Aloe vera is a succulent plant belonging to the Aloe genus. The plant has thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s primary stem and is stemless or have a very short stem. The leaf’s edge is serrated with tiny teeth.
Its leaves contain a gel that can help ease the pain of sunburns and other skin irritations. If you have an aloe plant or plan to get one, you must know how to properly care for it in order for it to thrive.
See also: How To Make Aloe Vera Oil
How to Plant Aloe Vera Properly
Aloes are relatively easy to grow from the young plants that emerge at their base, known as offsets. Below are instructions on how to plant it.
• Wait until the offsets are about a fifth of the parent plant’s size.
• Take the entire plant out of its pot and gently pry away and separate the puppies, making sure that each one has some root connected if there are any. Allow the nub at the bottom to dry out for a few days if there are no roots. Alternatively, use a sharp knife to cut away the offsets.
• Each plant should be potted in cactus compost or multipurpose compost with lots of perlite for drainage.
• Fill the well with water and drain any surplus.
• Place in direct sunlight or artificial light that is bright and indirect.
• Temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C) are ideal for aloe vera, you can take your plant outside during summer without issue.
• Fertilize using a balanced houseplant formula prepared at 1/2 strength only in the spring and summer once in a month.
• When the roots are bound, repot according to the directions in the “Planting” section above.
• Deeply water aloe vera plants only once or twice a year.
See also: Side Effects Of Aloe Vera On Health, Skin & Hair
Takeaway
Please keep the following in mind:
• Red leaves signal that your plant is receiving too much direct sunlight; relocate it to a bright, out-of-direct-sun location.
• Wrinkled leaves indicate that your plant is dehydrated; give it a light watering over a few days and spray the leaves.
• Your aloe may have been overwatered or isn’t getting enough light if its leaves are pale or yellow.
• Scale insects, which appear as brown blobs around 5mm long, may be found on the leaves, remove with an organic insecticide-soaked cotton pad.
Originally posted on April 7, 2022 @ 8:50 pm