Aloe Vera Care: Everything You Need for a Healthy Houseplant

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is one of the most well-loved and commonly grown houseplants out there. That's probably because it's attractive, useful, and low maintenance. Actually, it's beyond low-maintenance. This plant thrives on neglect.

You still need to learn how to take care of it, though, even if all you need is confirmation that yes, you really don't need to water that much.

Here's everything you need to know to grow this incredibly popular houseplant.

Quick Aloe Vera Facts

Planting Aloe Vera

If you're growing an aloe vera plant, you're probably growing it in a container. On average, container-grown aloe vera can grow up to 2 feet (0.6 m) in height and about as wide. In certain conditions it will produce a flower spike of up to 3 feet (0.9 m) in height. Aloe blooms are showy and clustered on the stem in hues of bright yellow.

Soil

Aloe plants thrive in poor, rocky, extremely well draining soil. In fact, soil that retains moisture very much at all is likely to kill them. They'll perform best in specialized cactus or succulent potting mix, like this one from Amazon.

Light

Aloe vera needs full sun – that means at least 6 hours per day of direct light. If you're keeping yours as a houseplant, place it in a south-facing window. Even better, keep it under a grow light in the winter, then move it outdoors to soak up the sun in the summer. (This is what I do).

While aloe plants in partial shade won't necessarily die, they won't flourish, either. They'll get leggy and limp, their color will start to fade, and they definitely won't be making any flowers. Shade can also encourage moisture, which can lead to root rot and, in the end, plant death.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Chances are good that you're growing an aloe plant in a container. Here's the step by step guide:

1. Select the Right Container: When planting aloes, good drainage is essential. Choose a pot made of a porous material that will dry out quickly, like terra cotta. Make sure it has at least one large drainage hole at the bottom.
2. Prepare the Soil: Fill the pot about two-thirds full with a specialized cactus or succulent potting mix. It's possible to use standard potting soil, but you'll need to mix in an equal amount of sand or perlite to increase the drainage.
3. Position the Plant: Place the aloe vera in the center of the pot. Ensure that the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) sits slightly above the soil line, to keep the base from rotting.
4. Secure the Base: Fill in the remaining space with soil around the roots, pressing down firmly but gently to remove large air pockets and stabilize the plant.
5. Allow for Callousing: Do not water the plant immediately! Wait 5 to 7 days before the first watering – this gives any roots that may have broken during planting time to heal and "callous," protecting the plant from soil-borne diseases and rot.
6. Find a Sunny Spot: Place your newly planted aloe in a spot that gets bright, indirect light or filtered sunlight while it acclimates to its new environment. Eventually, you can move it to full sun.

Transplanting

Aloe vera plants should be transplanted every couple of years. This may be triggered by the plant become too top-heavy – since aloe leaves are so thick and dense, it's easy for them to grow too hefty to stand up straight.

When transplanting, choose a pot that's only slightly larger than the current one, as too much extra soil can hold excess moisture and lead to root issues. Gently remove the plant from its old home, shake off the spent soil, and inspect the roots for any signs of mushiness. If you find any, cut them off well above where the healthy part of the root starts.

This is also the ideal time to separate any pup or offsets from the parent plant. This will give the main plant more room to expand, and will give you new baby aloes to propagate.

Aloe Vera Care

Water

When it comes to aloe vera watering, less is definitely more. In the summer, during the plant's growth period, you should water ever couple of weeks. In the winter, during dormancy, you only need to water every 1-2 months.

No matter when, make sure you let the soil get bone dry before watering. Then and only then, you should drench it thoroughly until water runs freely out of the drainage hole.

Fertilizer

Aloes generally don’t need to be fertilized. If you really want to feed your aloe, do it once a year in the spring. You can use a regular water-based houseplant or succulent fertilizer, diluted to half strength.

Pruning

There are three main reasons to prune an aloe plant – to remove dead or diseased leaves, to keep it a manageable size or shape, and to harvest it for its medicinal, edible gel. Always remove leaves with a clean, sharp knife. If the leaf is damaged, diseased, or dying, cut it off as close to the base as possible, without nicking any other leaves. Regular pruning of dead material not only keeps the plant looking good, but also prevents pests from hiding in decaying foliage.

