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How to Plant and Grow Aloe Vera

green aloe vera plant in a white pot with a wooden wall background
Image Credit:
Sunwand24/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Aloe vera
Grown as
Tender Perennial
USDA Zones
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Toxicity
Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Water Needs
Low
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Orange
Pink
Red
Yellow
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Low Maintenance
Resilience
Drought-Tolerant
Heat-Tolerant
Plant Type
Houseplants
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Aloe there! Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or have just managed to keep a cactus alive, aloe vera plants are spiky succulent superstars that will add a pop of green to your home while doubling as a natural remedy for burns, cuts, and skin irritations. 

From picking the perfect sunny spot to growing aloe vera indoors, watering tips, and more, we’ll share all the steps you need to keep aloes healthy, happy, and thriving year-round.

Planting

When to Plant Aloe Vera

Indoor aloe plants can technically be planted in any season, but they settle in best when they’re planted during their active growth stage in spring.

Aloe vera plants and pups
Photo by cgdeaw/Shutterstock

Where to Plant Aloe Vera

Aloes thrive in terracotta pots, which dry out faster than plastic ones and can ward against root rot. These pots are also on the heavy side, which can help prevent top-heavy aloes from accidentally toppling over.

Before settling on a pot, make sure any container you choose has drainage holes in the base and that containers allow excess water to flow freely away from plant roots. Aloes don’t have extensive root systems and containers that are just 1 to 2-inches wider than the plant’s root ball are ideal. Small aloes will grow just fine in 4 to 6-inch pots, but containers may need to be scaled up as your plants grow.

If you’re growing aloes outdoors in cold areas, keep them in pots that can be overwintered inside. In warmer climates, aloes can be planted directly in the garden in locations that receive at least 4 to 6 hours of bright, indirect sun, but are lightly shaded during the hottest part of the day. Soils should always be well-draining and slightly sandy to prevent overwatering.

How to Plant Aloes Vera

Like most other succulents, aloes don’t need much water and potted plants grow best in potting mixes intended for succulents and cacti. If you want to make your own, blend together 2 parts standard potting mix, 1 part perlite or pumice, and 1 part grit or horticultural sand. Then, follow these tips to get your aloe planted!

  • Carefully remove your aloe plant from its nursery pot while supporting the leaves with your free hand to avoid accidental breaks. If the pot is difficult to dislodge, run a butterknife around the rim to loosen the soil.
  • Add several inches of a suitable potting mix to the base of the new growing container and gently remove some of the leftover soil from your plant’s roots. Take care to handle the roots gently to prevent damage.
  • Locate the plant in the pot at approximately the same depth it was growing in its nursery container, fill in around and cover the plant’s roots with potting soil, and firm the soil in place with your fingers. If the plant has an exposed bare stem, bury the plant deep enough so the bare stem is covered and the soil line rests neatly below the plant’s lowest set of leaves.
  • Water your aloe in, move it to a brightly lit spot, and watering sparingly going forward.
how to care for aloe vera infographic

Growing

Watering

Aloes are drought tolerant plants and fare better when their soil is on the drier side. To keep them happy, water aloes deeply, let the excess water flow away, and allow the plant’s pot to dry out a bit in between each watering session.

In summer, plan to water aloes about once every 2 weeks when the top 2-inches of soil feels dry. In winter, water aloes even less — about once a month should do the trick.

Fertilizing

Some houseplants need lots of fertilizer, but not aloes. I only fertilize my aloes once a year in spring with a liquid, organic houseplant fertilizer that I dilute to half strength with water. Organic fertilizer sticks can also work, but I find my pets are too attracted to these to use them in my home!

Pruning or Maintenance

These plants don’t need much fuss and rarely require any pruning. Just trim away damaged leaves as needed with a sharp, sterilized knife, and never cut into the actively growing center of aloe plants. If you want to harvest aloe leaves, pick the outer leaves only.

Mature aloe plants will sometimes produce pups, which can be left on the parent plant or potted up on their own to prevent overcrowding.

Seasonal Care

Indoor aloe plants require roughly the same care throughout the year, but they should be watered more sparingly in winter and only fertilized during their active growth period in spring.

If you’re keeping aloes outdoors, move potted plants back inside before temperatures dip below 50°F. It’s also important to slowly acclimate or “harden off” indoor aloe plants before moving them outside each spring. Failing to do this can quickly result in sunburnt leaves and other damage!

Harvesting

When to Harvest 

Aloe gel should only be harvested from mature aloe plants that are at least 2 to 3 years old. Aloe leaves will have more harvestable gel if you pick them several days after watering your plants well.

How to Harvest

Select a healthy, plump outer aloe leaf and use a sharp sterilized knife to cut the leaf off at the base of the plant. Then, place the leaf upright in a cup with the cut end facing down, leave it in place for about 15 minutes, and rinse and dry the leaf well. This process allows the natural latex in aloe leaves, which can be a skin irritant, to drain away.

Place the drained leaf on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to trim away the leaf’s thorny edges. Then, cut the white base and pointed tip of the leaf off too. This done, lay the leaf down flat on your cutting surface and slice off the top and bottom green skin from the leaf as if you were filleting a fish, or use a spoon to scoop the gel out.

Finish up by rinishing the gel with clean water.

Storage

Fresh aloe gel can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for about one week. For longer storage, pop the aloe gel in ice cube trays, freeze it, and store in a freezer-proof container for up to 6 months. If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the aloe gel in a blender before you do.

