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.
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!
Reader Comments
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First, I would like to ask
First, I would like to ask you exactly what "indirect sunlight" refers to. My aloe plant is in my dorm in my window sill but my dorm window faces neither the sunset nor the sunrise, so my room is illuminated but there is an overhang so that there is never sunlight shining into my room directly.
Secondly, i just re-potted it and am not sure if the pot I have is too small. My aloe plant is very little and the pot is about 3 inches in diameter. I have watered it twice in the last 5 days but it has been very small amounts of water. the soil feels normal but leaves are starting to curl, no more than 45-50 degrees but I am still worried that it could be a sign of something I am doing wrong. Please let me know if there is anything else I can be doing.
It sounds like your aloe
It sounds like your aloe plant is getting indirect sunlight. That just means that the plant gets light without the sun shining directly on it. Only water the plant when the soil feels dry to about an inch or two down in the soil--which is about once or twice a week usually. At that time, give it a thorough soaking--but not so that the soil is soggy. Do not let the pot stand in water--pour off any excess. In winter, water even less. Your aloe's new pot should be at least 2 inches wider than the pot it was previously in.
I keep my aloe plant outside,
I keep my aloe plant outside, partly shade and sunny. But the aloe will always turn red and curl up, during these days I'v been watering them every day but they still won't recover. Did i do any thing wrong?
Ps: Its currently summer.
Some aloes will turn reddish
Some aloes will turn reddish at the tips during drought, but since you are watering every day, that's not the case. However, aloes do not like lots of water--too much may cause the leaves to curl and become mushy, and the roots to rot. (Curling leaves, and red-tipped leaves, can also be just a feature of the variety.) Only water the plant when the soil feels dry to about an inch or two down in the soil--which is about once or twice a week usually. At that time, give it a thorough soaking--but not so that the soil is soggy. Do not let the pot stand in water--pour off any excess. In winter, water even less.
I just got my aloe plant, but
I just got my aloe plant, but it has deep, brown holes on the leaves. It kind of looks like someone poked leaves with their nails, but I wanted to make sure this is not a serious disease.
I want to know any way to cure my plant. Thanks!
Holes in aloe leaves may be
Holes in aloe leaves may be due to several things. Most probably, it would be physical injury, such as by pests like mice or other rodents, grasshoppers, and snails, which will chew leaves. If the holes were originally appearing as water-soaked areas, this could be due to overwatering/not enough drainage, or possibly a disease. Be sure to water the plant only when the soil feels dry from 1 inch to 2 inches deep. Also, check for signs of pests. Be sure that there is plenty of air circulation, and that the plant has good drainage. If you are concerned about disease, you might take a photo of your leaves and plant to a local garden nursery--the horticulturist there might be able to help you.
can aloe vera good for
can aloe vera good for treating diabetes?
According to the University
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "Preliminary studies suggest that aloe juice may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. More research is needed to determine whether aloe is helpful for diabetes."
you have got to be kidding
you have got to be kidding me. How much do you smear on> Would love moreinformation
Lol, you don't smear it on,
Lol, you don't smear it on, you eat it :-) fillet the mature leaf like a fish, the clear gel inside is what you want, the dark green outside is useful but REALLY bitter. As to much you would to eat to help diabetes? I'm not sure. I eat about a six inch fillet everyday for acid reflux, haven't had to take OTC drugs for it in 2 years.
my aloe is in part sun and
my aloe is in part sun and part shade and i have been watering it about every 12 days and and it is changing color and looks like a piece may fall off i do not know if it is the sunlight amount or the soil
It It sounds as if you may be
It It sounds as if you may be overwatering your aloe vera. Let it dry out. When you put your finger in the soil and it's dry down to an inch below the surface, give it a thorough watering.
It is summer in upstate ny
It is summer in upstate ny and i decided to plant my very large and my smaller aloe plant outside, in an area that is partial sun/shade. I took a risk doing this, I know. Should I leave them outside or bring them back into the house in the containers?
Your aloe probably enjoys the
Your aloe probably enjoys the outdoors but it will definitely need to come inside for winter in your zone. Gently lift and plant in a container with cactus mix or a sterile potting soil with sand and pumice. Aloe needs to drain well. PIck a container that is 3 to 5 times the size of the root ball and plant in the medium up to the root ball. Do not water often in winter! Twice a month might be enough.
Growing aloe from seed...I
Growing aloe from seed...I got my aloe to sprout! I have about 6-8 sprouts about 3/4 of an inch high and I repotted them. I used a potting mix of sphagnum peat, horticultural vermiculite, perlite, wetting agent and lime. But they are not growing anymore. I do wait for the soil to dry before watering and I have them in a sunny window. They just kind of stalled out on me. What am I doing wrong? Thanks
The problem could be the
The problem could be the placement in a sunny window. Aloe requires indirect sunlight.
Good luck!
Please advise if i can grow
Please advise if i can grow my aloe vera plant inside the room. There is no sunlight falls inside the room. however there is CFL lights which will fall on it for more than 5-8 hours a day. I'm staying alone in a room so cannot keep the plant outside.
I would need to using the Aloe gel on face daily. so can i cut the bottom most (elder ones) leaves bit by bit for my daily use. if I'm cutting small small pieces everyday from the plant, what about the yellow sap?
Please advise.. How to manage this for my daily use.
You should be able to grow
You should be able to grow aloe plants indoors, Aadharsh, but they like a lot of light.
