Aloe vera
4.7 out of 5 (1342 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Aloe vera
Sunburnt folks around the world turn to Aloe to soothe their skin, but did you know humans have been using Aloe for almost 4,000 years? 🤯
Beyond sunburns, Aloe vera gel is known for soothing a variety of ailments such as wounds, skin infections, hair loss, eczema, and more. Aloe was known worldwide for its healing properties and became a skin care staple across ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylonia, and China. 🧴
Aloe is a sun-loving plant that evolved in the deserts of the Arabian peninsula. They’ve developed many clever tricks that help protect them from the harsh rays of the sun, many of which help soothe us as well! 😎
Taxonomy
Aloe vera
Aloe
Asphodelaceae
Asparagales
Also known as
Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, Coral Fire, True Aloe and Aloe vera 'hedgehog'
How to care for Aloe vera
How often to water your Aloe vera
every 12
Aloe vera needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for Aloe vera in your home
a window
Aloe vera love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Aloe vera does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Aloe vera in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Aloe vera
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Aloe vera after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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My aloe vera is getting so much water should I do not give it water #AloeVera
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Aloe plant turning brown/red at the tips Hey all, my aloe is turning a brownish red at the tips. Does this mean it’s time to get it a bigger pot?
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I JUST repotted my aloe (a tad late in KY) in succulent/cacti soil, but I didn't have a larger pot for my aloe. I was not expecting to find roots growing in a circle at the bottom of the pot. Will she be okay or should size her up an inch? #AloeVera
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Can I leave my aloe Vera plant outside for the summer in NH? Sun? Shade? Both? TIA #AloeVera
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Aloe Vera looking kinda sad. Anything I can do to help her?
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This is my first time having an aloe Vera plant, I am going to repot it into a terracotta pot tomorrow. How big of a pot do you guys recommend? #AloeVera
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Help? Wtf is happening😭 I’ve been watering the recommended amount regularly and it lives in the window
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Do certain aloe plants give flowers? #AloeVera #SucculentLove
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I have a tree aloe Vera and already killed one. This one is holding on for dear life. #AloeVera
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Acquired this 3 weeks ago from a friend and a few of the arms fell off at that time. How can I salvage this plant as it’s turning brown!
Care Summary for Aloe vera
Aloe vera
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 12 days
Placement
< 1ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Survivor 943
Fast grower 576
Easy to propagate 313
Large, lush leaves 209
Browns easily 125
Blooms easily 65
Pest magnet 26
05/23/2022
This is a very reliable plant and a great starter plant. Through a lot of neglect it has stayed true and still grown. It started out as a small succulent and is a perfect plant to start off with!
Fast grower
Blooms easily
Survivor
04/07/2022
Easy to grow, does not require a lot of care, has medicinal qualities!!
04/07/2022
Easy to grow, does not require a lot of care, has medicinal qualities!!
04/05/2022
This plant was a gift from my sisters teacher as a baby aloe. My mom is not good with plants and he was dying so I swooped in and took care of him. He's grown so much and has given me many baby's even though he is a bit neglected, I have since paid more attention and he is doing great!
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
04/02/2022
It is fragile, needs perfect draining, bent leaves should be taken off, useful; don’t go ripping off leaves just to use them, aloe can also not sit out in a cup for long without liquidating
Fast grower
Blooms easily
03/26/2022
I love this plant, just remember to water it every now and then, put it in a bright window, and it will thrive. Also, for reference, I have had my Aloe Vera for five years now, him being my first and oldest plant ever.
Survivor
03/21/2022
Aloe Vera leaves are very useful.
Survivor
03/09/2022
It grows so fast!! After a few months of having it, I had to repot ❤️ such a great plant to have. Mine just had a baby, i named her Jackie 🥳
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
03/08/2022
Aloe plants, like single moms, thrive on neglect. They look cool, are hard to kill if you leave them alone, AND they are immediately ready to apply to burns or facial treatments. They’re awesomesauce!!!
Survivor
03/06/2022
Easy to take care of, even I can keep it alive and I have a bad track record with plants
Fast grower
Survivor
02/26/2022
Grows fast, don’t owerwater, keep away from pets.
Fast grower
02/24/2022
Easy plant to care for like most succulents only water when soil is dry.
Survivor
02/21/2022
Don’t overwater this poor baby! Once a week is usually sufficient! I love that in larger plants, it propagates on its own and is simple to remove the new plants into another container! I occasionally feed mine leftover plain coffee watered down, and it seems to help it grow larger. I have an enormous outdoor planter with an aloe that’s so large that it’s falling over. I’ve cut it back and reported at least three times in the past four or five years!!
02/19/2022
Numerous medicinal and cosmetic uses for the goo inside. Super easy to keep alive.
Survivor
Easy to propagate
02/04/2022
Not safe for pets!!
Fast grower
Survivor
02/03/2022
Cold weather and snow light free
Survivor
Blooms easily
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
02/02/2022
* This plant sits in a west-facing window sill in a small terracotta pot. I water it about every 15 days or so.*
This plant is not one of my favorites. It's just an aloe. I can't remember how I acquired it, but it's been hanging out in my window sill for years now. One daughter says they are good to eat (yuck). One daughter says they are good for her skin (okay). I keep my plant out of reach of my daughters.
Word to the wise: DO. NOT. OVERWATER. EVER.
01/13/2022
This really is a survivor plant. I didn’t water him for a couple months and he only got a little brown, and surprisingly kept growing. And after I started watering him regularly again, he recovered within a week or so.
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
01/12/2022
My Angel, my Aloe Vera plant is growing like a weed. Lol
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Blooms easily
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
01/12/2022
not a plant for impatient plant parents, but is great for beginners.
Survivor
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