Aloe vera is a very popular plant that is best known for the healing qualities of the gel. They are common succulent plants, and aloe vera is just one of hundreds of different types of aloe plants.
Not only is it a gorgeous plant, aloe vera is easy to grow indoors as a potted plant, and makes a wonder houseplant. Given the proper aloe vera plant care, these amazing plants can live for many, many years.
Information About Aloe Vera Plant
Whether you want to grow aloe vera to harvest it’s medicinal gel, or you simply love the look of the plant, it’s definitely one that you will be able to enjoy for many years to come!
My aloe vera is one of the oldest plants in my collection (it’s almost 20 years old now, maybe I should throw a party!). I bought it as a tiny plant that was barely large enough for the four inch pot it came in.
Over the years it has grown to be huge, and has been propagated many, many times.
How fast does aloe vera grow? They can grow pretty fast outdoors, but are much slower growers when kept indoors as houseplants.
If you want your aloe vera to grow faster, then put it outside during the summer (just make sure the pot has drainage holes!).
Aloe Vera Plant Benefits
Most people are already very familiar with the medicinal and healing benefits of aloe vera plants. These days you’ll find aloe vera gel in everything from skin and haircare products, to drinks, supplements, and food products.
Heck, I’ve even heard it referred to as a superfood (the buzzword of the century, right!).
You can harvest aloe vera gel from your own plant to use it on minor burns and cuts, and even to make your own soaps, lotions, and other skin care products if you want.
Another great benefit of growing aloe vera as a houseplant is that it helps to purify the air in our homes.
Now we know why aloe vera is such a popular plant these days, and everyone wants to grow their own (me included)!
Aloe vera succulent plant growing indoors
Tips For Aloe Vera Plant Care
The good news is that aloe vera plants are super easy to grow houseplants, and they do very well in pots.
There’s really not much to it, and guess what – your aloe vera might just do better if you ignore it, they thrive on neglect.
But, there are a few thing you need to do to keep your aloe vera growing it’s best. The two most important parts of aloe vera plant care are proper watering and lighting.
Watering Aloe Vera Succulent Plants
The most common mistake people make when it comes to aloe vera plant care is overwatering. Consistent overwatering is the number one killer of aloe vera plants!
In nature, aloes grow in desert climates where they hardly get any rain. Aloe vera succulent plants hold water in their leaves, so they can go a very long time without water.
Overwatering will eventually cause the stem of the plant to rot, eventually killing the whole plant from the bottom up. Oh boy, we definitely don’t want that to happen!
Aloe vera plant outside for the summer
Aloe vera plants like to be watered more during the summer than the winter months, but will not tolerate being consistently overwatered at any time during the year. It’s best to allow the soil to dry out completely between watering.
Stick your finger one inch into the soil to make sure it’s dry before you water the plant. When it’s time to water, give your aloe vera plant a good drink, allowing all of the excess water to run out the bottom of the pot.
Never leave an aloe plant sitting in water though.
If you struggle with overwatering plants, I highly recommend using a soil moisture gauge to help you figure out when to water your aloe vera.
Aloe vera plants go into a state of dormancy during the winter, and mature aloes won’t need much water at all during that time.
I only give my large aloe vera plants a small amount of water 2 or 3 times during the entire winter.
Indoor Light Requirements
The second most important thing about aloe vera plant care is proper lighting. Aloe vera plants will grow their best indoors when given lots of light. If they don’t get enough light, they will grow tall and leggy over time.
A south facing window would be the ideal spot, but they also grow well under artificial lights. If you don’t have enough sunlight in your home, then you should definitely get a grow light for your aloe vera.
If you’d like, you can move your aloe vera plant to a sunny spot outside during the summer months, but be very careful when you first move it outside.
An aloe plant that has been growing inside all winter will be sensitive to direct sunlight. So make sure to slowly acclimate your plant to the sun or the leaves could burn (it’s kinda ironic that aloe vera plants can get sunburned, don’t you think?).
My huge aloe vera plant happily growing indoors
Best Potting Soil For Aloe Vera Plants
The best soil for aloe vera is one that drains very quickly, and doesn’t hold water. A commercial succulent soil potting mix for aloe vera and other succulents would work great.
Or you could use a gritty succulent soil mix which will make it even easier to ensure you don’t overwater your aloe vera.
I like to make my own succulent soil, using a mix of perlite or pumice, sand, and regular potting soil, which tends to be cheaper than buying the commercial stuff.
Related Post: DIY Succulent Potting Soil
If you plan to repot your aloe vera, make sure you use a container that has drainage holes in the bottom. Pots made out of terracotta or clay are the best pots for aloe vera, and will help to keep you from overwatering your plant.
The clay wicks water out of the soil helping it dry out much faster, which is ideal for growing aloe vera (and it looks pretty too!).
Small aloe vera plant in a pot
Fertilizer For Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plants don’t really need to be fertilized. But like most plants, they will benefit from being fed once and a while during their active growing season (spring through summer).
I recommend using organic plant fertilizer on your aloe vera, rather than the chemical stuff – especially if you plan to harvest and use the gel. A general purpose organic succulent plant fertilizer will work great for aloe vera plants.
