Caring for an Aloe Vera plant in your home, or even outside in your garden or on the balcony, is an easy task. With proper growing conditions and information on how to care for aloe plants, you can easily grow her. Here's what you need to know to grow this succulent and easy-to-grow houseplant in the garden.
Aloe is not a hardy plant. Depending on the region but also the season, it is grown outdoors or indoors, in a greenhouse or a veranda for example.
How to grow Aloe Vera indoors
Aloe has won over many home gardeners for its hardiness and tolerance to forgotten watering cans. To keep it happy, plant the aloe in an earthenware pot with well-draining soil. Your best bet is to mix equal parts sand and potting soil or buy a special mixture for this plant. Terracotta also dries faster than other plastic or glass containers.
Substitute your aloe if the weight of the plant causes a tip-over, but don't worry about giving it plenty of room. This plant grows well in comfortable conditions.
Place your aloes vera in a bright, sunny location. Otherwise, it will fall asleep and stop growing. Water the plant abundantly about once every two weeks until the soil is completely dry. Since this is a desert species, keeping the dirt moist will cause the roots to rot. Soft or brown leaves are also a sign that you've overwatered them.
If you want, you can move your potted plant outside for the summer, but don't put it in direct sunlight right away. Gradually move it to a brighter place every few days to avoid overexposure.
How to grow aloe vera outdoors
If you live in a warm climate all year round like in the south of France, you can grow your aloe outdoors. Freezing temperatures will kill the leaves, but your main concern is the freezing of the soil which could kill the roots and prevent new shoots from appearing.
When choosing a location, look for a well-drained location. You won't need to water your aloe except for droughts. If it hasn't rained for months, soak it well, then let the soil dry again.
Caring for Aloe Vera
As a bonus, your aloe vera will occasionally produce a tall stalk of small, bell-shaped flowers. After the flowers have wilted, you can cut the stem off at the base.
Best of all, aloe plants also produce new, smaller plants that are perfect for propagation. If you notice any of these shoots, empty the dirt and separate the roots of the different plants by replanting them in separate containers.
If you want to give aloe plants to friends, you can try starting your plants by cutting a few leaves. Cut about 7cm from the end of the leaf, then place the cut ends in a container of potting soil. Although not all will come back, some leaves will see tiny new leaves appear at the base. Wait until this new plant grows a few inches before repotting again.
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