Aloe Vera Plant 101: Benefits, Types, Care for Beginners

How Aloe Vera Plant Looks Like

Is Aloe Vera Plant Indoor or Outdoor Plant

Can Aloe Vera grow outside? Aloe Vera needs full sunlight and loves to be kept outdoors. If you will grow them indoors then there will be fewer chances of them flowering and producing seeds. But the plants have shown that they can perform well indoors also where they should be kept near a window which provides them with indirect but enough sunlight. So if you are still confused then we will recommend you to keep it outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter.

Why Is Aloe Vera Plant Good For You?

The first question that arises in our mind is why should we plant aloe and what are Aloe Vera good for? So here I will discuss some benefits of Aloe Vera plants:

It contains many antioxidants and antibacterial properties:

Antioxidants are very important to us. They help to get the most from the cells by extracting the free radicals and reducing the damage which is caused by oxidation. 

Whereas the antibacterial properties help to fight against the bacteria and reduce the chances of becoming ill.

Aloe Vera can reduce the time of healing the wounds:

A study has shown that the time reduced was almost 9 days. So Aloe Vera is very helpful if we grow them in our home. Secondly, being natural does not cause any side effects. Also, it prevents the redness, infection and itching caused during the wound healing.

It prevents wrinkles and helps to improve the skin:

Can Aloe Vera remove pimples? The most use of Aloe Vera is in the process of curing our skin. Most people have found that Aloe Vera has been beneficial in the curing of their skin. It includes removing the pimples, acne and wrinkles from their face. People generally drink the Aloe Vera juice rather than applying on the skin. But it is very good moisturizer too.

Aloe Vera Plant vs Succulent

Are Aloe Vera succulents? Aloe Vera belongs to the succulent genus aloe which contains over 550 flowering succulents. The plant is stemless and has broad and thick greenish leaves.

How Does Aloe Vera Grow And Reproduce?

Aloe Vera can reproduce in two ways

Sexually by producing flowers which will produce seeds in the future. The seeds are located in the capsules which are found at the bottom of the flowers. When the capsules are fallen from the stalks we let the capsules dry. The seeds are so obtained are perfect to be grown. But even though there are very fewer chances of growing them from seeds. This is because we are not able to provide them with the ideal conditions for the germination unlike we provide to the other plants

Asexually from the offsets (pups). These grow along the base of the parent plant and develop into the roselets. After they grow enough then we can separate them and grow individually. 

For this process remove them gently and let them dry for some days. We can plant the mother plant immediately after separating the pups. Then fill the mixture in the container by adding enough sand or perlite to the soil to make the soil well-draining.

Aloe Vera Plant Care

Now let’s discuss how we can care for the Aloe Vera plant

When To Water the Plant

Remove 2-3 cm soil and put your finger in the soil. Try to feel the moisture. If you feel the moisture then you need not water the plant. But if it feels dry then you can water the plant. This is the basic technique that can be used in almost every plant. 

But the only difference you will face is when you keep your Aloe Vera indoors. Aloe is considered to remove toxins from the air and act as an air-purifying plant. It can remove formaldehyde and other toxins from the air. So many people keep them indoors. Now you need not water it daily. You can water it almost thrice a week if you water it thoroughly.

Does Aloe Vera Plant Need Sunlight

As discussed above Aloe Vera need full sight or it may be placed near a window indoors where it may get enough sunlight. Remember Aloe Vera loves sunlight therefore try to provide as much light as possible.

How To Fertilize Aloe Vera Plant

There are many fertilizers available in the market but i will suggest going towards the natural fertilizers. The best fertilizer for the Aloe Vera would be neem cake. There are many benefits of using neem cake like

• It has anti-bacterial, antifungal properties.
• Being organic it will not cause any side effect to the plant
• Neem cake contains good amount of nitrogen which will be beneficial for the leaves of the plant
• Being organic it releases slowly therefore even if used in large amounts there will be no harm to the plant.

What Is The Best Pot Size For Aloe Vera Plant

By How much I have worked on this plant I would say that it really does not need a deep pot. Instead a wide pot would be perfect for it. Also as told above it produces lots of pups so a wide pot is the one it needs. Also a sky planter can be used to grow it. I have already written a blog on sky planters. So you may also refer to that page.

When To Trim the Plant

Generally, we do not trim Aloe Vera but when there is a dead leaf or an unhealthy leaf then we need to trim the plant. Just take a knife or scissor and sterilize it by rubbing alcohol. Then cut that part and remove it.

When To Repot the Plant

Aloe Vera produces many pups around it. And therefore the competition in the pot increases for the nutrients. With so many themes the plants become leggy. And that is the time to repot the plant. Just remove the pups and transplant them to another pot after almost 2-3 days.

When Does Aloe Vera Plant Expire

Aloe Vera leaf once removed from the plant should be used immediately or must be stored in the refrigerator. When refrigerated then we use it within a week otherwise it will spoil within 24 hours. The signs that you will notice are the rotting smell, yellowing of the leaf, and the gel will start drying.

Is Aloe Vera Plant Edible

People ask this question many times: is Aloe Vera plants edible? Are Aloe Vera drinks good for you? Yes, Aloe Vera is safe to eat and well consumed by many people in the form of Aloe Vera juice. As we have already discussed it contains many beneficial properties like it is antioxidant, antibacterial, helps to clean skin etc. So do not hesitate to consume it.

Does Aloe Vera Plant Grow Back

No the leaves or stalks that are once cut do not grow back. We think that they may regenerate from the other end from where they are cut. But that does not happen. Instead, the plant makes a seal at the end of the leaf so as not to dry out.

Also, this step is very beneficial because this step will ensure that the new growth gets enough nutrients and there is less competition for the new growth from the big and thick leaves. 

Why Is Aloe Vera Dying

Why is the Aloe Vera plant turning brown? The prominent reason for your plant to die is overwatering. When you overwater your plant then the plant leaves become leggy and brown and turn to die. Therefore try to water when the upper 2-3 cm layer of soil becomes dry and keep it in the area where it can get enough sunlight. Aloe Vera without sunlight can also suffer and will not flower.