Aloe vera is an easy and attractive home plant that makes for a great companion. It has thick succulent leaves filled with watery gel and with spikes on the edges.
Apart from its aesthetic value, did you know an aloe vera plant can treat more than 15 conditions? The plant’s bioactive compounds are effective in the treatment of burns, skin diseases, diabetes, and more.
There are a lot of plants that you can put in your home. When it comes to healing and skin care, there is no better plant than aloe vera. And the best part about it is, it’s very easy to grow and maintain.
Bloomspace has prepared a guide to educate you on effective aloe vera plant care tips at home.
1. Light and Temperature
Aloe vera plant is very easy to grow as it doesn’t require special conditions for the plant to survive.
Plant Aloe Vera in a bright, sunny, and warm place. If the room you plan to put the plant in is shady, use artificial light. The plant cannot absorb enough sunlight with poor lighting.
Keeping your aloe vera plant in the right light and temperature conditions is not hard. It needs direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. Temperatures between 55- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for aloe vera plant care.
Aim to give it enough light to photosynthesize, but not too much. Too much light can cause sunburn or burn the leaves.
Avoid this by ensuring that your plant gets a few hours of sunlight each day, but not all day. If possible, do not place your Aloe Vera plant near windows. This is especially in the summer when temperatures are high.
Keep the plant away from cold draughts. It can damage the leaves and prevent them from budding. The temperature should be optimal for its growth.
2. Watering
Aloe vera grows well in moist soil and dry areas. However, it can’t survive in swampy areas. The aloe vera plant is succulent.
The word ‘succulent’ comes from the Latin word “sucus,” which means juice. Succulent plants store their water and nutrients in thick, fleshy leaves or other storage organs. Some succulents store water in their stems during hibernation periods.
This property helps them survive the dry conditions of their natural habitat. The common problems with aloe vera plants are over-watering and under-watering. If the leaves are not plump, give them more water.
If the leaves are plump, then you are watering them too much. If the leaves turn yellow, it means that your plant is getting too much water. You can try giving it less water or using a soil mixture with more sand in it.
When grown in swampy conditions, they do not survive for long. This is because aloe vera plants are susceptible to water-borne diseases. The plant’s roots can quickly rot in the stagnant water present in swamps.
Even if the plant survives, it will eventually succumb to other diseases that spread quickly in such conditions.
Different types of aloe plants have different watering needs. However, aloe vera plants need to be watered lightly once or twice a week. Pay close attention to the soil around an aloe plant’s leaves.
3. Soil
Aloe vera can be cultivated in a range of different types of soils. How you prepare your aloe vera plants for transplant depends on the kind of soil you have. If your plants are currently grown in sand, it’s best to keep them there.
Aloe vera plants thrive in sandy, well-drained soil. Sandy soil has large amounts of air spaces between the grains of sand. This provides good drainage.
Sandy soil allows the roots to absorb moisture and nutrients easily. It is challenging to grow aloe vera plants in clay soil. Clay is notorious for being heavy and difficult to drain.
Clay soils have a high percentage of fine particles called clays. They are made up of small plate-shaped particles that separate when wet.
Beyond the soil type, consider PH. Aloe Vera plants thrive with a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.5. If your soil is acidic, you may have trouble growing this plant.
4. Fertilizers and Manure
The aloe vera plant requires minimal care. But what do you do if your Aloe Vera plant is not producing flowers or leaves? Is it the right time to put fertilizers on it?
Excessive fertilizer use will kill your Aloe Vera plant. Save yourself the trouble, and don’t use any on your Aloe Vera plants. The water should be enough to keep it alive.
Adding a bit of compost or peat moss can improve the soil’s drainage. Fertilizers improve the soil condition and the growth of plants. It is intended to supply nutrients in a form easily absorbed by the plant. It also improves the structure of the soil to allow better root development.
The use of fertilizers on aloe vera plants can be very helpful. A little fertilizer added to the water will increase their growth and size.
Fertilizers are commonly used on aloe vera plants, especially when grown commercially. This is because they are grown chiefly for their sap.
5. Pruning
Aloe vera plants can grow up to 8 feet tall if given the right care. The plants can bloom when they are four years old. However, it is recommended that you prune them around the second year.
Pruning your aloe plant will encourage new growth and keep the plant healthy. The aloe vera plant will begin to flower when it reaches maturity. The flowers are very attractive and smell wonderful.
Pruning the aloe vera after its flowers helps it produce more flowers the following year.
