Aloe vera is one of the hardiest house plants you could ever work with–not only is it incredibly drought tolerant but it actually does pretty well in low light conditions as well. And while Aloe Vera is one of the easiest plants to grow, there are a few problems that aloe vera plants commonly suffer from. If you’re looking to keep your aloe vera plant healthy no matter what, these 5 aloe vera plant care tips will help you keep your plants thriving. Not only that, but if you follow these aloe vera plant care tips, you may even get an aloe vera gel harvest. What could be better?
Aloe vera plant care tip #1: Water deeply to prevent shallow roots
One of the most common problems that occur with aloe vera plants is mushy leaves that are drooping or falling over. If your plant is struggling from these symptoms, remove your aloe plant from the soil to check the roots: commonly the roots will be short, underformed, and not really doing a whole lot of good.
To prevent this (and fix the issue over a period of a few weeks), water your aloe plants deeply. Water should run out the bottom of your aloe plants when you are watering–and water deeply every time you do. That being said, water deeply only every ten days, any more than that and you’ll be dealing with a whole other problem: root rot.
Aloe vera plant care tip #2: Place in a Southern window for maximum growth
Aloe plants like bright, indirect light. While they CAN tolerate low light conditions (such as dark bedrooms or bathrooms) they grow best in bright windows. If you want your plant to grow at its maximum rate, place it in an eastern or southern window. However, make sure that the sun isn’t too hot and doesn’t scorch your leaves.
Aloe vera plant care tip #3: The right temperature will help your aloe plant bloom
Interested in getting your aloe vera plant to bloom? Believe it or not, the right temperature plays a huge role in achieving that! To get your aloe to bloom, follow the other tips on this list (watering, light, etc) and also make sure that your aloe plant is sitting in an area where temperatures only get between 60-78 degrees. Keep in mind that light, water, AND temperature are key to making your plant bloom.
Aloe vera plant care tip #4: Regular trimming does an aloe good
Just like any other houseplant, regular pruning is good. Trim off any leaves that are turning brown, pink, or purple. These are the symptoms of dying leaves and your plants will be much better if you just trim off the excess leaves. Additionally, you’ll need to trim your plants to harvest the aloe vera gel–though only healthy green leaves should be targeted.
Aloe vera plant care tip #5: Pick a container that’s the right size
An adequate-sized container is KEY to the health of ANY aloe vera plant. When choosing a container home for your aloe vera plant, make sure that you pick one that is made from a porous material like terra cotta or unglazed pottery. Additionally, your container should be as wide as it is deep–this will help prevent root rot.
