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
87 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
I got my Aloe's from my aunts garden in Tucson, Az. Every summer I put them outside and the leaves turn a nice light rosy brown. When I bring them back in in the fall they return to green. I have waited to bring them in until later in the fall when the night temperatures have been in the upper 30's (I live in Minnesota) and they have been just fine. They all flower once every year with a long stem that has small orange trumpet shaped flowers on it. I have not watered in the winter for up to two months and they do fine. If the leaves start to shrivel they need water. They will come back just fine. They like being crowded, that's the way they grow outside. They don't mind being overcrowded. Each plant will just grow taller (into a stalk) and the "babies" will find their way up between the established plants. Any of the "babies" can be repotted at any time. I've even had "babies" grow out of the overcrowded established plant. This is, by far, the easiest plant, along with Mother-in-laws tongue (Snake plant), I have ever had, to care for.
Hello everyone,
I want to share some of my lifetime experiences with Aloe Vera; I grew up in a tropical Country where it grows wild. Notice that there are about 400 varieties of Aloe, and "Vera" is the one I'm going to refer to. Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera and you will see on the right how it looks like; in the US you can find it at the grocery stores everywhere and I call it 'the miracle plant'. We ingest it as a body cleanser, use it for burns, wounds (small and big), mild infections, bug bites, as suppositories for hemorrhoids and minor vaginal infections (a great way to have it available when needed is by peeling the Aloe Vera carefully with a sharp knife, cutting long strings lengthwise, wrapping them individually with aluminum foil and freezing them in a sealed plastic bag, so when you need some, just brake a piece); Aloe Vera is a great for cuts and burns and when its flesh is applied directly on the wound and then covered with a gauze, it regenerates the skin and you don't get scars!
Aloe Vera loves sunlight; humidity and cold weather are its worst enemies; I live in GA, so I keep it indoors close to a sunny window during winter and either keep it there all year long or take it out for Summer time. I bring it in when it rains a lot, because it will rot in no time.
When I accidentally bump into a leaf and it starts to get saggy or looks ugly, I simply cut it from the base with a sharp knife and proceed to peel it for future use.
Hello I live in Pa and I'm not to good with plants but I am trying..I thought you can cut the stem of Aloe's and replant them I did but I don't think they are doing so good.The main plant looks healthy just a little weird. I replanted the pups too but they don't seem to be doing good. Are you suppossed to just put them in the same pot as the mother plant? I'm clueless.
wakenbakengal,
When you removed the pups, you took the roots correct and not just cut the leaves? If so you should be able to simply place in dirt and grow. They don't need to be in the same pot as the mother plant.
Be sure to give them proper water and maybe some houseplant food for an extra boost.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
I have an inportant Question.
How do I store and keep leaves from drying up? I was giving lots of the leaves to treat area's where I receive radiation. I have cancer.
I'm allowed to use the leaves. To treat the area after, and i was giving lots, I don't want them to dry out before use.
My aloe pot just fell off a window sill - and when i tried to replant it, I noticed that it has very flimsy roots. I have the plant in the pot again, but I am wondering what I should do to hopefully keep it alive.
Hello,
I'm sorry to hear of your cancer. I don't know how to store the leaves so they don't dry up after clipped from the plant. I would suggest asking the person giving you the leaves if you could have the plant. That way you can cut the leaves as you need them.
Thank you for reading,
drayas
Andrew,
Aloe plants are pretty strong. If you repotted and are maintaining your normal water schedule, it should spring back. You could give it a little dose of houseplant food for an extra boost if you'd like.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Right now I am wrapping my used aloe in saran wrap to try to keep it fresh, but only take off one leaf at a time to use every four days..maybe wrapping them and storing them in the fridge can help them keep their moisture.
Is it best to cut leaves from the bottom because they are old and will die soon? Or rather, is it better to cut newer leaves near the top to promote more "bushieness" while leaving the bottom leaves alone to live a long time and strengthen the stalk of the plant to prevent sagging? Or do they like having long leafless stalks?
When I take a cutting I cut off the spikes and "peel" the flat side. I will wrap it in ceran wrap and put it in the fridge and it will stay moist for a while. I've also put some in water and it stayed full & moist for a long time!
I took my plant from its mother 32 years ago.
I am afraid I abused it by not looking after it, watered it very occasionally and for some years it lay outside not even a pot. It has moved house with me seven times.
It has suffered from frost, snow etc and at last I have brought it inside in a clay pot with sandy soil. It lives on a window sill now, overlooking the sea facing south-east and at last is growing well and looking very healthy. What a hardy plant.