Compost fertilizer is also a great choice. You can use a pre-made compost tea, or you can buy compost tea bags and brew your own.
Fish emulsion and liquid kelp are also fantastic natural liquid fertilizers for feeding aloes (but I recommend only using those outdoors, they can be a bit stinky).
Aloe plants go into a state of dormancy in the winter, and will hardly grow at all. So, don’t fertilize your aloe vera plant during the fall and winter months.
Fertilizing your aloe vera plant a few times during the growing season can also help to encourage flowers.
Even though they can bloom, it’s very rare to see aloe vera flowers on plants that are growing indoors. I’ve had my aloe vera plant for almost 20 years, and it has never flowered (I wish it would, that would be amazing!).
Aloe vera pups potted up
Propagating Aloe Vera Plants
It’s easiest to propagate aloe vera plants by division, but they can be propagated from stem cuttings as well (which can be much more difficult).
To propagate by division, all you need to do is remove the aloe vera pups from the mother plant.
Aloe vera will grow babies (aloe vera pups) around the base of the plant, and these babies can be removed from the mother plant and potted up on their own to create a new plant. It’s as easy as that!
Related Post: How To Propagate Aloe Vera Plants By Division
Propagate by transplanting aloe pups
If your aloe vera plant has grown huge and has a long stem at the bottom (and you’re feeling brave), you could try propagating the whole thing from one large stem cutting (this is how I ended up with two humongous aloe vera plants!).
It’s much easier to do if your plant has already started growing roots on the stem.
After you make the cut, allow the wound to cure (dry out) for several days so it calluses over (the larger the cutting, the longer you should let it cure).
Then dip the cutting into rooting hormone and stick it in a dry sand/perlite soil mix, or use a gritty succulent potting soil. Keep the air around the cutting humid and do not water the soil until you see new growth.
You can also leave the stem piece growing in the pot after you cut off the main plant. That will start to get new leaves again, and grow into a whole new plant.
Propagate aloe vera plant from cuttings
Aloe Plant Insect Pest Control
Healthy aloe vera plants rarely have issues with insect pests, but sometimes mealybugs or houseplant scale can attack a plant.
If you notice some yucky bugs have invaded your aloe vera, make sure you treat them using organic pest control methods.
Toxic chemical pesticides don’t always work on houseplant pests, not to mention the fact that they’re really bad for our health too!
For small pest infestations, simply dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and using that to remove the bugs is usually all you need to do to get rid of them.
Organic neem oil, insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil spray work very well to control larger outbreaks of houseplant pests.
But aloes can be sensitive to certain sprays. So, be sure to test anything you use on a small part of a leaf before spraying the whole plant.
Super healthy aloe vera succulent plant
Aloe Vera Plant Care Problems
The main problems that most people have with aloe vera plant care are due to overwatering or insufficient lighting, so make sure you’re familiar with all the tips above to avoid any issues.
Here are some common aloe vera plant care problems, and what to do about them.
- Mushy stem – If the stem of your aloe plant is completely mushy it means that the plant has been overwatered, and now it’s rotting at the base. If the rot has just started, and most of the stem is still firm and healthy, then you might still be able to save your plant! But you have to act fast. Cut the stem just above the rotted section, and try propagating it (see the propagation section above). Make sure you cut off all of the rot before propagating or it will just continue to spread on the cutting.
- Brown leaves – The first thing to do is check the stem of the plant to make sure it’s firm and healthy. If the stem looks good, then check the brown leaves to see if they are mushy, or if they are dried and shriveled. If your aloe has brown mushy (rotting) leaves, but the stem is still firm, simply trim off the mushy leaves at the point where they’re attached to the stem and slow down on watering. On the other hand, if the leaves on your aloe are drying out and shriveling up, that’s a sign it’s getting too dry (yes, it is possible to under-water an aloe vera plant!) and could use more water. Dry leaves can also be trimmed from the plant.
- The plant is very tall and thin – This means your plant hasn’t been getting enough light. Move it to a sunny window, or add a grow light to give it more light (see the indoor light requirements section above for more details).
Bottom leaves of aloe plant drying up
Aloe vera plants are easy to grow indoor plants that thrive on neglect. Once you get the hang of these simple aloe vera plant care techniques, your plant will grow for years to come.
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More Posts About Growing Succulent Plants
- How To Propagate Aloe Vera By Division
- DIY Indoor Succulent Garden
- How To Care For A Jade Plant Indoors
- Gritty Succulent Soil Mix Makes Growing Succulents A Snap!
- How To Grow Succulents As Houseplants
Do you grow aloe vera indoors? Share your aloe vera plant care tips in the comments.
I grow my plants outside. Because the summer sun can be so intense in the Houston area, mine seem to do better in morning sun with afternoon shade.
Thanks for the tip!
I have almost 30 aloe plants in my house love them! 5 of them are b/w 12-15 inches high. They get good amounts of sun, but still growing tall. The leaves are thick and strong. One of my largest ones grew a tall stem and bloomed yellow flowers! I didn’t know they did this. I forgot about one of my sloe plants. I left it on a window sill in another room and the curtains were shut. I must have left it 3+ months. I thought, for sure, it was dead. Nope! Healthy and has pups! Also, it too is growing a stem and has flower buds on it!
