Aloe Vera Plant Care - Houseplant Care Tips

Aloe Vera Plant Care Tips The Aloe vera plant can be grown either indoors or outdoors and is very popular for its medicinal properties. Here are some tips to take care of this plant. Sunlight The Aloe vera plant needs bright light for its growth, but harsh sunlight can sometimes damage the leaves. Dark brown or orange spots may appear on the leaves, indicating sunburn. These spots may be flaky, or in some cases, the entire leaf may turn orange. Hence, it is better to keep the plant in a shaded place with lots of indirect sunlight. If you want it as an indoor plant, then make sure that it gets sufficient bright light. You can keep it near an east or west facing window and if the pot is placed on a windowsill, then try to avoid direct sunlight. During winters, keep the plant indoors and ensure sufficient bright light. Soil and Fertilizer The soil for planting aloe vera should be well drained. A potting mix with sand, pumice and perlite is suggested. Nowadays, commercial potting mixes are also available. You can go for pre-packaged 'cacti and succulent mix', as it facilitates good drainage. Diluted plant foods can be used(once a year) in spring. For indoor aloe vera plants, an organic kelp fertilizer or worm castings are beneficial. Watering Aloe vera has fleshy leaves, which enable the plant to store water. Hence, the water requirement of this plant is very less and over watering can cause rotting. Water the plant, only when the soil is dry. You can water it once or twice a month and very scarcely during winter. Always grow this plant in pots with drainage holes, as these holes help to drain out excess water. Repotting A healthy aloe vera plant grows very fast and produces many shoots. If the plant has outgrown the pot and the pot is filled with roots, then you can start repotting. Don't allow the new shoots to grow beyond 3 to 4 inches, as these shoots suck energy from the mother plant. This affects the health of the mother plant, which is characterized by the horizontal growth of leaves. Hence, remove the shoots when they are 3 to 4 inches long and replant them. It is beneficial to use terracotta pots, as they are porous and allow water drainage. Water them at the time of replanting and avoid watering for the next three weeks. It is normal for these new plants to change their color to gray or brown, during the initial stages of replanting. If the leaves are growing flat, try to provide bright light. If the growth rate of the plant is very slow, then change the potting mixture and stop using fertilizers. If you want to harvest the leaves, go for the ones which are closest to the ground. Aloe vera plant cannot stand frost or snow. Hence, keep it indoors, during these seasons. Otherwise, it is very easy to take care of the plant. You can also grow some aloe vera plants and enjoy its benefits. By Sonia Nair www.buzzle.com