Aloe Vera: How to Grow and Maintain this Plant

Aloe vera is a houseplant that is very easy to grow. Decorative, it brightens up our interior while playing the role of a real pharmacy. Indeed, its foliage has incredible medicinal properties. Here are the things you need to know to grow this plant.

1 – WHY GROW ALOE VERA?

Among all indoor plants, aloe vera remains the most beneficial. In fact, some call it the “miracle plant”. Here are some reasons to welcome it into your home:

• To brighten up the house: this plant with a thousand virtues decorates the house with subtlety. On its own, it brings a natural and modern touch to the room. Its sumptuous foliage adorns the edges of the windows with charm. The shades of color it displays reflect the light and are close to pinkish green. For an even more aesthetic effect, it is advisable to choose the pot carefully.
• Health benefits: It is always good to have a few pots of aloe vera at home. When applied externally, aloe vera gel is effective in calming burns and soothing sunburn. Ancient medicine used this plant to accelerate the healing of wounds. Internally, it calms stomach pain by improving digestion, and stimulates metabolism.
• In cosmetics: aloe vera provides natural hydration to the skin. It fights acne while reducing the signs of aging, even cellular. Applied to nails or hair, the gel acts as a fortifying, revitalizing and regenerating treatment. Every homemade cosmetics lover needs at least one jar of aloe vera.

2 – HOW TO GROW ALOE VERA INDOORS?

Aloe has won over many home gardeners for its hardiness and tolerance for forgotten watering cans. To keep it happy, plant aloe in a terracotta pot with well-draining soil. Your best bet is to mix equal parts sand and potting soil or purchase a special mix for this plant. Terracotta also dries out more quickly than other plastic or glass containers.

Replace your aloe if the weight of the plant causes it to topple over, but don’t worry about giving it plenty of space. This plant grows well in comfortable conditions.

Place your aloe vera in a bright, sunny spot. Otherwise, it will go dormant and stop growing. Water the plant thoroughly about once every two weeks, waiting until the soil is completely dry. Since this is a desert species, keeping the soil wet will cause the roots to rot. Soft or brown leaves are also a sign that you have overwatered it.

If you wish, you can move your potted plant outside for the summer, but don’t put it in direct sunlight right away. Gradually move it to a brighter spot every few days to avoid overexposure.

3 – WHAT TEMPERATURE FOR ALOE VERA?

At home, indoors, aloe vera, which comes from hot countries, will acclimatize very well at a temperature between 18° and 20°.

Take it out from May to September, on your balcony, if the climate is mild, but on condition that you bring it inside during cold nights.

Aloe is a succulent plant and because it retains a large amount of water in its leaves it does not tolerate frost, but is able to survive the hottest summers,

4 – HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR ALOE VERA?

Planting an aloe vera plant is undoubtedly child’s play. But what about maintenance?

Those who don’t have green fingers can relax, taking care of this plant doesn’t require great gardening skills!

Aloe vera is a very resistant plant that grows mainly in arid or even desert environments. It therefore does not need a lot of water. Once planted, it is recommended to wait about fifteen days before watering it for the first time.

During the spring-summer period, the plant will be satisfied with being watered once every two weeks, possibly once a week in cases of high heat. During the autumn-winter period, watering once a month is more than enough. The ideal would be to use non-calcareous water.

Although it needs a lot of light, it is advisable to avoid exposing it to direct sunlight, which will dry out the leaves. It is better to choose a bright corner such as near a window, while carefully checking that the leaves do not turn yellow.

The plant does not tolerate cold very well, so it must be protected during the winter. It can be kept at a temperature between 18°C ​​and 20°C all year round.

Aloe vera reproduces quickly, and small plants will have grown in the original pot very quickly. These are shoots that can be replanted in other pots, once they have reached a height equivalent to four fingers.

In addition to this little routine, it is necessary to repot the main plant approximately every 3 years. Repotting should be done at the beginning of spring, and in a pot with a slightly larger diameter. The maneuver is the same as for the first planting, you just have to be careful with the roots.

5 – EXTRACT THE ALOE VERA GEL

Aloe vera gel has indisputable therapeutic virtues.

To harvest the gel, simply cut a leaf at the base and then cut it into pieces a few centimeters wide.

Then cut these pieces lengthwise to extract the gel which you can use in multiple ways.