How to grow Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a fast-growing succulent known for its thick, gel-filled leaves packed with soothing compounds perfect for skincare and minor burns. Home gardeners love it because it's nearly impossible to kill and requires minimal care while providing a harvest of healing gel year-round.
At a glance
🌱 Grow your Aloe Vera with GardenDex
- Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
- Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
- Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
- Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it
🗓️ When to plant
Plant in mid-spring after the last frost in temperate climates, or year-round in frost-free regions. Propagate offsets in spring for best results.
🌰 How to plant
- Choose a pot with drainage holes and fill with cactus or sandy soil mix.
- Remove offsets (pups) from the mother plant's base and let them air-dry for 1–2 days.
- Plant offsets 2.5 cm (1 in) deep and water lightly; avoid watering for 3–4 days to prevent rot.
- Place in a warm, sunny location and maintain dry conditions for the first few weeks.
💧 Care
- Reduce watering significantly in autumn and winter—aloe is dormant and needs very little moisture.
- Repot every 2–3 years in spring using fresh, well-draining soil to refresh depleted nutrients.
- Remove any brown, mushy leaves immediately, as they indicate overwatering or rot.
- Feed lightly in mid-spring with a low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer if growth seems slow.
🧺 Harvest
Harvest mature outer leaves by cutting them at the base with a clean knife once the plant is 3–4 years old. Slice open leaves to access the clear gel inside, and use fresh or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
🐛 Common problems
Root rot: Stop watering immediately, remove the plant from soil, trim blackened roots with sterile scissors, and repot in fresh, dry soil.
Mealybugs: Spray affected areas with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or insecticidal soap, repeating every 7–10 days as needed.
Scale insects: Remove scales manually with a soft brush dipped in rubbing alcohol, or treat with neem oil spray in early morning.
🤝 Companion plants
💚 Good neighbours: Echeveria, Jade plant, Haworthia, Agave
⚠️ Keep apart from: High-moisture plants like ferns, Humidity-loving herbs
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General guidance; local conditions vary. All care guides · Privacy