Aloe Vera Care Tips
Aloe vera care is simple. Aloe is a popular succulent plant that produces yellow-orange flowering shoots. It is hardy and does well as potted plants in container gardens. Aloe vera plants are usually sold very small, but it is surprising how large they can get – up to 2 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. There are many varieties of aloe vera that thrive in as potted plants – some completely green and others having white speckles.
Aloe vera care tip #1: When planting aloe vera in your balcony garden, remember that it doesn't like its leaves touching the potting soil. If the leaves touch potting soil, the leaves will turn dark green and begin to rot.
Aloe vera care tip #2: Provide your aloe vera plant with shade to full sun. Make sure you aren’t trying to grow aloe vera in full shade. Aloe vera needs some sun to grow.
Aloe vera care tip #3: Propagate aloe vera by offshoots instead of trying to grow it from seed. Once the aloe vera has produced an offshoot or “pup” from its base, cut the offshoot out of the mother plant, making sure to get some of the roots attached to the shoot. After transplanting it, water thoroughly and place in shade for 2 to 3 weeks. Do not water again during this time. After the 2 to 3 week period, it can be placed in full sun in your apartment garden and watered normally. Because this and propagation through seeds can be difficult, most apartment gardeners find it easiest to propagate this plant by removing its offsets and planting them in their own containers.
Aloe vera care tip #4: Bring aloe indoors for the winter. If you live in a cold climate, your aloe vera plant won’t survive the winter outdoors. Bring it indoors to grow it as a house plant, and slowly acclimate it to the outdoor sun (put it outdoors a few hours each day for about a week) and keep it outdoors during the warm months.
Aloe vera care tip #5: Prune aloe vera, but don’t waste the leaves! Aloe vera plants in plant containers can grow large or have too many offsets to fit in your small apartment garden. Instead, harvest some of the leaves and use them. Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that you can use to moisturize your skin or treat sunburns, and you can also mix the gel inside of its leaves in with your shampoo to make your hair softer and silkier!
