Aloe vera plants are easier to care for than most people think, and they can grow very well both indoors and outside.
The key is to neglect your plant. Yes, that’s right, just ignore it. Well, you can’t ignore it forever, but the biggest mistake people make is giving it too much attention. This usually results in what I call “killing it with kindness”.
In this detailed guide, I will show you all you need to know: from water, light, and soil, to pest control, fertilizer, and much more.
Quick Aloe Vera Care Overview
| Scientific name: | Aloe vera |
| Classification: | Succulent plant |
| Common names: | Medicinal Aloe |
| Hardiness: | Zones 9-11 |
| Temperature: | 60-85°F |
| Flowers: | Yellow, can bloom year round |
| Light: | Full sun to partial shade |
| Water: | Allow soil to dry out, do not overwater |
| Humidity: | Little to none |
| Fertilizer: | General purpose plant food in spring and summer |
| Soil: | Fast-draining, sandy or gritty soil |
| Common pests: | Mealybugs, scale |
Information About Aloe Vera Plants
Aloe vera, or medicinal aloe, is best known for the healing qualities of the gel. It is very common, and just one of hundreds of different species in the Aloe genus of plants.
This popular succulent is a perennial that’s native to the Arabian Peninsula, but these days it is grown all over the world. If you live in a warm enough climate you can plant it in your garden, otherwise it makes a great houseplant.
Whether you want to grow it for the medicinal benefits, or you simply love the look of the spiky leaves, it’s definitely one that you’ll be able to enjoy for many years to come. My aloe vera plant is over 20 years old, and it’s still growing strong.
Aloe Vera Plant Benefits
Most people are already very familiar with the medicinal and healing qualities of aloe vera plants. The gel is used in everything from skin and hair care items, to drinks, supplements, and food products.
You can harvest the leaves and gel from your plant and apply it to relieve minor burns and cuts. Or use it to make your own soaps, lotions, and other skin care products if you want.
Another great benefit that many people don’t know about is that growing aloe vera indoors helps to purify the air in your home.
Related Post: How To Store Aloe Vera (Leaves Or Gel)
Where To Grow Aloe Vera
Whether you grow your aloe vera indoors or outside depends on where you live. But either way, choosing the right location is important for them to thrive.
Hardiness
Aloe vera plants are hardy down to zone 9a, and grow best in arid climates. Though they can handle short bursts of freezing temps, they will eventually die if it stays cold for too long.
If you live in a cooler region, or someplace tropical where it rains a lot, then you must move yours indoors during the winter or wet months.
Location
The best location to grow an aloe vera plant is somewhere sunny and dry. Outdoors, plant it in a spot where the soil is very sandy and well-draining. Indoors place your potted plant in a bright, south-facing window.
Though you could keep it inside year-round, you can put it outside during the hot and sunny months. Just make sure the pot has drainage holes, and bring it back indoors before it drops below 60°F in the fall.
Aloe Vera Plant Care & Growing Instructions
The good news is that aloe vera plants are simple to grow, and they will thrive with minimal care. But, there are a few things you need to do to keep your plant healthy. Follow my tips below for the best success.
Water
The biggest mistake people make when it comes to aloe vera plant care is overwatering. In fact, it’s their #1 killer.
Too much moisture will cause root and stem rot, eventually killing the whole plant from the bottom up. To prevent that from happening, allow the soil to dry out completely between drinks.
Press your finger at least 2 inches deep to make sure it’s completely dry before watering again. If you struggle with this, I highly recommend getting a moisture gauge to help you get it right.
Learn everything you need to know about how to properly water your aloe vera plant here.
Light
Though they will tolerate partial shade outdoors, aloe vera grows best in a full sun location. If it gets enough sunlight, the leaves can turn a lovely shade of pink, and tall, yellow flower spikes will form.
On the other hand, if they don’t get enough, the plant will become tall and leggy over time. This can be a challenge indoors, so put it in a sunny south-facing window. If your home is too dark, then you should definitely get a grow light.
