Aloe plants are very popular due to their easy caretaking. Learn more about how to take care and when to water your Aloe plant.
There are over 500 species of Aloe plants. However, the most widely known one is called Aloe Vera. Aloe Barbadensis, known as Aloe Vera, is an African succulent plant with diameters ranging from 2′′ inches to 2′ feet. Succulents such as Aloe Vera are popular throughout North America. Aloe comes in a variety of forms and sizes, and most garden stores sell them for a reasonable price.
Aloe vera is a succulent that has a cluster of leaves that climb almost straight up from the base. The leaves are green to grey-green in hue and have little white spots and short stripes on the top and bottom surfaces. Each leaf is thick, with a row of small thorns along each side that aren’t particularly sharp. Remember that this plant is naturally accustomed to very dry circumstances, so you may leave it going for long periods of time without watering it. If that seems too confusing, let’s take a deeper look at the watering needs of an aloe vera plant.
Health benefits of Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is well-known for its health benefits. The liquid of the inner of the leaves is used for skincare in countless lotions as it helps with dry skin. It also has a positive effect on sunburns. If you don’t have a lotion at hand but an Aloe Vera plant is nearby you can cut a lave and half it. Put the inner side with the gel-like substance on your sunburn.
Some products squeeze out the liquid to Aloe Vera water. But be careful with the amount of Aloe Vera water you consume as it can be toxic!
Aloe Plant Care and Maintenance
The succulent plant Aloe vera belongs to the Aloe genus. The plant’s main stem bears stemless or extremely short-stemmed leaves that spread outward. The leaf’s margin has small teeth that are serrated. Keep in mind while buying an aloe that it will need bright, indirect sunshine to thrive (or artificial sunlight). Since direct sunlight can cause the plant to dry up and turn its succulent leaves yellow, you may need to water it more regularly if your aloe is in a particularly sunny spot. Keep the aloe vera plant in a jar near a kitchen window for occasional usage. Let’s take a closer look at Aloe Vera basic Requirements:
Botanical Name: Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Liliaceae family)
Commonly known as Aloe Vera
Hardiness zones: 8-11
Soil PH: Neutral
Sun Exposure: Full-sun, Part-sun
Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Environmental Conditions for Aloe Vera
Soil Requirement for Aloe Plants
Aloe Vera is a low-maintenance plant. While this hardy succulent grows more robustly outside throughout the spring and summer months, especially in U.S. Zones 10-12, it may also survive in a nice container indoors. This planting zone benefits cities like as Los Angeles, Texas, Southern California, Florida, and other southern states. Aloe vera is a plant that is native to the Arabian Peninsula’s sandy soil and arid climate, but it is now widely grown in tropical and warm desert environments across the world.
The first thing to keep in mind to ensure your Aloe Vera is happy in its new home is to give the ideal soil with plenty of drainages. It’s one of the few houseplants that thrive in direct sunlight in a sunny southern window. If given adequate sunlight and the right soil, the plant may provide years of enjoyment. It is not suggested to grow aloe vera in all-purpose houseplant soil or garden soil. Both types are quite thick and susceptible to root rot. Gravel and sand, for example, are suitable aloe vera soil components since they do not hold water.
Plant aloe Vera in the appropriate container with suitable soil to guarantee good drainage. Pots made of unglazed clay or terra-cotta are often the best choice since they are absorbent and help drain excess water from the soil. To allow water to flow, the pot must have drainage holes at the bottom.
Sunlight and Temperature for Aloe Plants
Aloe Vera plant enjoys the sunlight. For six to eight hours each day, your aloe Vera will thrive in either artificial light or bright, indirect light. Your aloe will become lanky and limp if it is exposed to too little light or too much shade. Aloe Vera plants are ideal for growing both indoors and outdoors. Too much direct sunshine, on the other hand, can burn the stems, rendering them dark and dry. Aloe Vera plants flourish in temperatures ranging from 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (12-27°C). Never leave your aloe outside at night in freezing weather. Learn more about too cold temperatures for plants and what you can do to cover them.
