Aloe Vera Plant Care
Common Name: Aloe Vera
Scientific Name: Aloe vera
Lighting: Moderate to Bright
Water: Low
Thick, light-green succulent leaves characterize the Aloe Vera plant. The Aloe plant is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. The Aloe Vera is a great plant to have around. When the leaves are broken open a gel is released that works wonders on sunburns, cuts and even bug bites.
The Aloe Vera's care needs are just that of a cactus. It thrives in bright light so keep it within 5 feet of a east or west facing window. This houseplant also just like the cactus tolerates very infrequent waterings. You will only need to water this plant once every 2 weeks. I have even gone three weeks without any problems.
This houseplant can grow very big, very fast. If the plant begins to outgrow its pot, like it probably will, you may simply transplant sections and place it in another pot with dirt. I have done this multiple times. The plant also does not appear to be very picky about its soil type either. My biggest aloe (pictured) is growing in plain dirt from the yard. As you can see with my aloe pictured, these plants can spread very quickly. Mine needs some serious downsizing.
Aloe Vera plants are very easy to care for. They withstand quite a bit in my opinions. Please take a minute and view my list of easy to grow houseplants for other plants that are great for the busy person.
The sap of Aloe plants works great for sunburns and as treatment for other topical problems. However, from what I have found, certain varieties are poisonous if eaten, thus I have it listed on my poisonous houseplants list. So just to be safe, please keep these plants up and away from your pets and children.
Please add your comments about caring for this plant.
Labels: bathroom houseplants, easy to grow houseplants, poisonous houseplants
posted by drayas @ 10:39 AM
23 Comments:
Hey, love the site, but I've got a question. My aloe plant is small, on a window seal, indoors, and we keep our house at 68 degrees F at night, 74 degrees F in the day. My plants bud is growing into a stalk looking thing and the leaves are sticking straight out. And the leaves on the main plant look like their trying to grow into a stalk, with leaves trying to dig into the soil. What's happening?
Well I can honestly say, I have no idea! Overall the plant does look healthy though right? If it looks healthy I wouldn't worry about, and just watch and learn.
If any of my readers can assit it would be greatly appreciated.
Please keep me posted.
Sorry I couldn't be more help,
drayas
That's okay, and thanks, and yes. Overall the plant looks healthy, but some of the lower ones are browning (I think it's just getting new growth, but I'm not sure)
hello, I acidentally dropped a baseball bat on my aloe vera and cracked one of the leaves. I don't know what to do! Is the leaf done for? The leaf is still attached together, but yellow sap immediately oozed out. I wiped away the "blood" and put clear tape on the wound to keep the parts together. Will the aloe vera leaf heal? Or should I remove the broken part and not let it rot? Or is the entire leaf done for?
Curses self.
Since alow gel is medicinal and can be applied topically as well as drunk in juice form, what part of the plant is poisonous?
Yes, Aloe is safe to use on sunburns and topical uses, however there are varieties that are poisonous when digested as far as I've found. If you have quality sources that state differently, please let me know and I will gladly revise the page.
North Carolina State University
Wikipedia (internal uses)
Thank you,
drayas
kaiallard,
Many times I have dropped or snapped off parts of my houseplants so I know how you feel. However, it's been awhile since I snapped off my Aloe plant, but I think I just left the damaged part alone.
I'd try that and if it seems like the whole spear is dying then remove the whole piece.
If any of my readers can give some advice on this topic it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
drayas
I've noticed that if you get water on the lower leaves, they usually get brown right where they attach to the main plant and eventually fall off. Is there someway to store the aloe from inside the leaf?
Thanks for the tip on watering the lower leaves.
In terms of storing the aloe, I don't know. I tried doing a little research and wasn't finding anything specific.
Can any of my readers help us out?? If I find something I'll post it here.
Thanks,
drayas
Have you ever seen an Aloe Vera bloom? I have a pretty old Aloe Vera, like you, several from the same family, this is the parent and is very crowded in it's pot. It has run up a slender shoot that is probably 18" long with some bud-like projections at the top, nothing remotely flower-like. I have never seen it do this before. Thanks
I have not seen an Aloe bloom. I wish mine would. If you go to Google and click on images, then search "aloe flower" it gives pictures. Does yours look like those?
Please keep me posted on what happens.
I would love to see pictures!!
Thanks,
drayas
Hello!
I just bought an aloe. I've got it in front of a South facting window. Should I move it?
Also, what sorts of plants can take DIRECT, ALL DAY sunlight? I need some plants by this huge, South facing window, but I don't know what to buy!
Thanks!
-April
Hi April,
I would leave your Aloe there for now and if it seems like it's getting too much light then move it.
In terms of some other bright light plants, check out my Houseplant Lighting Guide. There's a list of plants that prefer bright light just like you're looking for.
Thanks,
drayas
Hi April,
I would leave your Aloe there for now and if it seems like it's getting too much light then move it.
In terms of some other bright light plants, check out my Houseplant Lighting Guide. There's a list of plants that prefer bright light just like you're looking for.
Thanks,
drayas
some of my aloe vera plants leaves seem to have shrivlled up and gone brown should i remove these?As there are new leaves growing from the middle?
If you go into any health food store you will find aloe vera gel in bottles to add to one's diet. So you might want to explore that "poisonous" part.
Hello,
I would remove the brown / dead foliage. Since there is new growth visible you know it's probably just old age. Plus the plant looks better than. I just hadn't done it in my picture yet.
Thanks,
drayas
kathryn,
Aloe Vera sap is available in all health stores and is great for sunburns and there are supplements out there. However with some varieties you can be poisoned if you eat the plant directly.
Poisonous Plants - North Carolina
Wikipedia - Aloe
Thanks,
drayas
The leaves on my aloe plant are quite droopy. Most of them are probably a foot long. There are many babies in the pot with the big plant. I know it probably needs repotting and I plan to do that. Why are the leaves/ spikes drooping?
Hello,
The drooping leaves is most likely a watering issue. How often do you water your plant?
Thank you,
drayas
Hi! I like this site! I have an aloe vera plant and the leaves are brown! I live in FL so it gets very hot! is it getting too much sunlight?
Thanks a bunch,
Jessica
i 've had this aloe for thee yrs is about the same size.and when i put it outside it turns transparent and looks like its going to die so i bring it back in and what can i fertilize it with to help it grow?
thanks don
Don,
When you say you put it outside, do you mean you just move the pot outside, or you transplant the plant into the dirt outside?
What state do you live in?
Thanks,
drayas
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