Pruning a flowering aloe vera is easy. You should wait until the blooms have died down and withered away. The importance of pruning aloe vera plants cannot be downplayed.
It helps maintain the health of your plants and makes them look good. Pruning the leaves allows sunlight to reach the inner part of the plant. It can continue to produce new growth.
Dead leaves should be removed from the plant regularly. The dead leaves make it difficult for the live leaves to get sufficient light and air circulation.
6. Pests
The aloe vera plant is susceptible to pests. Let’s see what pests attack aloe vera and how to get rid of them.
Mealybugs
These are tiny bugs with a white waxy coating all over their bodies. They live in groups, and when they feed on the plant leaves, it causes yellow spots. To get rid of these bugs, use an alcohol-based spray or a soap-based spray.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
This virus causes yellow mosaic patterns on the leaves of the plant. Infected plants spread it. It can be treated with an antiviral spray.
Root Aphids
These are tiny insects that live on the roots of the plant. Aphids are very small pests (usually less than 1/10th of an inch long) that appear in clusters on leaves or stems. They feed on the root sap and cause yellowing of leaves.
Use a soap-based spray or a neem oil-based spray to get rid of these bugs.
Spider Mites
These are tiny bugs that feed on the leaves of the plant. They cause yellowing and stippling of leaves. They also produce a fine webbing that covers the leaves.
To get rid of these bugs, use a soap-based spray. Spray the plant thoroughly, and then let it dry.
Snails and Slugs
These pests feed on the leaves of the plant. They leave behind a slimy trail as they move around. To get rid of these bugs, you can use a beer trap or an iron phosphate-based bait.
7. Propagation
The propagation process for aloe vera plants involves several steps. You must follow them precisely to ensure success. It is an easy task to propagate the aloe vera plant at home.
However, it is a little time-consuming. Whether you are propagating a new seedling or from an old plant, the process can be different.
Propagating a New Seedling Plant
Here are the steps you need to follow to propagate an aloe vera plant. Buy an aloe plant from a nursery or garden centre. Dig a hole in your garden, making sure that it’s the right size for your aloe plant.
It should be at least 1 foot deep. Remove the aloe plant from its container by cutting off the root ball. Be careful not to damage any of the roots.
Place the root ball into the hole and cover it with soil. Compost to retain moisture and nutrients. Water the plant every day to ensure that it’s getting enough water.
After a week, stop watering the plant and allow it to dry out. Cut them off with a sharp knife once the leaves start to shrivel up.
The plant will start to grow new leaves from the centre of the plant. Water it once a week and fertilize it with an organic fertilizer like fish emulsion.
This method works best for small plants less than a foot tall. If you have a large plant too big to fit in your pot, you can transplant it into the ground. Dig a hole in the ground and place the plant inside of it.
Propagating From an Old Plant
The aloe vera plant propagates by sending offshoots called pups. They grow where the leaves touch the soil. They will eventually develop roots of their own.
The pups can be broken off to start new plants. After you have grown your aloe vera plants from pups, you can begin to harvest them.
If you have an extra Aloe Vera plant, you can use it for propagation purposes. The extra plant will help you to get new Aloe Vera plants.
Observe the plant. Notice if there are any offshoots or baby aloe vera plants growing on the edges of its leaves. If there are, choose one growing best and seems most healthy.
Cut this offshoot at the base and make a small hole in the soil with your finger. Insert the offshoot into this hole (horizontally, so both ends are sticking out).
Why You Need an Aloe Vera Plant in Your Home
Many different cultures have used an aloe vera plant has been in use for centuries by many different cultures. The plant is originally from Africa and Asia. This plant has been used in traditional medicine and skincare for thousands of years.
The ancient Egyptians used it to treat burns. It is an excellent plant to keep around the home or office.
There are many benefits of aloe vera plants that you might not know about. The gel from the leaves is used to treat various ailments and improve skin conditions. It contains many vitamins and minerals.
The Vitamins include Vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6, and Vitamin E. Other minerals include folic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and Sodium.
It can be applied directly or used with a carrier oil. Aloe vera is used to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, and wounds. It can be applied directly or mixed with a carrier oil.
Aloe vera can also be used as a face mask to treat burns, insect bites, and skin irritations. Having the plant at home allows you to enjoy its infinite value.
Improve Your Aloe Vera Plant Care Strategies
Many people do not know how to care for indoor plants. Poor watering, pruning, and weeding techniques can kill your plants.
The above aloe vera plant care strategies can ensure your aloe plant is healthy throughout the year. It doesn’t matter where you live; with proper care strategies, the plant can thrive.
