How to Grow Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is both popular and easy to cultivate, as long as you provide it with the necessary water and sunlight, similar to the tropical climate where this plant naturally grows. Unlike many other succulents, aloe vera cannot be propagated from cut leaves but is typically reproduced through offshoots that emerge from the base or connected roots of the parent plant. These offshoots must be handled carefully, as outlined in the 'Plant Propagation' section below.

Know when to repot. Aloe vera has relatively short roots and heavy leaf clusters, so it often requires a heavier pot once the plant's top becomes heavy and its leaves extend outward. If the roots have no more room to grow, the plant will start producing offshoots that can be transplanted into other pots (see the 'Plant Propagation' section). If you want the parent plant to keep growing rather than transplanting the offshoots, consider moving it into a larger pot before its roots begin to encircle the pot’s edge.

• If you want to plant offshoots from the base of the parent plant, refer to the 'Plant Propagation' section.

Provide adequate light and temperature for the plant. Aloe vera thrives with 8-10 hours of sunlight per day. While it grows best in warm seasons and hot climates, it can survive the colder months in a dormant state. However, it can be damaged at temperatures as low as -4ºC.

• Growing zones 9, 10, and 11 are ideal for year-round outdoor aloe cultivation. If you live in a different climate, you can keep your aloe outdoors most of the year and bring it indoors before the frost sets in.
• The sunniest windows are those facing west or south if you live in the Northern Hemisphere; if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these should face west or north.
• While aloe vera's adaptability can help it survive hot conditions, extreme heat can burn the plant. Move your aloe to a shaded spot if the leaves begin to turn brown.

Plant aloe vera in well-draining soil. Aloe vera can adapt to dry conditions but may rot if the soil becomes waterlogged. Use cactus-specific soil or mix equal parts of soil, sand, and gravel.

• If planting aloe vera in a pot, ensure the container has drainage holes at the bottom.

Cover the roots with soil when planting, but avoid letting the leaves touch the soil. Position the root ball just below the soil surface. If any thick, green leaves of the plant get buried or touch the soil, they may rot.

Optional: Spread a layer of pebbles or gravel on the surface. Surround the base of the plant with pebbles to help stabilize the soil and reduce water evaporation. This is not necessary for the plant's growth, so you can leave the soil as is if preferred.

• White pebbles reflect sunlight and heat towards the base of the plant, which is beneficial if you don’t live in a warm climate.

Do not water for the first few days after planting. Before watering, allow the plant time to repair any roots that might have been damaged during planting. Damaged roots are more susceptible to rot if watered too soon. Aloe vera stores plenty of water in its leaves and will not be harmed by the lack of water during this period. Water only sparingly during the first one or two waterings if you want to ensure the plant's safety.

• For daily care instructions, refer to the 'Daily Care' section.

Water when the soil is dry during the growing season. Aloe vera thrives the most in summer or during any warm, sunny season when watered regularly. However, it is easier to overwater than to let the plant dry out, so avoid watering until the soil is dry to a depth of about 7.5 cm below the surface.

Occasionally water during the cold season. Aloe vera typically goes dormant during winter or when the weather is cold for extended periods. Unless kept in a heated room year-round, you should water it only once or twice a month during the cold season.

Fertilize once a year or not at all. Aloe vera does not require much fertilizing, and over-fertilizing can harm the plant or cause poor growth. If you wish to encourage growth, use a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus, low-potassium fertilizer, such as a 10:40:10 or 15:30:15 blend. Fertilize once a year in late spring as the growing season begins.

Be careful when removing weeds. Do not allow weeds to grow around the aloe vera plant. If you are growing aloe outdoors, regularly pull weeds, but do so gently. The soil used for aloe vera is loose and sandy, so the plant’s roots are easily damaged if you pull weeds too forcefully.

Increase sunlight if the leaves are low and spreading. When you observe that the aloe vera leaves are growing low and spreading, it’s time to provide more sunlight. Aloe leaves should stand tall and spread out towards the sunlight. If they grow too close to the ground or lean outward, the plant may not be receiving enough sunlight. Move it to a sunnier spot. If growing indoors, consider taking it outside during sunny periods.

