How to Grow Aloe Vera at Home
Jul 05, 2023
Growing an Aloe Vera Plant at Home
Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis miller, is a tropical succulent and common house plant. Used for centuries for its medicinal purposes, aloe vera has many health benefits which is why we use it in Doctor Hoy’s® Arnica Boost Recovery Cream. Growing your own aloe plant at home is simple and has many uses.
Keep reading to learn how to grow aloe vera indoors and why the plant is an important part of Doctor Hoy’s soothing, effective, natural pain relief.
Is Aloe Vera Easy to Grow?
Aloe vera is an easy plant to grow. It has a hardiness zone between 8 and 11, meaning it can withstand a range of temperatures and climates including arid, tropical, and semi-tropical. Native to Africa, the perennial succulent thrives in poor and sandy soil conditions. Young aloe is usually sold as starter plants rather than seeds, making it easy for beginners. While you can grow aloe outside in the right conditions, it is a common indoor houseplant.
How to Grow an Aloe Vera Plant
People grow aloe plants for medicinal purposes, to welcome nature indoors, and help reduce toxins in the home. Given the proper care and growing conditions, an indoor aloe vera plant can live over ten years. There are hundreds of species of aloe vera, but only a few make good houseplants. The following advice can help you grow aloe vera at home:
Soil
Always plant aloe vera in a well-draining soil. The plant’s natural habitat is dry conditions with very loose, sandy soils. You can either use a cactus potting mix or combine equal parts soil, sand, and gravel. Indoor plants should be in a container with holes in the base to allow water to drain.
When planting, cover the root ball evenly while preventing the leaves from touching the soil as this can cause rot. Covering the surface of the soil below the leaves with gravel or small stones can help stop the leaves from touching, keep the plant grounded, and prevent water from evaporating.
What are the best conditions for growing aloe vera? Sandy, well-draining soils, full to partial sunlight, and dry air temperatures between 55°F and 80°F are ideal conditions for growing aloe vera.
Watering
For the first few days after planting or repotting, avoid watering your aloe plant so the roots have time to repair themselves. Then, only water your aloe vera when the soil feels dry to about 3 inches deep. Drench the soil evenly and throughout without letting the water puddle too much. In the colder months, water your plant about once or twice a month and only if the soil is dry.
Overwatering vs. Underwatering: The leaves of the aloe plant harbor moisture as a gel, giving it the ability to survive dry climates. An overwatered plant might have yellow leaves that fall apart while underwatered plants have thin, curled leaves.
Sunlight & Temperature
Aloe plants need 8 to 10 hours of full or partial sunlight a day and grow best in warm or hot temperatures. Although they can survive cooler weather in their dormant state, it is best to keep them inside when the temperature dips to 40°F or below. If the plant’s leaves are flat and low, they need more sunlight, whereas brown leaves may be burnt, and you should move the plant into shade.
Do aloe plants need direct sunlight? No, aloe vera plants do not need direct sunlight. They tend to grow best in bright, indirect sunlight during the day with subtle shade in the later afternoon.
Fertilizer
Aloe vera almost never needs fertilizer to help it grow. The plant does well in poor soil conditions with very few nutrients. However, fertilizing your young aloe vera plants once a year during the spring can give the leaves a rejuvenating boost.
Overwintering
Like many perennials, aloe vera plants enter a dormant period during the winter or cold months when they do not grow. During this time, it is best to not water your plant often as this will help you avoid root rot. If you keep your plant inside a heated room, you can continue to see growth and your aloe vera may not overwinter.
When is the best time to plant aloe vera? The best time to plant an aloe vera plant and see quick growth is in the early summer. You can plant them any time indoors if the room meets temperature requirements.
Pruning, Tending & Repotting
Because of its short roots and hefty leaves, you should repot your aloe vera plant in a wider container when it begins to outgrow its pot. This keeps it from tipping over. Aloe vera needs repotted when it cannot grow more or it becomes root bound. At this time, your plant might sprout pups, or baby plants, that can be carefully replanted and propagated in separate pots.
How do you prune an aloe vera plant? Pruning an aloe vera plant can encourage healthier growth. Cut back leaves that have brown tips or use clean pruning shears to cut off dying leaves at the base.
Using Raw Aloe Vera
You can use raw aloe vera for soothing sunburns, treating minor cuts, and more. A healing plant like Arnica Montana, aloe has been used by various cultures for its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Taking a small chunk off your aloe plant will not hurt it and you can use the raw gel for anything from bug bites to burns.
Doctor Hoy’s & Aloe Vera for Natural Pain Relief
We use aloe vera in Doctor Hoy’s Arnica Boost Recovery Cream as a skin conditioning agent that aids in easing joint inflammation and relieving pain while also moisturizing the skin. Aloe complements other key ingredients like witch hazel, a strong anti-inflammatory and astringent, and Arnica Montana for rapid bruise and pain relief plus faster healing.
Doctor Hoy’s uses natural ingredients for clean, safe, and effective relief. By using Arnica Boost Recovery Cream to relieve scrapes, bruises, strains, joint pain, and muscle soreness from gardening and other activities, you can discover the benefits of natural pain relief from ingredients like aloe vera. Find relief for other aches and pains like arthritis or simple backaches with Doctor Hoy’s Pain Relief Gel.
References:
Marie, I. (2022, June 2). How to Grow and Care for Aloe Vera. The Spruce.
