Definitive Guide on How to Grow and Care for Aloe Vera Plants

How To Grow Aloe Vera Plants

Many people have wanted to learn how to grow aloe vera plants because this plant is known for its numerous medicinal properties. Thankfully, growing aloe vera plants is easy. It’s one of those plants that even first-time gardeners can manage to grow successfully. This succulent plant does not require a lot of maintenance too. However, it’s important to remember that the overall success of your aloe vera plant will depend on how well you care for it.

How to Grow Aloe Vera Plants?

Many people would ask, “how to plant aloe vera from leaf?” While it’s possible to grow aloe vera from a leaf cutting, you’ll get better results if you’ll start with aloe pups. Here’s how to grow aloe vera plants from pups.

1. Get a Well Draining Soil

How to Grow Aloe Vera

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Aloe vera can adapt well to dry conditions. Thus, it tends to rot easily if grown in a soil that accumulates water. So the first thing to do is to prepare a well-draining soil in a pot. Use a potting mix or prepare your own mix that consists of equal parts of gravel, sand, and soil.

2. Plant the Aloe Pup

Aloe Vera Plant

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Next, get the aloe pup and start planting it into the soil. Make sure you cover the root ball entirely with soil. Leave a space of at least ¾ inch in between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil. Be careful not to put soil on the leaves. The leaves should rest just above the soil. Otherwise, the leaves that get covered with soil will rot.

3. Cover the Soil with Small Rocks

After planting the aloe pup, place layers of small rocks in the surrounding surface on the pot. This helps keep the plant to stay in place and minimize evaporation. But this is not really necessary for the plant to thrive. So if you don’t feel like placing rocks on the plant, then just leave it exposed.

4. Place the Aloe Plant in a Suitable Area

Can you grow Aloe Vera Plant Indoors

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After planting the aloe pup, look for a suitable place in your house to place the pot. It’s recommended to place it south-facing or west-facing the outdoor. But you probably find yourself asking, do aloe plants need direct sunlight? Exposing your aloe plant for 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight should be enough. However, most aloe vera plants should be able to tolerate a few shades or filtered sunlight during midday.

Don’t water the plant during the first few days of planting. This is to allow the plant to repair any damaged roots. Watering these damaged roots will only increase the likelihood of rotting.

How to Take Care of Aloe Vera Plants?

It’s not enough that you know how to grow aloe vera. You also need to know how to care for it. Aloe vera plant care is actually the most important factor that contributes to the overall success of the plant’s growth. So how do you care for an aloe plant? Read on to find out.

1. Water When the Soil Is Dry

How do you care for an Aloe plant

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During summer or when the weather is warm and sunny, make sure you water the plant regularly. The plant will be able to grow faster with regular watering. But avoid overwatering. To prevent rot, let the soil dry for 1 – 2 inches deep before you water again. Never let the plant sit in water.

2. Fertilize Once A Year

One of the best things about growing aloe vera is that the plant will not require plenty of fertilizer. In fact, you should only fertilize it once a year. But in case you’re wondering how fast does aloe vera grow, this will actually depend on the type of fertilizer that you use. Use a fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen, high in phosphorous, and low in potassium to encourage rapid growth. Apply the fertilizer in the following ratio – 10:40:10. Schedule fertilizer application during late spring, which is the start of the growing season.

3. Carefully Pull the Weeds

How do you care for an Aloe plant

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It’s important to keep the soil surrounding the plant free from weeds and grass. In fact, weeding is an important part of aloe vera plant care. Make sure you pull the weeds regularly. But be careful when removing these weeds. Since the soil tends to be loose and sandy, you could easily damage the plant’s roots.

How to Use Aloe Vera Plants and it’s Benefits?

Considered by many as a miracle plant, the aloe vera plant has numerous medicinal properties. This succulent plant belongs to the same family of onions and garlic. It is used in both external and internal applications. But it’s not only good for medicinal purposes. This plant can be used in other applications, too. It can help to improve indoor air and can be used in natural beauty treatments.