I have cut a number of the lower leaves and now I have a rather long "stalk." The whole stalk is bending over causing a very one-sided plant that is about to fall out of the pot. I have it propped up. Is there any way to shorten the stalk and get the newer leaves closer to the pot again?
Thanks for your help. No green thumb here - just burned ones, hence the plant.
LLS
I live in an apartment in Chicago. We don't get much sun at all during the winter, and I have an aloe plant that I want to keep alive. I bought an Ott-lite that is supposed to be full-spectrum, but I am wondering if you have any advice on how long I should keep it on the plant and how far away I should keep the light. Thanks for your blog!
Amanda,
I don't have any experience with growing lights.
Can any of my readers help us out??
Thanks,
drayas
Hello there,
I just received two aloe vera plants as a gift and I think they're fantastic plants.
You are also right to caution people about the potential poisonous nature of the plant. The yellowish sap inside the plant is indeed a very potent laxative, even used as an ingredient in some commercial products. So be careful if you choose to ingest it.
However, if you drain the sap from the leaf, the internal gel is very vitamin dense, contains 19 of the 22 amino acids including the 8 essentials, and of course has excellent anti-bacterial/viral/fungal properties. But before you decide to eat the gel (not suggested, I prefer smoothies as it is very bitter and is better covered by bananas or other such flavors), do your homework and make sure you're using the right plant and know how to properly prepare it. Most people would probably be better off buying the aloe gel flakes and using that as a supplement.
However, for the more adventurous and those willing to put in the time to learn properly how to prepare their own gel, there is an excellent tutorial at http://www.naturalnews.com/PhotoTour_Aloe_Vera_1.html (I am in no way associated with the website other than as an occasional reader). I hope that helps. Like I said though, be absolutely sure you know what you're doing and putting into your body. You become what you eat, after all.
Very nice article! It helped us figure out where to put ours!
I have an indoor aloe vera plant that seems to be sick. It was big beautiful and healthy and then was left outside in extremely cold weather for a week before I realized it. Most of the stalks turned black. cut off the black part and left the green healthy part. It looked ok for a couple of days then the healthy parts began to turn black as well...now I have a sick little plants with 4 yucky stalks and there is no new growth in the middle...Have I killed another "easy to grow" house plant??
Hello, I have, correction had, a very beautiful aloe vera plant. I was about 2 feet tall and was very healthy. Recently, it was left outside for about a week during cold weather (32-45 degrees). Most all of the stalkes turned black and were very watery inside. I cut them back. Some of the healthier stalks still had black at the top so I cut that away as well leaving the healthy part. It has since struggled and there is no new growth in the center. Have I killed yet another almost unkillable plan??
KT
Hello,
Unfortunately it sounds like your Aloe got touched too much by the cold. Keep caring for it as normal, but it doesn't look good.
Thanks,
drayas
How much water would you apply to an Aloe Vera Plant... Would 1 cup every 2 weeks get the job done???
Thanx in advance for any advice
I got an Aloe Vera plant at an estate sale. It is enormous (spans almost 3 feet)and looks to be in need of serious transplant. I am afraid to try to split these two up and put them into seperate containers. How do I get them apart? Should I use a knife? Should I try to break them apart? What size planter should I use? If I try to keep them together, I would need a pot the size of a coffee table that holds upwards of 500 lbs of dirt. The stalks which are gnarly are very long, how much of the stalk should I bury, will it rot if I bury it under the dirt? I have pictures. Please help me, Id hate to see this old beautiful plant die.
Hey my aloe plant has been re potted a lot and some leaves turned brown about halfway up. is it better to remove the whole leaf or just cut off the bad part and leave the half leaf, which looks healthy, stay on the plant? thanks!
jack
my hands get really dry from work and when i use a piece of my aloe i put it in a zip lock baggy and keep it in my fridge. the gel stays fresh, and the cold feels great on dry skin. But i have a question, i noticed one of my lower leaves were going brown at the base where it meets the main plant and when i touched it, the Whole plant, every limb, fell apart. completly. i plan to repot and hopefully start over, but why did this happen?
Hi, i have an 2 feet tall aloe vera plant, but it looks quiet unstable. I just replanted it into a bigger and deeper pot, but my question is if i could cut the root a little bit shorter, because it is very unstable or should i replant into a deeper pot?
Thanks, ESz.
I have cut a number of the lower leaves and now I have a rather long "stalk." The whole stalk is bending over causing a very one-sided plant that is about to fall out of the pot. I have it propped up. Is there any way to shorten the stalk and get the newer leaves closer to the pot again?thank u john
i have a mini aloe vera plant and the soil was dry when i got it and in two days time the plant looked brown and dull when i watered it immediately the next day it looked healthier however im still worried about it the soil they put it in (from home depot) seems to dry out quickly it is just slightly moisturized just a day later what should i do i dont want to over water it i kind of want to change the soil to whats in my backyard how long should i wait before doing that?
