How to Care For an Aloe vera Plant

How to Care For an Aloe vera Plant

By Wikaniko
You can now buy Aloe plants from almost anywhere. (If you want one, try ebay).
Although you may feel that you shouldn’t tear off the leaves of a living plant,
they heal themselves as well as they heal us and eventually each plant will
throw out more and more offshoots to replenish itself. They are best kept on a
sunny window sill, where they can be watered and cared for throughout the
year. They do not like extremes, especially the cold, so somewhere with a
fairly sunny outlook and constant temperature is best. The only real threat to
their survival is frost, They are succulents, so treat them in the same way you
would treat a cactus. There are over 250 species of Aloes in the world, mostly
native to Africa. They range in size from little one inch miniatures to massive
plant colonies consisting of hundreds of 2 foot diameter
plants. Although most Aloes have some medicinal or
commercial value, the most commonly known is the Aloe
barbadensis... better known as Aloe vera.

Aloes make excellent house plants when they are given
sufficient light. Potted Aloes benefit from spending the
summer outdoors. Older specimens may even bloom, producing a tall stock covered
with bright coloured coral flowers.
Aloe flower nectar is a favourite of hummingbirds (although you may not see
too many of them in your back garden….). The plants have a lifespan of about
12 years, so if looked after they will become outstanding value for money - not
to mention that during that time you will be able to take numerous ‘pups’ that
the plants give off, to make new plants to give to your friends – or even sell at
local craft markets etc. and make a little extra money!
Aloe plants consist of 95% water. If they are grown outdoors in warm
climates, they should be planted in full sun, or light shade. The soil should be
moderately fertile, and fast draining. Established plants will survive a drought
quite well, but for the benefit of the plant, water should be provided.
Unless you live in area with a very mild climate, it's best to leave your Aloe
plant in the pot and place it near a window that gets a lot of sun. You can
move the pot outdoors during the summer months.
Since Aloe vera is a succulent, it stores a large quantity of water within its

leaves and root system. During the winter months, the plant will become
somewhat dormant, and utilize very little moisture. During this period watering should
be minimal. Allow the soil to become completely dry before giving the plant a cup or
two of water. During the summer months, the soil should be completely soaked, but
then be allowed to dry again before re-watering. Do not let the roots sit in water!
Aloes have a shallow, spreading root system, so when it is time to repot,
choose a wide planter, rather than a deep one. Use a planter with a drainage
hole, or provide a 1-2 inch layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot to ensure
adequate drainage. Use a good commercial potting mix with extra perlite,
granite grit, or coarse sand added. You may also use a packaged 'cacti mix'
soil. Fertilize yearly, in the spring with a diluted (half the strength that it says
on the bottle or packet), bloom type fertilizer. Aloes are propagated by
removing the offsets which are produced around the base of mature plants,
when they are a couple inches tall (or larger). They may also be grown from
seed.