Given the numerous aloe vera plant uses, growing this succulent plant in your home is certainly a great idea. Here are some of the most common aloe vera plant benefits:

1. Improves Air Quality

Aside from its medicinal properties, the aloe vera plant can also benefit your home by improving its indoor air quality. When you grow this plant indoors, it will help remove the presence of benzene. This is a toxic chemical compound that’s commonly found on paint and cleaners.

2. Helps In Detoxification

Aloe Vera Plant Uses

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Most of the aloe vera plant benefits have something to do with its ability to improve our health and wellbeing. One of these is by helping in detoxification. Detoxification is an important step in maintaining optimal health. Simply add the aloe vera juice to a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning. This will detoxify your body by removing all those harmful toxins away.

3. Treats Skin Disorders

Aloe vera is known to treat a wide range of skin conditions, from acne, burns, frostbite, rashes, to psoriasis. That’s because the plant contains polysaccharides, a compound that helps to stimulate the growth and healing of the skin. Simply apply the aloe vera gel directly to the affected area of your skin.

4. Keeps Hair Healthy and Prevents Dandruff

Aloe Vera Plant Uses

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The aloe vera gel contains vitamins, minerals, and other components that can keep your hair healthy. But it’s best known for its ability to treat dandruff. The aloe vera can help fight dandruff in so many ways. First, it offers a moisturizing effect on dry scalp. Second, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the irritation that comes with the itch and flakes.

5. Reduces Dental Plaque

Tooth decay and gum disease are among the most common dental health problems. The aloe vera can help to prevent these problems from happening. It contains properties that can minimize the buildup of plaque on the teeth. These plaques are the main reasons behind tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems. Simply gargle the aloe vera juice or use it as a mouthwash.

Aloe Vera Plant FAQ’s

Q1: Can you grow Aloe Vera Plant Indoors?

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A1: When it comes to growing aloe vera at home, one of the most common questions people have is, “can you grow aloe vera plant indoors?” The answer is yes. It’s possible to grow the aloe vera indoors. In fact, it’s one of the most popular indoor plants since it does not require lots of maintenance. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t have a green thumb, you should be able to manage to grow this plant inside your home.

Q2: Do Aloe plants need Direct Sunlight?

A2: The aloe vera can do well when placed under direct sunlight. However, too much light could potentially damage its leaves. 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight should be enough. When grown indoors, place it on an area that faces the outdoor area. In case you notice some sunburned leaves, move the plant to a spot that has more shade.

Q3: How to grow Aloe Vera in Water?

A3: Just like with any succulents, the aloe vera cannot survive if soaked in water for long. The plant cannot tolerate watery conditions. Therefore, it’s not possible to grow the aloe vera plant in water alone. If you are growing it from a rootstock, you should plant it in sandy soil.

Q4: How to grow Aloe Vera from Leaf?

Aloe Vera Plant Care

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A4: Although it’s possible to grow aloe vera from a leaf, there’s a slim chance that it can grow into a healthy plant. Therefore, it is always recommended to grow the plant using offshoots. But if you really want to know how to plant aloe vera from leaf, simply cut a piece of aloe vera leaf from a healthy plant. Then stick the leaf into a pot with soil. Immerse about one-third of the leaf into the soil. If you’re lucky, the leaves will start growing after a few weeks.

Final Thoughts

As you see, the steps on how to grow aloe vera plants are easy to follow. Even if you are a first-time gardener, you won’t have any trouble planting the aloe vera plant. Just make sure to use the right type of soil. Above all, place it in an area that’s warm and sunny. Water your plant regularly but avoid overwatering since it’s prone to rotting. Remember that the key to the successful growth of your aloe vera plant is proper care. So learn some aloe vera plant care tips and keep a close eye on your plant. Make sure you immediately address any problem that may arise.

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