Aloe vera is a popular, resilient succulent known worldwide for its soothing, gel-filled leaves used for minor burns and skin irritations. Keeping this plant healthy depends on simple, consistent care that respects its desert origins. This guide provides instructions to ensure your aloe thrives.
Ideal Placement and Light Requirements
Aloe thrives in conditions that mimic its native arid environment, requiring bright, indirect sunlight to maintain its structure and color. A placement near a south or west-facing window is ideal, though the light should be filtered or the plant set back slightly from the glass. The leaves can develop a reddish-brown or yellowish tint if exposed to intense, direct afternoon sun, indicating the plant is stressed or sunburnt.
Too little light causes the plant to stretch out, a process called etiolation, resulting in pale, weak, and leggy growth. Temperatures between 55° and 80°F (13° and 27°C) are best, and the plant should be protected from drafts and temperatures below 50°F (10°C), which can cause harm. If the plant is moved outdoors for the summer, it must be gradually acclimated to the brighter conditions over about a week to prevent leaf scorching.
Mastering the Watering Schedule
Overwatering is the most frequent cause of aloe decline, leading to root rot, which is often fatal. As a succulent, the aloe plant stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves and does not need frequent irrigation. The most effective method is the “soak and dry” approach, ensuring the soil completely dries out between waterings.
Before watering, insert a finger about two inches deep into the potting mix; if any moisture is detected, wait. When the soil is completely dry, water thoroughly until water flows freely from the drainage holes. Allowing the pot to sit in a saucer of drained water is detrimental, as it re-saturates the soil and encourages root decay.
Watering frequency must be adjusted seasonally to match the plant’s growth cycle. During the active growing season of spring and summer, watering may be necessary every two to three weeks. In the fall and winter, when the plant enters near-dormancy, frequency should be significantly reduced, sometimes to once a month or less, as the plant uses less water.
Choosing the Right Soil and Container
Selecting the correct planting medium is important for the health of the root system, as it prevents waterlogging. Aloe requires a fast-draining, gritty soil mix that allows moisture to escape quickly. A commercial cactus or succulent potting mix is an excellent choice, though regular potting soil can be used if amended with materials like perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to improve aeration and drainage.
The container itself must have drainage holes at the bottom to ensure that no water is retained around the roots. Unglazed terra cotta pots are often preferred because the porous material wicks away moisture from the soil, aiding in the drying process and reducing the risk of rot.
Aloe vera does not require much fertilizer and should only be fed sparingly during the spring and summer growing season. A diluted, balanced houseplant formula or organic options like compost can be applied once a month at most.
Identifying and Correcting Common Issues
Distress in an aloe plant is typically visible through changes in the leaves, which serve as clear indicators of a care imbalance. An overwatered plant will display leaves that are soft, mushy, or translucent, sometimes turning yellow or brown due to the onset of root rot. The immediate corrective action is to stop watering completely and, if symptoms are severe, remove the plant from the pot to inspect the roots, cutting away any that are brown and soft before repotting in fresh, dry soil.
Conversely, an underwatered aloe will have leaves that appear shriveled, thin, wrinkled, or curled, and the tips may turn brown as the plant draws on its stored water. This issue is easily resolved with a deep, thorough watering, ensuring the entire root ball is saturated.
Pests like mealybugs can appear as small, white, cottony masses, typically in the crevices of the leaves. These insects can be treated by dabbing them directly with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or by applying a targeted spray of neem oil.