If you're harvesting aloe for its medicinal gel, always choose the outermost, mature leaves first. Just make sure they're healthy!

Aloe Vera Care Calendar

Outdoor Care

It's possible to grow aloe vera outdoors year-round in USDA zones 8-11, though they really can't tolerate temperatures below freezing. Aloe arborescens and Aloe ferox are particularly cold hardy varieties to try. Make sure you plant them in an extremely well-draining spot that receives 6-8 hours of sun per day.

Aloe Varieties

While Aloe barbadensis Miller is the commonly accepted name of aloe vera, the plant is a member of the greater Aloe genus, which houses over 180 species! Here are a few popular aloe cousins:

• Aloe arborescens – Also called Candelabra Aloe, this plant can reach 10 feet (3 m) in height and has shocking red flowers.
• Aloe maculata – Also called Soap Aloe, this low-growing variety has been used as a soap substitute, hence its name.
• Aloe striata – Also called Coral Aloe, this is another lower-growing variety with thick, flat leaves.

Aloe Propagation

Aloe vera propagation is very easy, as the plant will naturally produce pups, or small offshoots from the stem, that can be divided from the main aloe and grown as new plants.

To remove a pup, simply cut it cleanly from the main plant with a sharp knife. Leave the pup in a spot with good air circulation for about a week to allow the wound to heal (this will help prevent disease and rot), then plant it in a new pot. It should begin to grow new roots in about a month.

Propagating aloe from seed is doable, though it will take a lot longer. Collect seeds from spent aloe flowers, then sow them on a moist growing medium covered with a thin layer of sand. Keep them in bright light and at 75 F (24 C). Once at least four leaves have emerged, pot them up as usual.

Winter Care

Aloe vera cannot handle temperatures below freezing. If you live in a climate with cold winters, make sure your potted aloe is indoors when nighttime temperatures start to dip below 50 F (10 C).

Winter is also the aloe's time for natural dormancy. Cut way back on watering, reducing to once every 1-2 months, and completely refrain from fertilizing. In other words, leave it alone!

Aloe Vera Problems

Far and away the most common reason for an aloe vera dying is root rot, which is usually caused by overzealous plant parenting. Aloes are desert natives, and overwatering will quickly lead to soft, mushy, brown leaves. Look under the soil and you'll see the roots are in much the same sate.

If the leaves are stretching out and looking leggy, your aloe is probably not getting enough sunlight.

Mealybugs and scale are pests that can sometimes crop up. Look for small cottony tufts or bumps and sticky leaves. These can usually be treated with a dab of rubbing alcohol or neem oil.

If your aloe vera's leaves are turning brown or red, it may be a sign of sunburn or stress from a sudden move to much higher light levels.

Uses

Everyone's heard of aloe vera's many uses. It's been used for centuries to treat cuts and burns, and its popularity isn't waning any time soon. Even the greatest holistic medicine skeptic will still put aloe gel on a sunburn.

It's prized for its antibacterial properties, and thought to be useful in wound healing. Studies have also shown promising data on topical aloe vera gel's ability to treat acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

Aloe vera is edible, as long as you have the right variety. True aloe, also called Aloe barbadensis Miller and Aloe vera barbadensis Miller is the edible one. Aloe vera var. chinensis, is not true aloe and is toxic, so take care when choosing the right plant.

Always consult with your doctor before taking supplements or adding any medicinal plants to your health routine.

Aloe Vera Care Essentials

• Aloes won't fare well in regular potting soil. Get a special soil formulated for cacti and succulents, like this one from Amazon.
• Don't cut your aloe with shears – you'll get a much cleaner cut with a knife, like the Fiskars hori hori knife from Home Depot.
• Aloe veras don't need much fertilizer, but if you want to give yours a boost in the spring, you can't go wrong with this succulent fertilizer, available on Amazon.

Aloe Vera Quiz