How to Plant and Care for Aloe Vera

With its lance-shaped succulent leaves, aloe vera is an eye-catching plant. Native to hot, dry regions of Africa, it needs a climate where the nighttime temperature never dips below 50 degrees F. That’s why aloe vera is mostly grown as a houseplant around the world but in a frost-free climate, it can be grown outdoors year-round. 

The long, thick, spiny leaves of aloe vera fan out from the center of the plant to a height of about 2 feet. Indoor plants remain much smaller and unlike aloe vera in the landscape, they rarely bloom. The leaves are decorated with white spots and edged with small whitish teeth. They are valued for their gel-like sap and are often used to soothe burns and moisturize skin. 

Aloe vera is exceptionally easy to grow. It needs very little water or care and is therefore an excellent plant for a new gardener.

Where to Plant Aloe Vera

Place aloe vera houseplants in bright, indirect sunlight near a south- or west-facing window.

Outdoors, select a location with morning sun and afternoon shade and well-drained slightly acidic soil.

How and When to Plant Aloe Vera

For outdoor planting in warm climates, wait until the early fall when the strongest heat is over but the soil is still warm. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the nursery pot and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil and water it well. Water it lightly after planting. 

Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart.

Aloe Vera Care Tips

Like many succulents, aloe vera requires minimal care.

Light

Choose a bright spot, such as a south- or west-facing window, for aloe vera. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or close to a windowpane as its succulent foliage can get sunburned.

If you plant aloe vera outdoors or bring your potted plant outside during the summer, select a spot that receives direct morning sun and afternoon shade.

Soil and Water

Well-drained soil is essential. Aloe vera does best with a soil pH of around 6.0.

This succulent thrives in dry soil. Overwatering is one of the main problems for aloe vera houseplants. Let the soil dry out between waterings and only water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Indoors, watering the plant every two weeks during the growing season is usually enough.

If you are moving potted plants outdoors for the summer, select a spot that is protected from rain so it does not get too much water. Water outdoor potted aloe about once a week, or when the top 1.5 inches of soil feel dry.

Temperature and Humidity

In frost-free regions (Zone 10 and above) aloe vera can be grown outdoors year-round.

Houseplants benefit from spending the summer outdoors, as long as nighttime temperatures don't dip consistently below 50 degrees F.

The plant tolerates relative humidity up to 50% but does better in a hot, dry climate.

Fertilizer

During the growing season from spring to fall, fertilize potted aloe with a fertilizer formulated for succulents. Follow the directions for frequency and amounts.

Pruning

The only pruning aloe vera needs is to remove shriveled and dead leaves and any outer leaves with brown tips.

Potting and Repotting Aloe Vera

Plant aloe vera in a pot with large drainage holes and fill it wth succulent potting mix. The pot size should be on the smaller size, with the roots filling about two-thirds of the pot. Less room means less soil that can hold excess moisture.

The size of an aloe plant is determined largely by the space it has for root growth. If you would like a large plant, repot it into a large pot to give it more room to grow. If you would like to maintain a small plant, confine it to a small container.

Repotting is only required every two to five years. If the plant growth slows down or the offshoots (pups) are populating the outer edge of the pot, it’s time for a larger container, one size up should be sufficient.

Pests and Problems

Aloe vera is affected by various pests, including spider mites, fungus gnats, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, and snout beetles. The latter is one of the most damaging pests to the plant, it sucks the leaf sap out of the center of the plant. Inspecting the plant regularly and manually removing the beetles promptly is your first line of defense.

 When the long, green, plump leaves of your aloe vera start looking droopy or develop dark spots, or the tips turn brown, the culprit is often overwatering. Thankfully, this most common problem of aloe vera plants is something that you can easily control.

How to Propagate Aloe Vera

Of the three different methods to propagate aloe vera, propagation from pups (offshoots from the parent plant) is the quickest and easiest. Follow the detailed instructions to multiply this popular succulent.