It's surprisingly simple to take care of an aloe plant. Known for its medicinal qualities, aloe vera thrives on bright light, occasional watering, and warm temperatures. Popular as a houseplant, aloe vera is good for what ails you. For example, many people use aloe vera gel made from aloe leaves to treat sunburn, mild burns, and skin irritations.
The aloe vera plant is a succulent that stores water in its leaves. Since aloe thrives on lots of light, little water, and almost no fertilizer, it makes an ideal plant for beginners. Your indoor aloe sprout can live up to 12 years with proper care.
Aloe Vera
Light
Aloe Vera needs bright, natural light in order to thrive. Outdoors, aim for up to six hours of full sun, with a small shade reprieve in the afternoon. When grown inside, aloe should be placed in a window with bright, indirect sunlight. Direct sun can burn its tender skin, yet lack of light will cause the plant to grow leggy and weaken its leaves, causing them to crease.
Watering
Aloe plants are succulents, so they don’t need a lot of water. They’ll start to rot if you overwater them. So, how often should you water your aloe plant? Once per week should be plenty unless the plant is in a very hot, dry environment. Then you may need to water it twice a week. Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again. Aloe veras like to drink deeply, so when you water your plant, give it plenty of liquid.
If the soil remains dry for long periods of time, the leaves will shrivel and pucker slightly. The plant will recover when watered, however, extended periods of stress—either prolonged drought or too much water—will make the leaves turn yellow and die.
Temp & Humidity
Aloe plants like it warm, so their ideal temperature is between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets too cold, the leaves will turn yellow or pucker. These plants also don’t like drafts, so ensure they’re not in a spot where a door or window is constantly opening and closing.
Aloe can handle dry air just fine and does not require extra humidity. Forty percent relative humidity is perfect.
Feeding
Aloe vera grows best in poor soil conditions (this plant has adapted to nutritionally poor desert soil) and does not require any fertilization at all. That said, feeding potted aloe once a year each spring may help maintain vibrant growth. A liquid 10-40-10 houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half strength, works best for an annual feeding. Outdoors, aloe usually thrives without any fertilization.
Toxicity
Consuming the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant is toxic for people. The leaves are also toxic to dogs and cats.
Sad Plant Signs
Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes gardeners make with their aloe plants. Consistently wet soil contributes to root rot and mushy leaves. Rot at the roots can escalate the proliferation of bacteria or fungus, causing decay throughout the plants interior. In its most severe stages, root rot and decay cannot be treated.
Aloe leaves have also been known to bend and break. This condition provides a signal that your plant is not getting enough light to form stiff, healthy leaves. To remedy this situation, move your plant to a brighter spot, or use a fluorescent light to supplement sunshine.