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.
This guide to aloe vera plant care covers:
- Information About Aloe Vera Plant
- Aloe Vera Plant Benefits
- Tips For Growing Aloe Vera Plant
- How Often To Water Aloe Vera
- How Much Sun Does An Aloe Plant Need
- Best Potting Soil For Aloe Vera Plants
- Best Fertilizer For Aloe Vera
- Propagating Aloe Vera Plants
- Aloe Plant Insect Pest Control
- Troubleshooting Aloe Vera Plant Problems
Information About Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe vera (also known as medicinal aloe plant) 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.
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 potted aloe plant to grow faster, then put it outside during the summer (just make sure the pot has drainage holes!).
Growing aloe vera plant outdoors
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 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 grow 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 things 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.
Gently clean dusty aloe vera plant leaves with damp rag
How Often To Water Aloe Vera
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 cause root rot, and 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 waterings.
Stick your finger one inch into the soil to make sure it’s dry before watering aloe vera. 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 if it’s planted in a pot.
Never leave an aloe plant sitting in water though, and the soil should never be soggy.
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, smaller plants will need to be watered a bit more often.
How Much Sun Does An Aloe Plant Need
The second most important thing about aloe vera plant care is proper lighting. Aloe vera plants will grow their best when given lots of light.
If they don’t get enough light, they will grow tall and leggy over time. This can be especially challenging when growing aloe vera indoors.
A south facing window would be the ideal spot for an indoor aloe plant, 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.
Outdoors, they can be grown anywhere from full sun to partial shade. If you’d like, you can move your potted 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 plant leaves 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!).
To keep the soil from spilling out the drainage holes, but still allow the water to drain, cover the holes with drainage netting, or an extra piece of window screen or landscaping fabric.
Small aloe vera plant in a pot
Best 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 on outdoor plants because they are 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 an aloe vera flower 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 offsets from the mother plant.
Aloe vera will grow offsets (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! Get my step-by-step instructions for how to propagate aloe vera 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 it 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 care tips above to avoid any issues.
Here are some other 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 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 up 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 section above about sunlight requirements for more details).
Bottom leaves of aloe plant drying up
If you don’t already have an aloe vera plant, I highly recommend getting one. If you’re wondering where to buy aloe vera, check your local garden center, or you order one online.
Aloe vera plants are easy to grow, and thrive on neglect. The make excellent home or office plants. 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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- How To Grow Succulents As Houseplants
Do you grow aloe vera? Share your aloe vera plant care tips in the comments section below.
Mary says
I have an aloe vera plant that is very healthy and beautiful, I got it about a year ago. It grows so slowly though, it is like watching paint dry. It also has not produced even one pup. What can I do to make it grow faster and have several healthy pups?
Amy Andrychowicz says
First of all, it’s normal for them to be very slow growing during the winter months. They go into a state of dormancy in the winter, and don’t grow much at all during that time. However, when an aloe vera grows very slowly during the summer, then it’s probably not getting enough light. Indoors, place your aloe vera in a south facing window, or you can add a grow light. If it’s outdoors, it should be in full sun. You may also want to think about fertilizing it during the summer, and also make sure it’s getting enough water during that time. That will also help it grow faster, and start forming pups.
Eydie says
I was told that an aloe Vera will not bloom if there are “babies” in the pot. So I take all the babies out and pot them. Guess what… THEY BLOOMED!!! It grew a very long stalk and the stalk grew tiny purple flowers that face down and they lasted about 3 weeks. My large aloe is over a miter high, and was given to me by a friend when I was doing chemo in 2010. Over the last year it has been very badly neglected as my son had a massive brain tumour removed last April, today I am trying to fix it all…lol. You are right, they are very forgiving.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! My aloe vera has never flowered, but I have seen many of them blooming in their native climate. Exciting that yours bloomed for you, how fun!
Meeann says
Hi! I have an aloe plant that’s about 2.5-3 years old. It seems really healthy, the leaves are green and solid, the stem is firm, and I get lots of new growth out of the top. But the leaves are pretty long and drop over. They kind of look like the shape of an umbrella. I read on other sites that the leaves should be upright. Is it not getting enough sunlight or I just have a specific type of aloe vera that does this?
Amy Andrychowicz says
The fuller the leaves are, the more upright they will be. If your aloe vera leaves are drooping, and feel thin, then you’re probably not watering it enough. When they get adequate water, the leaves are plump and full of gel. Or, it certainly could be a different type of aloe plant, and not an aloe vera. That’s certainly possible. If it doesn’t look like the photos above, then it could be a different variety.
Grace Whittaker says
How can you tell the difference between aloe vera to be used for medical purposes and the other aloes not good for medication. or can you use any aloe for medical purposes?
Amy Andrychowicz says
The only type of aloe you can use for medicinal purposes is aloe vera. All of the photos in this post are of aloe vera. Aloe veras have thicker and smoother leaves than many other varieties, which tend to have more prominent spikes, and thinner, rougher skin. There are tons of different types of aloes though. So, to be sure you’re getting the correct one, it’s best to buy a plant that is labeled as such from a reputable garden center (rather than a big box store, they are notorious for mislabeling plants), and verify it with the horticulturist on duty (if they have one).
yeptube says
If you’re keen to give aloe plants to friends, you can try starting your own plants by cutting off a few leaves. Trim to about 3 inches from the leaf tip; then put the cut ends down in a container of potting mix. While not every one will take, some will sprout tiny new leaves at the base. Wait until this new plant grows a few inches before repotting again.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t think you can root aloe vera leaf cuttings, but it will work with other varieties of aloe plants. Are you sure those are aloe vera plants, and not some other species of aloe? I have never tried it myself though, so I will have to experiment.
Julia Adkins says
My daughter bought me an aloe plant , looks kinda like a hand. Thought it was glass, it was hard, but yet I did feel it move a little. Can I save it,
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your aloe plant feels firm when you squeeze the leaves, that means it’s healthy and well hydrated. The leaves hold water, so they firm up when they are hydrated, and become softer/thinner as they start to dry out. As long as the leaves are green and firm, and not mushy, then I think it’s fine. I would slow down a bit on watering though, and allow it to dry out more between waterings. One other thing to consider is that you may have a different type of aloe, and not an aloe vera. If it looks different than the plant in my pictures, then you probably have a different type of plant.