How to Care for Aloe Vera Plants

Aloe vera makes not only an attractive and easy to care for houseplant, but it also contains a healing gel inside of its stalk-like leaves. This gel has been used for centuries to heal irritated skin and minor burns. Aloe vera is native to hot climates, but can be grown anywhere indoors.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An aloe vera plant
• Water
• A pot with good drainage
• Small gravel
• Potting soil
• A very sunny window spot

1. Select a pot that will allow a few inches room underneath for the roots to grow. If in doubt, opt for a larger pot because your aloe vera plant can eventually grow to be up to 2" tall.

2. Fill the bottom 1-2 inches of the pot with gravel to aid in drainage. Holding your aloe vera upright in the pot, plant it by loosely filling in around it with potting soil. Place in a very sunny window.

3. During the summer months, soak the soil completely with water, but do not water again until the soil is completely dry. During the winter, aloe vera need only a cup or so of water each watering.

4. Your aloe vera will produce offshoots near its base, so periodically remove the offshoots and replant in separate pots. Also, remove any dead leaves by clipping with either a knife or scissors.

5. 
    
   Aloe vera gel is useful for soothing skin irritations

   Once your aloe vera is established, you can break off the leaves and use the gel to soothe burns and skin irritations. Choose a stalk that is near the base of the plant, cut in half length-wise, and rub on the affected area.

Tips & Warnings

• Once transplanted, aloe vera offshoots make great gifts for friends and family.
• Be careful not to overwater your aloe vera. Aloe vera is a succulent, which means that it retains water in its leaves and roots in order to cope with drought.
• Do not allow your aloe vera to frost. Because of the water content in the leaves, aloe vera are very susceptible to frost.

Resources

• You and Your Aloe