Related Post: How To Make DIY Aloe Vera Gel At Home
Soil
The best soil for aloe vera is a loose medium that drains very quickly. Use a sandy potting soil, or you could try a gritty mix if you tend to overwater.
I like to make my own, using a mix of perlite or pumice, coarse sand, and regular potting soil, which tends to be cheaper than buying the commercial stuff.
Related Post: How To Make Your Own Succulent Soil (With Recipe)
Repotting
The good news is that you won’t need to repot your plant very often, they like to be root-bound. When the time comes, use a container with drainage holes in the bottom, and only go up one or two sizes.
Planters made out of unsealed terracotta or clay are the best for growing aloe vera, and will wick water out of the soil, helping it dry out faster. Get my step by step instructions for how to repot your aloe vera plant here.
Fertilizer
Aloe vera plants don’t really need to be fertilized. But it will help encourage faster growth and blooming. I recommend using organic products rather than chemicals, especially if you plan to harvest the gel.
Apply a general purpose liquid monthly, or top-dress with slow-release granules once or twice during spring and summer.
Aloes go into a state of dormancy in the winter, and will hardly grow at all. So, don’t feed your plant during the fall and winter months to let them rest.
Pest Control Tips
Healthy aloe vera plants rarely have issues with insect pests, but sometimes mealybugs or scale can become a problem.
For small infestations, use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove any visible bugs. For larger outbreaks, treat your plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap.
But aloes can be sensitive to certain sprays. So, be sure to test anything you use on a small part of a leaf before treating the whole plant.
Propagating Your Aloe Vera
It’s easiest to propagate aloe vera plants by division. But if your plant has gotten very long and leggy, and you’re feeling brave, you could try rooting the stem cutting.
This technique can be much more difficult, but it’s fun to try. Simply let the wound cure (dry out) for several days so it calluses over. Then dust it with rooting hormone, and stick it in a dry, sandy medium.
Get my full step-by-step instructions for how to propagate aloe vera by division here.
Troubleshooting Aloe Vera Care Common Problems
Though aloe vera is usually pretty easy to care for, at some point you might start having issues with it. Below are a few of the most common problems, and what to do about them.
Plant Is Tall & Leggy
When an aloe vera grows tall and leggy, that means it’s not getting enough light. They do best with at least 6 hours of full sun per day. If yours is indoors, move it to a south-facing window, or add a grow light.
Mushy Stem
If the stem is completely mushy, that means it was overwatered at some point, and now it’s rotting at the base. Unfortunately there’s not much you can do to fix it.
But you can try saving your plant by cutting it off just above the mushy stem section and rooting it. Make sure you cut off all of the rot though, or it will continue to spread.
Brown Leaves Or Tips
If the brown leaves are drying out and shriveling up, that usually means your aloe vera is not getting enough water. In that case, you can just prune off the dead leaves and water it a little more often.
But if the leaves are mushy and brown, then it’s probably from too much moisture or humidity. So check the soil to make sure it’s not wet, then slow down on watering.
FAQs
Aloe veras can grow pretty fast outdoors in the right climate, but are much slower indoors. If you want yours to grow faster, try putting it outside during the summer, and give it some organic fertilizer.
Leaving the brown tips on your aloe vera won’t hurt the plant. But you can prune them off at any time if you don’t like the way they look.
A healthy aloe vera plant has thick, firm leaves that stand up tall and form tight rosettes. They should also be blueish-green in color (though it’s normal for the leaves to turn yellowish, pink, or orange in the full sun).
Caring for aloe vera is very low-maintenance because these tough plants thrive on neglect. Once you get the hang of giving it exactly what it needs, your plant will thrive for decades to come.
If you want to learn all there is to know about maintaining healthy indoor plants, then you need my Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you everything you need to know about how to keep every plant in your home thriving. Download your copy now!
Share your aloe vera plant care and growing tips in the comments section below.
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