Aloe vera is a stemless succulent plant. It is well known for its nutritional and medicinal properties. The leaves of the Aloe vera plant are thick and fleshy and green in colour. The leaves have small white teeth on the margin. It has been widely grown as an ornamental plant for decorative purpose. Aloe vera plant care is easy.
| Scientific Name | Aloe vera |
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus | Aloe |
| Synonyms | Aloe barbadensis, Aloe indica, Aloe vulgaris |
Its long, sharp leaves are filled with a gel which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The gel can be used typically to treat burns and other skin conditions. It is also known for its air-purifying ability. It can clear toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene from the air around it. Hence, Aloe vera, the miracle plant, is widely used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.
In winter and spring, this plant bears small tubular yellow flowers on branched stalks up to 3 ft tall. The real Aloe vera produces yellow flowers, but many of the hybrid varieties available produce orange flowers.
Aloe vera Plant Guide
- Light Requirements: Bright light, with some direct sun in winter. Keep aloe vera out of hot, direct sunlight in summer, which can scorch its leaves.
- Water Requirements: Keep the soil lightly moist spring through fall, slightly drier in winter. keep the soil light moist and don’t make it completely dry. The leaves of this plant will wrinkle when it is dry.
- Difficulty to grow: Easy to grow this plant.
- Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
- Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
- Soil Requirement: Cactus potting mix is ideal because it is fast-draining. Or add 1 part horticultural sand with 2 parts all-purpose potting mix.
- How to propagate: Cut off new offsets in spring or early summer. Allow the cut portion to dry for a day or two to prevent the sap from oozing, then pot it in barely moist sandy potting mix.
Aloe vera Plant Care
The aloe vera plant care includes the following points.
- This aloe vera plant may suffer from mealybugs and fungal diseases.
- Aloe vera is very sensitive to over watering. Always water when the soil is completely dry. Excess water makes the soil wet and hence plant roots may rot.
- The soil mix for this plant must be the same as a cactus potting mix.
- This plant needs more sunlight. So place this plant where it gets about 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily.