- I find that leaves have the most gel several days after watering!
How to Harvest
- Use a sharp, clean knife to cut an outer leaf off where it meets the stem.
- Stand the leaf in a cup, cut end down, and leave it there for about 15 minutes. This process allows the natural latex inside aloe leaves (which can, ironically, irritate skin) to drain out.
- Rinse and dry the leaf well afterward. Place the leaf on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to trim away the thorny edges.
- Cut off the white base and pointed tip, leaving only the gel-filled section.
- Slice off the top and bottom green skin as if you’re filleting a fish. You can also use a spoon to scoop out the gel.
- Rinse the gel with clean water before using it on your skin.
Storage
- Store fresh aloe gel in an airtight container in the fridge for about 1 week.
- If you want your aloe gel to last longer, pop it into ice cube trays, freeze it, and store the frozen cubes in a freezer-proof container for up to 6 months.
Did you know? You can use a blender to get your aloe gel extra smooth!
Credit: Valentyn Volkov
Pests and Problems
Even low-maintenance plants like aloe vera can have problems from time to time.
Here’s how to spot common problems, pests, and plant diseases that might affect your aloe plants, and what to do next.
| What You See | Likely Cause | What to Do |
| Brown, mushy leaves | Overwatering | Check that your pot has drainage holes. Let the soil dry before watering again, and avoid letting the plant sit in water. |
| Yellowing leaves | Overwatering or too much sun | If the leaves feel soft or mushy, overwatering is likely to blame. Allow soil to dry out more between waterings. Repot if the soil isn’t drying quickly. If the leaves feel firm, your plant may be getting too much sun. Move it to a spot with less intense sunlight. |
| Drooping leaves | Overwatering, underwatering, or too little light | Feel the soil to check moisture. Adjust watering as needed, and make sure the plant gets enough light. |
| Pests that look like cottony fluff in joints and crevices | Mealybugs | Wipe insects off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, or spray your plant with organic insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. |
| Pests that look like dark bumps on leaves | Scale insects (hard-bodied versions of mealybugs) | Wipe insects off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, or spray your plant with organic insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Scale insects can be hard to treat, so reapply sprays if needed. |
| Mushy stems/roots, plant collapse | Root rot (from overwatering) | Let soil dry thoroughly before watering. Repot in fresh soil that drains well if needed. |
| Dark, sunken spots on leaves; wilting | Fungal stem rot (often from overwatering) | Prune away damaged leaves, improve drainage, and water less often. |
Credit: LuciaR
Types
There are over 500 species of distinct aloe plants. Here are a few beginner-friendly varieties to try:
- Aloe vera: Upright green leaves that grow fast and are filled with soothing gel. It’s the classic “true aloe,” used as a folk remedy for many years.
- Tiger aloe (Aloe variegata): Smooth leaves and uneven white striping (hence the tiger name)! This aloe stays small and fits well on windowsills or small spaces.
- Lace Aloe (A. aristata): White-spotted leaves that have fine “teeth” along the edges. May tolerate cooler weather better than other varieties.
- Blue Aloe (A. glauca): Gorgeous silvery-blue leaves—it really lives up to its name! Grows bigger than the other aloes listed here.
Credit: sakavichanka
Frequently Asked Questions
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When should I repot my aloe vera plant?
Repot aloe vera when its roots crowd the pot or grow through the drainage holes. Spring is a good time to repot aloe vera, when the plant is actively growing. Choose a slightly larger pot with drainage holes and use a potting mix intended for succulents and cacti.
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Does aloe vera flower?
Yes! Aloe plants can produce yellow or orange flowers once they’re a few years old. Aloe grown indoors might not bloom, so if you don’t see any flowers, it doesn’t necessarily mean your plant is unhealthy!
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Is aloe vera a succulent or a cacti?
Aloe vera is a succulent, but it is not a cactus. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, which helps it tolerate dry conditions and explains why it needs less frequent watering than many other houseplants.
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Will my aloe vera grow new leaves after harvesting?
Yes, a healthy aloe vera plant can continue producing new leaves after you harvest an outer leaf. Just be sure to give the plant time to recover after each harvest.
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Can I grow aloe vera from a leaf cutting?
Separating pups—the small plants that grow beside the parent—is more reliable than trying to grow aloe vera from a leaf cutting. Choose a pup with its own roots, gently separate it from the parent, and plant it in a small pot with drainage holes and a potting mix intended for succulents and cacti.
Sources
- National Institutes of Health — Second-Degree Burns and Aloe Vera: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review
- South Dakota State University Extension — Aloe Vera: Houseplant How-To
- NC State Extension — Aloe vera
Comments
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!
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.
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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.