Aloe vera
Aloe barbadensis
Southeast Arabian Peninsula | Tropical (semi-arid region)
A lovely rosette of spear-like leaves fan out from a central stem. This particularly easy going succulent sports extra plump leaves that contain a first-aid bonus inside. The watery gel in each spear can provide quick relief for burns or bites.
easy going, direct, drought tolerant, mid-size, clusters, shelf, tabletop, cactus or succulent, tropical, arid or semi-arid, plump, bright indirect
Allow the top half of soil to dry completely between thorough waterings. Reduce frequency as needed in winter or in lower light conditions.
Primarily plenty of bright, indirect light with a few hours of direct light is ideal for a happy, thriving Aloe.
While not at all bothered about high humidity, your Aloe will appreciate the occasional misting, which helps remove dust from their leaves.
Adaptable to average indoor temperatures, but generally prefers the warmer side and may complain when exposed to cold drafts or dry heat from vents.
While Aloe gel is safe to be used topically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation and possible vomiting. In some cases, may even cause swelling of the upper airway. Keep away from children and pets.
Indoors, this plant can grow up to around 1-2 ft tall with a similar spread (when mature and with enough light)!
The spear-like leaves fan out from a central stem (usually very short or not visible) in a rosette pattern. Works best as a tabletop plant or on a shelf to showcase this helpful plant.
Living up to its succulent nature, each spear-like leaf is quite fleshy and plump. Generally found in a paler shade of green or blue-green, often with a smattering of white freckles in varying densities. The edges, or margins, are dotted with small "teeth" creating a jagged or serrated appearance.
The pooling or accumulation of water in the crevasses between leaves can quickly lead to rot. Do your best to water at the soil level rather than directly over the plant.
Aloe vera is an ingredient well known for its soothing properties. If you're in a pinch, you can simply cut a leaf of your Aloe plant and squeeze out the watery gel. The gel can be applied directly to your burn or bug bite for quick relief.
Water
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Allow half of soil to dry out before watering again.
Allow the top half of soil to dry completely between thorough waterings. Reduce frequency as needed in winter or in lower light conditions.
Light
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Bright, indirect to direct light.
Primarily plenty of bright, indirect light with a few hours of direct light is ideal for a happy, thriving Aloe.
Humidity
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Not too concerned by humidity levels.
While not at all bothered about high humidity, your Aloe will appreciate the occasional misting, which helps remove dust from their leaves.
Temperature
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Can adapt, but doesn't like sudden change.
Adaptable to average indoor temperatures, but generally prefers the warmer side and may complain when exposed to cold drafts or dry heat from vents.
Toxicity
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Highly toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
While Aloe gel is safe to be used topically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation and possible vomiting. In some cases, may even cause swelling of the upper airway. Keep away from children and pets.
Size
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An in-betweener. Not too big, not too small.
Indoors, this plant can grow up to around 1-2 ft tall with a similar spread (when mature and with enough light)!
Format
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Densely packed upright leaves.
The spear-like leaves fan out from a central stem (usually very short or not visible) in a rosette pattern. Works best as a tabletop plant or on a shelf to showcase this helpful plant.
Leaf Shape
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Plump green or blue-green spears with serrated edges.
Living up to its succulent nature, each spear-like leaf is quite fleshy and plump. Generally found in a paler shade of green or blue-green, often with a smattering of white freckles in varying densities. The edges, or margins, are dotted with small "teeth" creating a jagged or serrated appearance.
Pro Tip
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Avoid getting water in-between the leaves.
The pooling or accumulation of water in the crevasses between leaves can quickly lead to rot. Do your best to water at the soil level rather than directly over the plant.
Fun Fact
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A natural first-aid kit.
Aloe vera is an ingredient well known for its soothing properties. If you're in a pinch, you can simply cut a leaf of your Aloe plant and squeeze out the watery gel. The gel can be applied directly to your burn or bug bite for quick relief.
Thrives in an airy, light, fast-draining potting mix—you can use a good quality potting mix labeled for succulents/cactus or supplement a standard indoor mix with an equal quantity of pumice or horticultural grit. Ensure the pot has the appropriate drainage and don't forget to pour out any excess water collected in the drainage tray or cachepot.
Try to repot every 3-4 years in the spring, especially when tending to a younger plant. Increase the pot size by about 2 inches each time or until you're satisfied with the size. It's still important to repot at this stage, but it'll be an exercise of refreshing the soil, keeping the pot size the same, and possibly doing some root trimming to restrict the plant's growth. More on repotting here.
If you're not already planning to repot, you can fertilize during the spring and summer months. Once to every two months should be plenty. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter when plant growth naturally slows down. You can try a balanced liquid or water-soluble fertilizer—always diluted more than the recommended strength. A cactus and succulent specific feed would also work well. More on using fertilizer here.
While no specific pruning is required for this plant, it's always good practice to regularly remove yellowed or dying leaves and any fallen plant debris. Ensure your scissors or pruners are sanitized to avoid spreading disease or pests. More on grooming techniques here.
Aloe practically propagate themselves! You’ll see little mini Aloe offsets, or pups, popping up from the soil near the base of the parent plant. You’ll want to wait until the pup is at least a few inches in length. Dig under and around a little bit and cut the pup out from the soil, making sure to get some roots. You can then place the pup in water to develop stronger roots or pot up right away if the root system is complex enough. More on propagation techniques here.
Leaves are wrinkled or shriveled, but not soft or yellowing.
Wrinkling or shriveling of leaves is often a sign of dehydration from either too much light or not enough water. If accompanied by softness or yellowing, this is more likely a sign of not enough light or too much water.
The key is a well tuned balance between the amount of light and your frequency of watering. Instead of going by a set schedule, check-in with your plant to see if they need the water or not. You'll want to allow around half the soil to dry out completely before watering again. While this may be on a consistent schedule for some months, as the seasons change, so will the amount of light and therefore your watering schedule must shift.
One or multiple leaves feel a bit soft and may be starting to yellow or brown at the base.
This is a sure sign of persistent overwatering. The root rot has spread and led to stem rot as well.
You will have to cut back any leaves with signs of rot. To avoid further spread, you should also take a peak at the roots by removing the plant entirely from their container. If there are any black and mushy roots, trim them back completely before repotting with fresh soil in a new or sterilized container.
Slow or no new growth. Possibly accompanied by pale new growth.
This is most likely due to insufficient light. Aloe Plants are accustomed to receiving plenty of sunlight. Unlike most houseplants, they can generally withstand multiple hours of direct sun every day, something they'll be craving especially during the winter months.
Improve the lighting conditions for your Aloe Plant to thrive. These plants prefer plenty of bright, indirect light along with a bit of direct light. Make sure to adjust your watering to accommodate the increased light.
