Aloe Vera Plant Care
If you are looking for a succulent and easy to care for houseplant Aloe Vera may be for you.
What Is Aloe Vera
The Aloe Vera plant is often mistaken for a member of the cacti family when in fact it is actually a member of the lily family and is sometimes referred to as "Lilly of the Desert". The sap from the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant have been used for centuries for a variety of medicinal applications.
- Treating minor cuts, scrapes, and burns
- As a digestive aid
- As a dietary supplement providing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
- For acne treatment
- Athletes Foot relief
- Takes the itch and sting out of insect bites
- Heartburn
- And many, many, more
With so many practical applications, and with how easy it is to grow, there is no reason you can't have your own beautiful Aloe Plant thriving in your home.
Aloe Vera Plant Care
Aloe Vera Plants can only be planted outside in areas where there is no threat of frost, and must be planted in full sun or light shade. If you are growing your Aloe plant indoors it will need to be within 5 feet of a window that lets full sun in and an east facing window is ideal. Aloe plants need sandy well draining soil and cannot tolerate over-watering. When watering your plant wet the soil completely and allow it to dry out in between watering, usually every two to three weeks.
Propogating Aloe Vera Plants
The Aloe Vera plant can reproduce in two ways. Either by cuttings taken from the leaves can be re-potted, or it will naturally produce off-shoots at the base of the plant. These baby plants can be removed from the mother and planted on their own. Aloe plants can grow large quite rapidly, and if it has outgrown it's pot you transplant sections and place it in another pot. Again make sure you are using a sandy or gritty soil that drains well to pot your new plants.
I've Grown It. Now What?
The best thing about having your own Aloe Vera plant is that you have immediate access to the healing and soothing sap that is inside the leaves. To treat minor cuts, scrapes, burns, or abrasions, cut off an outer leaf, slice it lengthwise, crush the pulp and sap into a paste and apply. If you would like to take Aloe internally for it's nutritional value or for relief of gastric pain, you are best to buy Certified Organic Aloe Juice as some Aloe plants are poisonous to consume.
A Word Of Warning
Aloe Vera plants can be toxic to small animals. Make sure if you have a cat or dog you place your plant well out of their reach.
Some people have shown allergic reactions to Aloe Vera, if you have a known allergy to garlic or onions your risk may be higher.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Aloe Vera.