Aloe vera cut open to expose the aloe vera gel

Pests and Problems

Common Problems

  • Brown, mushy leaves usually occur when plants are overwatered. The best way to prevent this problem is to make sure aloes are grown in pots with drainage holes, which allow excess water to freely flow away.
  • Yellowing leaves may indicate that aloes are overwatered too, but they can also result from excess sun exposure. If the leaves feel soft or mushy, overwatering is likely to blame. If the leaves are firm but pale or yellowing, your plants may be getting too much sun. 
  • Drooping leaves can also occur due to overwatering, but plants may become droopy if they dry out too much or aren’t getting enough light. Feeling the soil can help you judge if your aloe needs more or less water.

Common Pests

  • Mealybugs are small, sap-sucking pests that look like bits of white cottony fluff and are often found on the joints and crevices of infected plants. To remove them, spot treat plants with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol or spray plants with more signficant infestations down with organic insecticidal soap or horticultural oil sprays.
  • Scale insects are a hard-bodied version of mealybugs, which look like little dark bumps on plant leaves and are even harder to treat. Spot treatments with rubbing alcohol can work, but I’ve found repeated treatments with horticultural oil sprays are the best defense against these hard-to-manage pests.

Plant Diseases

  • Root rot can set in if aloe vera plants are overwatered, and this can lead to mushy stems and roots, and plant death too. To avoid this issue, always feel the soil before watering aloes, water sparingly when you do, and consider repotting plants if you’ve accidentally overwatered them and the soil isn’t drying out quickly.
  • Fungal stem rot can produce dark, sunken spots on aloe leaves and cause plants to wilt. This fungal problem is also caused by overwatering, but can often be corrected by pruning away damaged leaves and stems, improving drainage, and adjusting watering regimens.

Types

Aloe vera is known as the “true aloe,” and it’s the aloe you want if you plan to use aloe gel to treat sunburns and more. However, the aloe genus is a big one with over 500 species of distinct aloe plants. If you love aloe vera, here are a few more attractive and easy-care aloe varieties you may want to try!

  • Aloe variegata Tiger or Partridge-Breasted Aloe: This compact aloe is characterized by short, smooth leaves that feature uneven white striping.
  • A. aristata Lace Aloe: This small aloe variety is noted for its white-spotted leaves with finely saw-toothed margins.
  • A. glauca Blue Aloe: A larger aloe species, the blue aloe lives up to its name thanks to its gorgeous silvery-blue leaves.

Wit and Wisdom

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 05/09/2024 - 11:11

Hi, Carl. You can follow the directions above in the section How to Plant (or Repot) an Aloe Vera Plant.

 <span>Lisa</span> Thu, 10/12/2023 - 09:29
The tap root on my aloe is huge! Can't find a deep enough pot for it. So the plant itself sits tilted, in the pot. What can I do? I live in zone 6, so I can't plant it outside.
<span>Sharon Dixon</span> Wed, 10/25/2023 - 18:52
Can I cut back some of the tap root so the plant will sit even when I transplant it into a bigger pot?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 10/26/2023 - 10:06

Before transplanting, you can cut back both the large taproot and the smaller horizontal roots; especially focus on removing any dead or rotting roots. Although aloe is quite resilient about pruning, trim only up to about 1/3 of the rootball at a time (leaving 2/3 intact). Aloe likes to be snug in its pot and should fill the new pot about 2/3 full. After the roots are cut, some people allow the roots to air dry for a day or two, so that the wound starts to heals over a bit before placing the plant in new growing medium; this can help to prevent diseases, etc., from entering through the cuts. If you transplant immediately after pruning the roots, hold off on watering for a few days, to discourage rot. Hope this helps!

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 10/18/2023 - 10:41

Aloes usually have a shallow, wide root system, so a deep taproot is a mystery! Have you tried online sources for indoor plant pots? Although local stores may not have just the right size for your plant, perhaps online might offer a wider selection. Try to find one in which the roots will take up about 2 inches beyond the deepest root, and about 1 to 2 inches between the plant and the container edge. Some people have fun making their own pots, or repurposing items, such as buckets, etc., to use as planters. If you'd like to try that, be sure to add a drainage hole to the container, if needed.

 <span>Lilly</span> Fri, 09/15/2023 - 14:03
I have two aloe Vera plants, one of them grows thicker but not wide how can I make it so that it grows wide and thick, it sorta looks spiral from the main stem. My second aloe Vera is tiny and won’t thicken, and one of the stems is yellow at the tip. Any advice?
<span>Cando</span> Mon, 08/07/2023 - 21:12
My aloe plant completely fell apart. Whole healthy leaves fell off from the soil. Sad face! Is there anything I can do to save what’s in the soil and get a new plant to rise?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 08/09/2023 - 06:14

Aloes drop leaves when they are overwatered. Succulents need very little water. Let it dry out. Repot in lightly dampened soil. Don’t water it until it dries out.

 <span>Jo</span> Thu, 08/03/2023 - 03:13
Good article! I just brought an aloe vera home from the supermarket and in only a couple of days it stretched out towards the light, which was unexpected for a succulent!? Its a fairly bright westward window. I wanted to say that I learned not to use aloe directly from the plant, but let the cut off leaf "bleedcin a glass of water a few hours first. It will turn milky as the Aloe releases latex which is naturally generated in the leaves and can cause irritation. Once the latex is depleted the pulp or gel can be used to treat skin, or a piece of cut leaf can be taped to a wound with a bandaid or bandage. Removingnthe latex (over night to be sure) also makes it edible without real risk of nausea etc. Just don't overdo it, a half teaspoonspoon of gel in a smoothy is enough. You don't want to ingest latex. Or pour it on a wound. I live in a nordic climate so they get leggy in winter, but I shall try out a supplememtary led light and see if that helps. Question: do I need to repot my plant? It's still as it came from the store a few days ago. Thank you!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 08/03/2023 - 09:04

Hi Jo-

There is no need to repot your aloe, yet (unless you really want to).