Hello,
When I split my Aloe plant, I took a knife and cut the root base apart, similar to splitting a hosta if that makes any sense. That worked for me, but whether that's the right way or not, I'm not sure.
Keep us posted. I'd hate to see a plant that old die either, but Aloe's are usually pretty hardy.
Thanks,
drayas
Jack,
I'd cut the whole leaf off. If you cut it halfway, the sap is going to drain out and then the rest of the leaf will die.
Thanks,
drayas
It sounds like your Aloe plant may have gotten root or stem rot. Typically over watering the plant can cause this.
Try repotting. Aloe's are extremely hardy so it may come back.
Thanks,
drayas
EsZ,
Repot into a deeper pot. Cutting the root bottom off will probably kill the plant.
Thanks,
drayas
John,
I would try repotting it into a deeper pot, where you could then force the long stalk further down into the soil.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
Miss T,
If the plant seems healthy, go ahead and repot it in different soil. Mine in the picture is planted in just plain dirt from outside.
Thanks for reading. Sorry for the delay in answering. Mom of 2 kids here, so sometimes time runs out on me.
drayas
Thanks for all the info. I need to fix my tall aloe plant as I have used the bottom leaves so much that I'm getting a tall stalk.
The best thing about an aloe plant is all the great uses. In addition to using it for burns, cuts, scrapes you can use it for warts. After a visit to the dermatologist (where they got a bit carried away with the chemical crap they burn your warts off with) and my 5 yr old son ended up with a huge sore behind and on his ear trying to get rid of a small wart I purchased some expensive aloe cream which worked but when I ran out and he had another wart on his forehead and one on his neck I decided to use the aloe juice from my plant. The warts dissolved faster than the cream and faster and way cheaper than the dr. And best of all no pain. Just cut off a leaf (or part of one) and rub it on the wart every day. The wart will start to look like it's blistering up before it goes away.
My view...an ugly aloe plant has done it's job!
Another note. My aloe bloomed once (I've had it for about 8 yrs) and it was a beautiful, unique flower that lasted quite a while. The only bad thing about it was that it dripped some goo from the flower, weird, so if yours starts to bloom you might want to put a cloth under it to catch the goo.
I have bunch of plants at home. Whenever I picked off unhealthy aloe vera, I squeezed it to push the mecidine liquid out to put on insect bite on my other plants. Is this necessary? It works slowly.
very informative article...Aloe Verahas more medical usage than just skin-related i.e. scar and acne.
Hey, love the site! I recently bought a little aloe plant, only maybe five inches tall so far, but the tips of the leaves have been turning brown and drying up. I've tried watering it more, and watering it less, but it doesn't really seem to help. Any ideas? Thanks!
LCH,
Aloe plants need very little water. How often were you watering it? I would let mine go for almost a month in between watering.
Thanks,
drayas
Recently I had to use my aloe vera plant for a burn on my finger. I cut the tip of one of the leaves off to use on my finger and now it is a little bit on the brown side where I made the cut. In the future, should I cut down near the bottom of the leaf and should I cut this one off down near the bottom as well?
Thank you!
i just got an aloe plant and it is really helping me with my eczema and i just replanted it with the soil from my front yard and i love it. its leaves are heavy and it makes my living room look great...
thanks
I feel kind of bad, my poor Aloe Vera plant has taken a recent beating from my cat nuzzling it lately, and it seems as if the entire stalk is snapped on one place, as it keeps leaning to one side. Curious, is there any way to save it? Or will it re-sprout on its own?
I LOVE these plants but I need help! On my plant the leaves are flat and seem to not have much to them but they are still green..?
What can I do to help this plant Bulk up...usually the leaves are thick and round and full of goodness....(Some of my leaves are but most are flat) Can you help me?
My mother-in-law gave me an aloe vera plant and I have had it for about 2-3 months now. It is sitting right underneath an east facing window and I have only watered it about 3 times. Now its leaves are flimsy, not firm. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong and what I should be doing for it?
Thanks
Help!
I was given a small (about 4-5 inches) aloe. I had it inside but I noticed there were a lot of gnats around it so I moved it outside on Monday it is Thursday and now all of the leaves are brown. I don't know what to do. I watered it on Monday but it also rained that day too. I moved it to a more shaded area thinking that maybe it got too much sun. I live in TX but it the high this week has only been around 95. Please help.
Eh, if the plant ends up too big as shown in ur picture, how to u transplant it? where do you cut?
