How to Grow Aloe Plants - Care and Maintenance
Ahhh, aloe! It's cool. It's soothing. It moisturizes. You will find it in
topical medicines, lotions a soaps, and more. But, where does it come from?
Why, the Aloe plant, of course!
Native to Africa, there are hundreds of varieties of Aloe plants. What variety
is best known? ......... Aloe Vera. Depending upon variety, Aloe plants
can grow as small as an inch. The most common indoor varieties grow several
inches to a foot tall.
Aloe plants are often grown as indoor houseplants. They are easy to grow,
yet slow growing. They look great in containers by themselves, or mixed in
with other houseplants. The thick, heavy leaves are filled with sap.
And yes, you can use the soothing aloe sap (aloe oil or juice) in
them.
Did you Know? The sap from some aloe plants is edible. It is used
in teas and beverages. However, some aloe varieties should be considered
poisonous. Do not use the sap for internal consumption, if you do not know
which ones can be consumed internally.
Propagating Aloe:
Aloe is propagated by offshoots from the mother plant. Simply remove
baby plants, and repot. This is by far, the most common way to propagate
aloe.
The seeds from flowers can also be harvested for propagation.
How to Grow Aloe Plants:
As an indoor houseplant, Aloe pant care is a cinch.
Select a pot or container that fits your room decor. It should have holes
in the bottom for good drainage.
Aloe prefers full sun, but will tolerate a light shade.
Plant roots spread wide, but are shallow in the soil. Water thoroughly. Then,
allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Our only complaint about this great plant, is it can become top heavy and
fall over, uprooting itself from the soil.
Fertilize once a month for best growth. Or, use fertilizer spikes.
If you are going to grow Aloe outdoors, treat it as an annual. It will succumb
to frost and freeze. Protect it, or bring it indoors in cold weather.
Medicinal Uses of Aloe:
The medicinal benefits of Aloe have been known for ages. They include treatment
for:
-
burns
-
rashes
-
itchy skin
-
Poison ivy
-
dry, cracking skin
-
moisturizing skin
Harvest aloe for use, by removing a large stem or stalk with a sharp knife.
Then, squeeze out the sap.
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