Optimal Humidity for Aloe Vera Plants
Your Aloe plant loves bright indirect light over direct sunlight. The leaves will droop downwards if there is little light. Only water your Aloe if the soil is absolutely dry. Your Aloe Vera plant does not require additional humidity and may thrive in dry conditions. It will perform well in regular room temperatures ranging from 65 to 85°F (18-29°C). This plant tolerates high humidity well and is relatively easy to care for.
Aloe Water Requirement
Aloe vera plants are drought tolerant and should only be watered when the soil surrounding the roots has fully dried out—watering aloe vera once every 14 days allows the soil to dry out between waterings, allowing aloe vera’s water requirements to be met without causing root rot. It is critical to get the watering correct since it is sensitive to root rot, which is caused by poor drainage and overwatering the plants. Aloe vera has variable water requirements at different times of the year because it goes into dormancy in response to high summer temperatures as a survival mechanism to store water. As a result, the need for water in aloe vera varies throughout the year.
When to Water my Aloe Vera Plant?
Aloe plants are succulents that grow in locations where there is a lot of sun, little rain, and frequent drought. Their large, thick leaves are designed to store a lot of water. Aloe vera is prone to overwatering when planted by gardeners since it is adapted to tough, hot, and dry environments. To water aloe vera properly, you must match the watering conditions of their natural environment in order to meet their moisture requirements while also duplicating the drought conditions to which they are accustomed.
If the soil seems damp, wait a day or two before watering your aloe vera plant, but if the earth feels dry, now is the time to water it. This is the most efficient technique to simulate the natural watering cycle to which the aloe is accustomed, ensuring that the aloe has enough water to be healthy and thrive while also allowing the soil to dry sufficiently to minimize root rot problems.
Root rot caused by overwatering is usually the most significant threat to an aloe vera; thus, this strategy to set a watering schedule is appropriate whether your aloe vera is indoors or outside. It’s important to remember, though, that aloe vera goes into sleep throughout the summer in reaction to high temperatures, reducing its demand for water as a drought survival strategy. In the winter, aloe requires less watering.
Best Time to Water Aloe Vera Plant
Because of the many factors, providing overall guidelines on how often to water aloe vera during the winter is impractical due to temperature and situation variations. In the winter, watering once every 3 to 4 weeks is a good balance for satisfying the aloes’ watering demands while keeping the soil dry enough to avoid root rot. To select your winter watering routine, keep an eye on the soil as much as possible.
Monitoring Your Aloe Vera Plant
The leaves are the strongest indicator that your Aloe Vera plant is in poor condition. If the leaves on your Aloe Vera plant are thin and curled, it is probable that you should water them more frequently. Second, examine your plant’s leaves to determine the development direction. Aloe Vera should grow upwards if it is healthy. If your Aloe Vera plant’s leaves seem flat, it’s likely that it’s not getting enough light. However, as previously said, too much light can be seen in browning leaves.
Common Problems with Aloe Vera
The most common issue in all houseplants, including succulents, is overwatering, which causes root rot or fungal and bacterial infections. Make sure your aloe Vera is never soaked in water to avoid this. Keep in mind that, even though your aloe requires only sporadic watering, water is still necessary for its growth. Aloe, strangely, may have a problem with overwatering. The presence of wrinkles in the stems may suggest that it is time to water your plants. Fungus, which shows as little brown or black patches throughout the stems, as well as typical houseplant pests such as mealybugs, can also affect the Aloe Vera plant. Keep an eye on your plant and apply sprays to keep illness at bay.
Conclusion
Aloe plants require sporadic but thorough watering. Before watering, make sure the top two inches of soil are dry. Soak your Aloe, but make sure the roots are not submerged. During the winter, use less water. Examine the look of your Aloe to see whether it has been overwatered or underwatered. Although rainwater or distilled water is preferred, if your aloe plant appears to be flourishing well with tap water, leave it alone.