Home > Aloe Vera, How to grow and care for Aloe Vera Plants
ALOE VERA also known as “The Medicine or Burn Plant “ is relatively easy to grow and care for. Aloe plants are hardy, slow growing succulents that grow in rosettes of plump, upward curving green leaves. The leaves are fleshy and thick, greyish-green, faintly spotted and edged with soft teeth. Each plant typically has 12 to 16 leaves that, when mature, may weigh up to 3 pounds each. The lower leaves of the Aloe Vera plant can be harvested for medicinal purpose.
Outdoors, Aloe Vera prefers a frost-free warm climate (USA Zones 9-10) in full sun and well drained soil. Aloe Vera has a long history of cultivation throughout the drier tropical and subtropical regions of the world, both as an ornamental plant and for medicinal uses.
Indoors, Aloe adapts well. Plant in a well drained sandy loam soil, a mixture of 2-parts potting soil and 1-part coarse sand. Many stores carry a cactus type potting mix. This would work well for Aloe Vera in a pot, also.
Water well after planting and once a week thereafter until the plant is established. Once established, potted plants should be allowed to dry prior to completely soaking, spring through fall. During winter months the plant will become somewhat dormant and will need very little moisture. During this period watering should be minimal allowing the soil to become completely dry before watering. Root rot is a common problem caused by poor drainage.
Indoors, keep your Aloe Vera plant in a bright location, with some direct sun in the winter. If you move it outdoors for the summer, make the move gradual. Aloe Vera sunburns easily if it is suddenly exposed to full sun.
Repot crowded plants. Repot young plants (pups) in spring when they are outgrowing their pots. Aloe Vera freely produces offsets. To encourage an Aloe Vera plant to grow large, keep pot free of off shoots from the base of the plant; and of course you can pot these off shoots and you will have new plants