Project Description
Aloe vera
Medicinal Aloe, Barbados Aloe
This succulent is well-known for its medicinal properties. It is bright green with light spots, and has small spikes on the outer edges of the leaves.
Considered synonymous with Aloe barbadensis.
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Quick Look:
Full sun to partial shade
Can be grown indoors if given enough light
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 24″ (61 cm) tall
Plant grows up to 24″ (61 cm) wide
Zone 9a (Minimum 20° F | -6.7° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by offsets
Generally non-toxic to humans.
Can be toxic to animals.
Actively grows in Spring and Fall
Also available from Mountain Crest Gardens.
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How to care for Aloe vera
General Care for Aloe vera
Aloe vera is one of the most common succulents. Chances are you have one in your kitchen, or have seen them in your friend’s homes. Many people do not realize that it is a succulent.
Watering
Aloe vera tends to need a bit less water than other succulents. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Where to Plant
Aloe vera is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun.
Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).
Pairs Well With
Video
How to Propagate Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a prolific propagator, growing many offsets. While you may think that you should be able to propagate Aloe vera from leaves, this is not the case, and you may find your leaves rotting.
Offsets
Aloe vera will produce small offsets, sprouting up around the base of the plant. Simply pull these up and allow the offsets to dry for one to two days before replanting.
Uses
Aloe vera can be used in many different ways. For minor burns or cuts, you can cut or break off a leaf and squeeze out the gel inside, rubbing it on the affected area.
Aloe vera juice contains many vitamins and minerals, which aid in digestion and help support the immune system.
Note: Always consult a physician before ingesting any plants. While Aloe vera is generally considered non-toxic, some people may experience adverse reactions. See more about poisonous succulents here.
Commonly Asked Questions
Question
I bought this Aloe Vera several months ago, and it’s been gradually getting worse since I got it. It looks like it needs more water to me, but it doesn’t perk up at all after I water it. I have some different Aloe Vera in another room that are doing fine, so I moved this one into the room with those. It hasn’t helped at all. What can I do?
Answer
Aloe Vera grow in cooler temperatures, so if you’re in the winter right now, it will likely be growing. Since it’s indoors, there’s a couple possibilities it is looking this way.
The first is the lack of sun. Do you have it near a South or East-facing window? Aloes thrive in morning sun, and if it’s not getting much, it can begin to lose its color. A grow light can be really handy for winter months like these, where you have to keep your plants indoors.
Be sure that your plant is in well-draining soil; you want the soil to drain quickly after you water your plant. Color changes in succulents are often a sign that they need more water, or are getting too much. If the leaves are dull and limp, it’s a sign it needs more water.
When watering, remember be sure to completely soak the soil until water runs out the bottom of your planter, and then let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
It’s important to remember that when making any adjustments gradual changes are best. You won’t see an immediate change and that’s ok. Keep at it and you should see an improvement soon!
From readers like you…
Dry shade and neglect, I have hundreds I don’t know what to do with, they have proliferated. I have pots where I’ve thrown offsets into that only had a couple of inches of dirt in them, not even planted and they offset. This is one aloe that definitely prefers shade although I have a large mother plant in the garden which can go very brown but it flowers. Aloe barbadensis (vera) always flowers yellow.
My aloe a couple months ago. She’s perfectly healthy and thriving, putting out pups constantly, many of which I’ve separated off into their own little pots. She’s sitting happily near but not in a sunny southern window, getting watered when she starts to look a little like a celery stalk, and in a very gritty mix with little soil (in a double pot/cache pot, with good drainage).
This is my Aloe. She’s has given me so many pups that I don’t know what to do with them all.
My aloe vera is the most low maintenance of all the succulents I own. I have about thirty. I have had it for two months (I only stsrted collecting succulents in June). Now my aloe vera even has a baby. Look closely at the photo.
My mother plant, which is now double this size…got her from Aldi while checking out. She’s been happy with light watering once a week and on our patio table on the covered porch getting morning sun. She’s given me 9 babies so far… I’ve gifted 3 of them, have one at work and 5 more on the table with her, lost 1 of them.
My goodness I have ignored mine- had them knocked out of their pot, been left for dead(they are around the side of the house I never visit) and saw them the other day and they are re shooting everywhere- so my tip is pure neglect 
It’s LITERALLY the only thing I can keep alive!!! Just gonna ditch all my dead plants and grow Aloe Vera exclusively! 
I love my aloe. I just leave it alone. I keep it on the porch out of direct sunlight.
This is mine. It’s grown quite big. Very low maintenance. Water every few weeks. Mine loves to be indoors with indirect sunlight.
I planted these aloe a few months ago, they seem so happy I am afraid to water them, I haven’t watered them since planting them.
This my watering experiment. How many months does it take until they look like they need a drink? Why water aloe that looks happy?
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Need help on getting a good indoor light for a two foot table.
There’s a great website called Epic Gardening that has lots of good information about different types of grow lights and what’s best for your situation.
I have got a very large old aloe. Large piece size of my finger, broke off and has several leaves. I tried putting in water but end got soft. Took out, leaves are strong good color. Anyway to save this?
Unfortunately, Aloe vera propagates from offsets, not from its leaves. You can save and use the broken piece for burns, but planting it or trying to water propagate it will not work for this type of succulent.
Hi there. Good publishing actually. I must state I found something very useful for myself.
I wish it’s more. İ am grateful.
Can anyone advise me on what to do with my aloe? She’s about 10 years old, grown from a tiny baby, now about 60cm across, with several stems growing in a spiral pattern. The longest stem is now about 90cm. She’s happy and healthy and the stems are covered in leaves right back to the base but they are so heavy that they are just growing along the floor: they can’t support their weight once they get longer than about 15cm. Their diameter is around 2cm. I can’t move her (because the stems all need supporting) and I don’t want the leaves to get damaged by the carpet. I can’t work out how to include a photo, sorry
We’d love to help more! It would be helpful to have a photo to help with this. You can post a photo to our Facebook Group to get feedback from the community, or join the Successfully Growing Succulents Course to get Cassidy’s 1-on-1 help. Thanks!