Aloe Vera
Aloe vera
A succulent houseplant with thick, fleshy leaves arranged in a rosette pattern, filled with a clear gel traditionally used to soothe minor burns and skin irritations. Aloe vera is well suited to warm, sunny windowsills in UK homes and requires very little watering. It produces offsets freely, making it easy to share with friends and family. In summer, mature plants occasionally send up a tall spike of tubular yellow flowers.
How to grow aloe vera
Place on a bright, south-facing windowsill where it receives several hours of direct sunlight. Aloe vera tolerates partial shade but becomes leggy and pale without enough light. Water sparingly, soaking the compost thoroughly then allowing it to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, water once a month or even less. Use a free-draining cactus and succulent compost, or mix standard compost with equal parts perlite and coarse grit. Feed once a month from April to September with a cactus fertiliser at half strength. Repot when offsets crowd the parent plant, usually every two to three years. Use a heavy terracotta pot to prevent tall plants from toppling. Keep above 10 degrees Celsius and protect from cold windowsills in winter by moving the pot back from the glass at night.
Pruning
No regular pruning needed. Remove any dead or brown outer leaves by cutting them cleanly at the base. Harvest individual leaves for gel by slicing the lowest, thickest leaf close to the stem.
Propagation
- Offset division
- Leaf cuttings
Common problems
- Root rot from overwatering
- Soft, mushy leaves from cold or wet conditions
- Brown, crispy leaf tips from sunburn
- Leggy growth in insufficient light
Good companions
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