I HAVE AN ALOE PLANT THAT HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE FRUIT FLIES IN IT ...WHY?... RIGHT NOW I HAVE IT OUTSIDE ON THE DECK BECAUSE OF THE FRUIT FLY LOOKING THINGS--WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Hello,
I just bought an aloe plant yesterday. I've always wanted one since my great grandma had one, and I know they required less water, and as a college student, I figured I couldn't possibly kill this plant! However, I live in an apartment that stays moderately cool because it gets like no direct sunlight. There's one window on the East, But there are trees around, so it still doesn't beam in. It stays well lit with natural light bouncing off the structures around, but will that be enough, or will I have to give it to a new home?
Perhaps this question has already been answered but I have very bad luck with houseplants having already killed one aloe vera. my parents bought me another one for easter which i thought was doing okay but now one of the leaves is turning purple at the base and is loose. does this mean it's getting too much water, too little water or something else altogether? any help would be appreciated. i love having plants more than anything i just can't seem to keep them alive...
i noticed the long white stalk that is coming out of the mother with nice growth on your plant, mine is doing the same, do i need to repot that new bunch that is hanging out of my pot? is it getting h20 or is that white stalk dead and do i need to reroot it and replant it?
hola great site i just got my aloe plant today. It is so cool. the goo is so weird but awesome. LATER PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello !
I have an Aloe vera for a while in my living room (it is the same species as your picture, but not as green a yours), and as the weather is worm and super shiny, I decided to put it on my balcony right under the sun (it's the first time I do that) And to my surprise, the leaves turned grey the first days and now yellow.
The Aloe doesn't look to be suffering, or dry, it look rather healthy. the parts of the leaves that stayed in the shadow are still green.
Did I do something wrong ? will it turn green again ??
thanks for your blog
Mathieu
yo, whats up? my plant is growing wonderful. i did some research on it. My dog kept peeing on it and I did not know if it would die. It turns out, it helps them grow. try it.
My aloe vera plant is very limp. I dont know what to do for it I really love my plant and dont want it to die. Please help!!!!!!!!!
I have a question. My boss's aloe vera plant here at work has some sort of Yellow fungus that is growing on the soil. Not mushroom looking, just yellow powder looking. Any idea how to get rid of this?
Hi everyone, I'm new at this. googled care for aloe plant and found you guys! I'm psyched! Here is my delema, I have this aloe plant I've had for about 4 years It was just two little plants in the same pot I bought it at Walgreens. I have just kept repotting the entire plant into a slightly bigger pot and putting it in the basement on a table in the winter and watering it once a week or two. Then bring it outside on a covered porch in the spring. Well its taking over my house I can no longer even move it! It's 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. I need to start separating it but I'm afraid I'll kill it. It seems like its all connected with out alot of roots. It breaks easy. Any suggestions?
Hi, I just got an aloe plant and have it in a pot in my kitchen on a wooden table next to my stove. I have had it a little over a month and it seemed really healthy until about a week ago I noticed the leaves are curling at the ends and are becoming soft. I don't know much about aloe... what could it be?
Thanks
I have a very old aloe plant that is a baby of my great grandmother's plant, that my mother now has. I have had this plant about a year now and it keeps uprooting itself. I have staked the plant trying to make it stronger, I have moved it in to a different room to see if lighting was an issue but nothing seems to help. I don't want the plant to eventually die but I don't know what to do for it. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them. Thank you
Hey I bought an aloe, but I'm not sure how big it should be before I start to take of a leaf or two (for the purpose of using the sap)
Please reply
i recei hv recently bought n aloe vera plant and ive notice that i hve alot of flying bugs like knats, are the coming from or for the aloe?? is the onl explanation, i hav no fruit out and house is clean,,, du u think its because the catus i sweet??? anyone out there ever expirience this???? how do i ge rid of the knats???
I'm having a huge issue with fruit flies too, and I'm thinking it's aloe plant. But noone's commented on the fruit flies on this blog. :(
I CAN'T keep a house plant alive. I had a beautiful aloe plant on my deck all summer, did great since I did nothing to it...mother nature took care of it for me. Now that it's inside, the tips of the leaves are turning yellow and brown...any tips?
Hey, I love your info!
I have an aloe plant, have had it for many years, and we just recently moved from Alabama to Wisconsin. The move was in December, a few days before Christmas and the aloe plant was the only one of our many plants to surive the trip.
Now, although it survived, it has been looking sickly ever since we moved here. It's 'wilted' and some of the 'leaves' have been falling off. Do you have any ideas what we could do to save this plant?
I have a little aloe, and I try not to water too much. I usually let it get dry before I water again. My question is: Why are the leaves filling up with liquid and then drooping over until it is dead? My plant is just about done for...
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