Reduce sunlight if the leaves turn brown. When aloe vera leaves turn brown, it’s a sign that they’ve been overexposed to the sun. While aloe vera is more sun-tolerant than many plants, it can still suffer from leaf burn. If you notice browning, move the plant to a shaded area during the afternoon.

Increase watering if the leaves are thin or curled. If the aloe vera leaves appear thin and curled, it’s a sign that they need more water. Aloe vera stores moisture in its thick, fleshy leaves, which is used during dry spells. If the leaves become thin or curl, increase the watering frequency. Be cautious not to overwater: ensure the water drains quickly to prevent root rot, which can be difficult to reverse.

Stop watering when the leaves turn yellow or fall off. Yellowing or dropping leaves indicate overwatering. Stop watering for the next week (or two weeks during dormancy), and use less water when you resume. You can remove the yellow leaves without causing significant harm to the plant, but it's best to use a clean knife for this task.

Let the mother aloe plant become root-bound in its pot. Although any healthy aloe plant can produce offsets, the highest chances occur when the plant touches the sides of its container.

Wait for the offshoots to emerge. Your aloe vera will begin to 'give birth' to clones of itself, sharing some of its roots with the mother plant and possibly even attaching to the main root. Occasionally, these new plants appear outside the drainage holes, or even grow from roots that spread into neighboring pots!

• The baby plants are often lighter in color than the mother’s leaves, and when first sprouting, they lack the spiky edges found on the mature leaves.

Allow the offshoots to grow large enough. The baby plants will thrive best if you let them grow a bit larger and mature enough to form their own roots. Sizes may vary by variety and individual plant, but the general rule is that the offshoots should be at least 7.5 cm tall, with 12.5 cm being ideal. If there’s enough space in the pot, wait until the baby reaches about one-fifth of the height of the mother and has a set of ‘true leaves.’

Use a sharp, clean knife to separate the offshoots. Clean the knife beforehand to minimize the risk of infection. Gently remove soil around the base of the baby plant to check if it’s still attached to the mother. If so, carefully cut it free, making sure to keep any roots intact. The baby plant has a better chance of survival if it has its own roots, though they may not be visible before separating it.

Leave the offshoots outside for a few days. Instead of planting immediately, let the cut surface heal. Placing the cut directly into soil increases the risk of infection.

Plant the offshoots in a separate pot and support them. Place the baby plant in well-draining soil, making sure not to bury the leaves. Since the roots are still very small (or possibly nonexistent), you might need to prop up the plant with gravel or use another object for support. After a few weeks, the roots will develop sufficiently to support the plant on its own.

• For more detailed information, refer to the section on 'planting', which applies to both young and mature plants.

Spray mist on the plant every few days if the roots haven’t developed yet. Avoid watering before the roots have taken hold. Wait at least a few weeks for the offshoot to root before you begin watering. Instead of watering, use a spray bottle to mist the plant every three days.

Water sparingly once the plant has rooted. Aloe is very drought-tolerant and can survive for extended periods without water; watering too early before the roots have established could cause water to pool and rot the plant. Once the baby plant has roots, give it a light watering and place it in a shaded area for 2-3 weeks to encourage further root development.

Care for the plant as you would an adult plant. After being planted in its own pot and with established roots, the baby plant can be treated like a mature plant. Follow the instructions in the 'daily care' section.

• Plants that have spent a long time in the shade need to gradually acclimate before being placed in full sunlight. Move the plant to a partially shaded area for several weeks before exposing it to direct sunlight.
• If you're fortunate enough to see your aloe plant bloom and produce seeds, you can collect them and attempt to grow. Aloe typically relies on cross-pollination with other varieties through insects and birds, creating plants with varied traits. Growing aloe from seeds generally has a lower success rate than propagating from offshoots, so it's less common. If you wish to try growing aloe from seeds, select black seeds and scatter them on the soil. Lightly cover with sand and water regularly until the seeds germinate. Grow the seedlings under indirect light, and transplant them into a larger pot 3-6 months after germination.

• Unlike many other succulent plants, aloe cannot be grown from cut leaves. You must use offshoots separated from the mother plant, ideally with their own roots and several shoots.

• Aloe seeds, offshoots, or mature plants
• Clay pot
• Water
• Cactus soil or a homemade mix of sand, gravel, and soil