5 Practical Tips in Taking Care of Your Aloe Vera Plant
Whether you’ve scooped it out of buckets at the grocery store or seen it in full bloom along the beach, we’ve all encountered aloe vera at some point in our lives. This unique plant is a staple of succulent gardening; its fleshy leaves store water and have long been used for medicinal purposes. If you haven’t added it to your garden yet, it’s time to start caring for an aloe vera plant.
Aloe vera gel is known for its medical benefits, notably sunburn treatment. You can also use the cold gel to treat minor burns and acne. The gel is edible and is frequently used in sweets and drinks; aloe vera juice is refreshing and somewhat bitter.
Aloe vera plants are beneficial in more ways than one. They’re beautiful in gardens, especially when they’re in bloom. Aloe vera’s rosette-shaped leaves may fit nicely with other succulents such as aeoniums, sedums, and particular palms. The aloe vera plant will rapidly become a feature in your landscape, reaching a maximum height of 2 to 3 feet.
Let us now look at five practical tips for taking care of your aloe vera plant:
1. Sun and Temperature
Aloe vera plants are generally low-maintenance succulents, requiring little watering and little direct sunlight. They do well under direct sunlight, but they also can survive in a bright, indirect light environment. An aloe vera plant in a greenhouse or windowsill will likely suffer from too much light, as the plant might turn yellow or even brown.
They also prefer temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures are too low, aloe vera plants may not flower or may not leaf out. The leaves may become dry, limp, and brittle if temperatures are too high.
2. Water
Aloe vera plants like lots of water, and they will not tolerate an overly dry environment. But they do not prefer soggy soil. Water aloe vera plants thoroughly and deeply, but not let the soil become soaked.
Ensure that urns and pots have ample drainage holes, as aloe vera hate sitting in cold water. Aloe vera plants may develop root rot if drainage holes are too small.
3. Soil
Aloe vera plants prefer moist soil that drains well. A succulent potting mix is a perfect choice. Typical potting mixes contain compost and perlite, and any good potting mix will work.
In addition, aloe vera plants need to be transplanted into larger containers once a year. This will prevent the soil from becoming too dense, which can cause root rot. Try to repot your aloe vera plant every year in June or July.
4. Fertilizer
Aloe vera plants prefer well-drained soil and a little fertilizer every few months, especially after being transplanted. An aloe vera plant will not tolerate too much fertilizer, so make sure you do not over-fertilize.
Use a slow-release fertilizer mixed at half the recommended strength once a year. This will provide the nutrients that the plants require to develop and flourish.
You can also use a liquid fertilizer, but check the label to ensure that it’s safe to use on succulents.
5. Pruning
Aloe vera plants prefer to be propagated by leaf cuttings, which are very easy to propagate. You can also use cuttings from other aloe vera plants to start new ones. The lower stems of the plant will inevitably rot, so you should remove them and prune out the dead portions of the plant. A few healthy leaves should remain on the plant at this time.
Moreover, aloe vera grows from the base of the plant, not from the tips of the leaves. This can make the plant top-heavy and spindly. Prune the end of the plant to encourage a healthy root system and a thicker stem. Trim off about 20 percent of the plant, making sure to leave the leaves intact.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned that aloe vera is not as difficult to include in your garden as it might seem. It is easy if you know the simple tips and tricks to start planting, caring, and even propagating aloe vera.
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