I'd suggest buying CFL "grow-lights" of "sunlight" bulbs for your lighting fixtures. Leave the lights on above your aloe plants for at least 10 hours a day.
You could also suspend an inexpensive 2-bulb fluorescent shop light over your aloes. You can grow a lot of aloes in a four-foot span!
Don't worry about the yellow sap produced when you cut a partial aloe leaf; that's just the plant's way of healing its wound. Just keep clipping to the base of the leaf, pinching off the wounded edge before you squeeze the gel onto your face.
If I wanted to snip a leaf to
If I wanted to snip a leaf to use the gel for a burn, will it continue to grow if I only cut half or 1 third of it? Or is it better to cut closer to the stalk?
Any place you cut along the
Any place you cut along the leaf will heal, but the leaf will not regrow. The best gel is in the outer, lower, more mature leaves. You can cut a portion of the leaf, squeeze it, and rub the emerging gel directly on a burn. But, this method often does not reach the most potent aloe gel in each leaf.
To get the most (and best) gel, use a knife to remove an entire healthy, green leaf from the plant, cutting close to the base. Stand the leaf upright for about 15 minutes to drain out a lot of the yellow sap (which you don't want). Then cut off the tip and the toothed edges of the leaf. Make a "fillet" cut lengthwise to remove the top portion of skin from the leaf. Scoop out the mucilage and gel. Don't press too hard while scooping, or you may get the yellow sap.
Aloe Vera Flower
For the last 3 years my aloe has sprouted a flower. But the flower doesn't open. I don't change the watering habits or lighting or temperature but it won't open. Why? Also, for the last 2 years I have needed to take the babies out but that's at the same time it's flowering. Can I still remove the babies even though it's flowering or should I wait?
It's rare that an aloe will
It's rare that an aloe will bloom in the house. You could try moving your pot outdoors during the summer as long as you remember to bring them back indoors prior to the first fall freeze. If you wish to remove the "babies" or pups, the best time is to wait until they have roots (about 2 inches tall). Then use a clean knife to cut at their base.
Aloe
help,my aloe vera has long thin (leaves?)instead of the broad plump leaves. It is in indirect bright light, watered only when the soil dries and well drained. What am I doing wrong?
ps I bought it at walmart as a 4 inch and it has grown well
When aloe leaves appear limp
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.
thin leaves / spindly stalks
thin leaves / spindly stalks in many plants could also indicate an incorrect light mixture. eg) if your window has a tint to it it can block or limit certain colours of light. or if you use artificial lighting there may not be a full spectrum. i can't remember right now but i think different coloured light encourages growth in different areas and effects the production of some plant hormones.
repotting
I have a very large aloe with many babies, do I have to let the parent plant wither before separating? I would hate to lose te parent aloe, it's so big and beautiful even though I've used it regularly. Is November a bad time to repot? They've run out of rm.
aloe babies
We have revised the "Care" text of this article re: leaf cuttings to avoid confusion.
For the mother plant, by all means continue to care for it; it should live a long, healthy life. You can leave the babies (called pups, offshoots, or offsets) with the mom; they should not harm a healthy mom, unless the pot becomes overcrowded. Or, you can separate the pups from the mom when the pups grow to about 3 inches or more. Each pup may be connected to the mother plant by an underground stem called a stolon. Use a knife to cut the stolon, separating the pup from the mother plant and leaving as much stolon attached to the pup as possible. With some pups, you can just gently pull them up out of the soil. Make sure you keep any of the pup's roots and leaves intact.
At this stage, some gardeners like to set the pups aside for a day or two to let the cut end callus over, which can help deter diseases. Then, place the pup in a pot filled with cacti/succulent potting mix, covering the stolon with soil and letting the leaves rest just on the soil surface. Water the plant and place the pot in part sun. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.
As to repotting, early spring is best, although fall is OK, too. It may be harder on the plant in winter, when the plant is dormant.
Growing aloe vera
My aloe vera is about 10" with 6 tall leaves & 1 new shoot. 2 of the leaves slipped right off the root & the bases were shrivelled, black & the juice had turned red at the bottoms. I tried repotting them but they continued to rot. I have them in indirect but bright, filtered ambient lighted area. Whats wrong with my plant? How do I prevent the whole thing from dying?
aloe vera care
It sounds like the plant is receiving the correct light. Black leaves may be due to exposure to cold or freezing temperatures, such as if it is near a drafty window when it is below 40 degrees F outside. But a more common problem is overwatering, which can cause root rot. This can appear as yellow, brown, or black leaves, and dark brown to black roots. To prevent, let the soil dry out between waterings. Aloes, being succulents, do not require a lot of water. Check the soil about 1 to 2 inches deep; if it is dry, then water deeply. You may not need to water again until 2 or 3 weeks have passed; in winter, water it even less frequently. Also make sure that you are using a potting mix that is good for succulents/cacti, which allows plenty of drainage. Clay pots are ideal because they allow the potting mix to dry faster; aloes have shallow roots and appreciate a wide pot.
To help your plant recover, place it in a warm area in indirect light, away from drafts, and let it dry out. Remove any roots that are dark brown or black. Remove any leaves that are black or brown. If the crown of the plant still seems healthy, firm, and green, then once you remove the damaged tissue, it might recover. If the crown is damaged, then the plant may not recover. In this case, you can try taking a cutting of a healthy leaf to start another plant. Good luck!
How many inches deep should
How many inches deep should the dirt be? and how wide should my aloe pot be? It is about 6 inches tall and 5 in wide
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