How To Grow And Care For Aloe Vera Plants

Aloe vera is one of the most common and hardy succulents found in India. The plant is stemless or very short-stemmed with thick, greenish, fleshy leaves that fan out from the plant’s central stem. Commonly grown as a houseplant, it is an attractive succulent with spiky, fleshy leaves that are plumped up with a watery gel. Aloe vera has a long history of being used as a medicinal plant and has gained favour because the gel from its leaves has soothing, moisturizing, and cooling properties. Here's how to easily grow and care for aloe vera plants in your home!

(Image by bitkimsi via Instagram)

WATER, SUNLIGHT AND SOIL CARE NEEDS OF ALOE VERA

 How often should you water aloe vera? The most common mistake people make when it comes to aloe vera plant care is overwatering. Consistent overwatering is their number one killer!

• Aloe Vera are succulents, so they store water in their leaves. Water the plant once a week as it is important not to overwater them, especially if you are growing them indoors.
• Make sure you let the water drain away fully – do not let the plant sit in water as this may cause the roots to rot. Ensure your pot has a drainage hole so excess water can move out

SUNLIGHT- Aloe Vera appreciates 4-6 hours of full sunlight to thrive happily. Its color also intensifies in the full sun exposure. As this plant needs indirect sunlight, it should be kept indoors near windows and in rooms with good air ventilation.

BEST SOIL- Aloe Vera prefers well-draining and aerated soil and does best in a cactus or succulent mix. You can also DIY this easily by mixing sand, perlite, cocopeat and compost in equal proportion.

  (Image by my_lovely_home_plants via Instagram)

PROPAGATION OF ALOE VERA PLANTS AT HOME

What makes it so simple to propagate aloe vera? The answer is straightforward: offsets. Offsets aren't normally produced by aloe plants till they're a few years old. Offsets, also known as pups or offshoots, are clones that develop from the parent plant's stem or roots. The older and healthier the plant is, the more pups it will produce.

You can propagate from pups by simply dividing the plant. This is by far the simplest way to propagate aloes. Propagation of aloe vera can be done at any time of year, however, it is most effective during the growing season 

Step 1: Look for pups on and around the stem of your aloe plant. Not only will they be at the stem, but pups may also be hidden at the mother plant's base. Their mother's enormous leaves may completely obscure them. At the very least, each offset should have a few leaves and its own root system.

Step 2: Untangle the pups from the mother plant with care. Use a knife to cut them free if necessary, but don't harm the roots. Take your time with this step to ensure that you inflict the least amount of damage.

Step 3: Examine the offset's roots for any damage now that it's been split. Remove any decaying or unhealthy parts of the root while preserving as much of the root as feasible. You should also inspect the mother plant's roots for damage.

Step 4: Dip the ends of offsets with few or broken roots in rooting hormone (e.g. honey) to promote new development. The rooting hormone aids root formation, while it is not always necessary.

Step 5: In dry, well-draining soil, repot the offset. Because the roots need to breathe, don't pack the soil too firmly. Even though the shoots are young, they must acclimate to the new soil around their root system.

Step 6: Replace the mother plant in its container. You may also take advantage of this opportunity to improve its pot to a larger one. It's the same method whether you're repotting aloe vera or another plant. Plants should be planted at the same depth as they were in their former pot. If your plants were in a garden bed, the same thing would apply.

Step 7: As a housewarming gift, it's tempting to give your infant aloe plant some water. Keep it dry for a few days, though. The roots require time to recover after the relocation, which is best accomplished while the soil is dry. After a few days to a week, gradually begin to water your plants again

That’s all there is to propagating aloe plants!

   (Image by house.terrace.garden via Instagram)

And that’s basically the gist of it. Keeping your aloe vera healthy and happy is easy when you provide what it needs –  Limited water, warm temperatures, and plenty of light! 

By the way, do you have aloe vera plant at your home? Let us know in the comments below 😊