Cool! Yes, all types of aloes bloom. Some bloom more often than others. I have a few that bloom several times a year, and others (like my aloe vera) that have never bloomed.
Can you tell me types of aloe vera? And which one is usefull in cosmetics?
Aloe vera is the type.
This article is soooo informative, I now know that I can really take care of my Aloe AND help it to thrive. Thank you!
Awesome, you’re welcome! 🙂
HI AMY!
I just wanna to ask some question.
1. Can i planted Aloe Vera indoor ?
2. Can i use sand instead of soil to planted Aloe Vera ?
Yes you can grow aloe vera indoors. I mix sand into my DIY succulent soil mix. Here are a few links about succulent potting soil that will help..
Great article and wonderful photos! Maybe I missed it but, I didn’t see anything about pot size. Do they like to be root bound or have a little room? Thank you.
Great question! My aloe vera loves to be pot bound. I would recommend planting them in a small pot where they have some room to grow, but not too much. Mine has been growing in the same pot for several years. I just slide it out of the pot every few years to remove some of the aloe pups, then plant it back into the same pot, filling in any spaces with fresh soil.
How do you keep the Aloe Vera leaves clean from dust?
You can use a damp cloth and gently wipe the dust off the leaves on a regular basis. You could also bring your aloe vera to the sink or shower and rinse the leaves, just be careful not to overwater your plant in the process. 🙂
Are there different types of aloe vera plants? I have 2 that I bought that were labeled aloe Vera. One is like what you showed, but the second one is tall with long stems and smooth edges.
Aloe vera is just one species of aloe plant. There are tons of different varieties of aloe plants, but only one that is called “Aloe vera”. Unfortunately, it is very common for other species of aloe plants to be labeled “Aloe vera”, even though they are a different species of aloe.
What am I doing wrong to my aloe plants? I’ve had 4 that have died. I’m careful not to over water, planted them in proper soil and still no success. I just got a couple plants that looked very healthy and within a few days they look sunburned. I’ve moved them from various windows to see what kind of light they need. HELP!
If your aloe plants are getting sunburn, then you definitely need to put them into a shadier spot and slowly acclimate them to a full sun location over time. As for your other aloe plants that have died… can you give me more details? What happens right before they die? Do the leaves start to turn black at the base, and droop/drop from the plant? Does the whole plant collapse and die at once? Do the leaves become shriveled and completely dried out as the plant slowly dies? The #1 killer of aloe plants is overwatering. So, I suspect that’s probably what’s happened to your plants.
How do I use Epson Salt in a Aloe Plant?
I do not recommend using epsom salt in an aloe vera plant.
Hello, I have just started growing aloevera recently. I cut abt 2 inch from the leave every week for juicing purpose. How long will it take to regrow??? Plz reply
The cut leaves will not regrow. New growth will come out from the top of the plant.
I bought my aloe plant about a year ago. The previous owner had a cat that left bite marks. I thought they’d heal. Should I trim those off?
The wounds on your aloe leaves should seal up and heal, and the plants should recover just fine. If the wounds are showing signs of rot, or the leaves are heavily damaged, then I would trim them off. Otherwise, if the damage is minor, they should be fine.
Thank you. I tried them. The brown hole scars were unpleasant to look at. But I did wrap them and put them in the fridge. The have a lot of gel in them.
I have had my plant out side all summer and want to bring it in. I have noticed some flowering plants or other plants I have brought in over the years bring nats. Is there a spray or something I can use on it to make sure I don’t bring these with me I would hate to loose my aloe!
The gnats you are describing are called soil gnats, and they are very common in houseplants. They live in the soil, so I wouldn’t recommend any type of spray. Soil gnats can’t live in dry soil, so keep your aloe vera plant dry through the winter (which is the best thing for the plant anyway). Here’s a post about controlling soil gnats for more details… How To Control Soil Gnats In Houseplants
I live in Central Texas, and I have several beautiful aloe plants doing very well on my front porch. We live in a duplex, which basically means we have terrible natural light, so I’m hesitant to bring any of them inside (although I’d love to have a few indoors). My question is when it comes to the winter, do I HAVE to bring them indoors? Obviously, we don’t have very intense winters, but it still gets cold, so I wasn’t sure if they’d do alright outside. I also have wandering Jews and a couple of agave (obviously not the same, but nervous about all of them when winter gets here). Any advice would be great!
You certainly don’t need to bring your aloe plant into the house, as long as you live in a warm enough climate. Aloe vera (and both of the other plants you mention) is hardy down to zone 9, which means it can take a little bit of cold in nature. I’m not sure how cold it gets where you live, but, even though they can take a bit of cool weather, it might be a good idea to protect it from frost and freezing temperatures. You could just move it inside during cold nights if you don’t have many of those, otherwise move your aloe indoors for the few weeks/months when you have a cold spell. (p.s. here’s a post about caring wandering jews… Tips For Growing Wandering Jew Plants Indoors)