This year I made a promise to myself to buy more plants. My goal is to fill my home with a bunch of plants to show my daughter the importance and joy of having plants in our home.
The Aloe Vera Plant has been the best plant to start with because it doesn’t require a lot of attention and experience to grow.
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Not only can you purchase different types of Aloe Vera plants, but you can discover a whole new world of succulents you may have never heard of. Check them out here!
What is an Aloe Vera Plant?
The Aloe Vera plant is a well known succulent that is perfect as an indoor plant. A succulent is a plant that stores a majority of its water in the leaves and stems. Succulents like dry conditions and warm weather. They hate the cold and can literally turn into mush if they are exposed to super cold weather. They can thrive in drought-like conditions, which is why the aloe vera plant makes an awesome plant for a beginner who may forget to water it.
Healing Benefits Of Aloe Vera Plant
Since starting my natural living journey, I’ve been looking for different ways to do things naturally. The aloe vera plant is perfect because it has many healing properties. For one, it’s good for soothing burns and sunburns. It can also be used for healing cold sores and many other ailments.
The gel of the Aloe Vera plant can be used as the main ingredient in many DIY recipes for shampoos, conditioners, and soaps.
Choosing a pot for Aloe Vera Plant
If your aloe vera plant outgrows its original pot and you find yourself wanting to repot it, make sure your purchase the right pot.
You want a pot that has good drainage because aloe vera plants absolutely hate being left in water. Aloe vera roots that are submerged in water for a long period of time is one of the main reasons they die.
The best type of pot to get for your aloe vera plant is a terra-cotta pot. A terra-cotta pot will allow your aloe vera plant to breathe and assist in soaking up excess water in the soil. Terra-cotta pots are made from clay and are very porous. Using a plastic container holds more moisture and may cause the roots of the plant to rot.
It’s also a good rule of thumb to get a pot that is as wide as it is deep. As your aloe vera plant grows, you want a pot that will not tip over easily.
The most important thing when choosing a pot for your aloe vera plant is to make sure that it has at least one drainage hole. The water has to be able to come out when you water your plant.
Here are a couple of terra cotta pots that you may like for your aloe vera plant when it’s time to repot or pot your plant.
Choosing the best soil for Your Aloe Vera Plant
If you decide to repot your aloe vera plant make sure to get soil that your plant can thrive in. Do not get a regular potting mix because that type of soil is not specifically made for your aloe vera plants. Instead get a soil that contains perlite, lava rock or coarse sand. These are good for your succulents. If you’re not sure about the exact type of soil to get, look for soil that is good for succulent plants or specifically for aloe vera plants.
Choosing a location for your Aloe Vera Plant
A big part of taking care of your aloe vera plant is the same rule of thumb in real estate. Location, Location, Location. Aloe vera plants love bright light but do not like to be in the direct sun. You need to put your plant somewhere bright, but not where the sun shines on it all day. A southern or western facing window in your home would be ideal.
I put my aloe plant right by the door. I have a small window that gets a lot of light, but the sun isn’t blazing on it all day. I also keep my blinds angled upwards to prevent it from getting too much sun.
The best thing about taking care of an aloe vera plant is that it will give you signs to let you know what it needs. If the aloe vera leaves are drooping downwards, your plant is not getting enough sunlight. If the leaves are turning yellow, your plant is getting too much sun. Try moving it to another location that is not too bright. If you move your aloe vera plant to a new location, make sure to keep an eye on it to see if it approves. It will definitely let you know. The video below does an awesome job of showing what to look for.
Best Temperature For Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe vera plants love to be in a warm climate. If they are exposed to the cold, they will unfortunately die. Aloe vera plant leaves are made up of 95 percent water and being in cold conditions will freeze them. The best temperature for your aloe vera plant is between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That is what makes it such an awesome candidate for an indoor plant.
Watering Your Aloe Vera Plant
The one thing to always remember about the aloe vera plant is that it does not like a lot of water. You do not want to overwater your plant or it will not survive.
The day I water my plant, I put a reminder in my phone a month later to water it. However, I still keep an eye on my plant to ensure that it isn’t showing any visible signs of needing water.
You can test to see when your aloe vera plant needs to be watered by sticking your finger about one to two inches down in the soil for dryness.
You want to allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. Some experts recommend watering your plant about every 3 weeks.
During the winter season, the aloe vera plant is dormant. When a plant is dormant, it is not active and does not grow. Because your plant is not growing, you should water it less. Some experts only water their aloe vera plant about 1 to 2 times the whole winter season.
Fertilizing Your Aloe Vera Plant
If you are new to taking care of plants, then you may not know a lot about fertilizing. The good thing about aloe vera plants is they do not need to be fertilized. However, if you decide to fertilize your plant, make sure to never fertilize it in the winter. As stated above, aloe vera plants are dormant in the winter. Fertilizing your plant during the winter season will interrupt that natural process. Allow your plant the chance to chill out and rest.
If you do decide to fertilize, make sure to do it in the spring and the summer and do not fertilize your aloe vera plant more than twice a month. It’s also good to get a fertilizer that is for succulent plants.
Natural Fertilizer For Aloe Vera Plant
You can also make your own natural fertilizer. You can use household scraps to make it. Check out the video below on how to make your own natural fertilizer for your aloe vera plant.
Harvesting Your Aloe Vera Plant Leaves
If you’re taking care of your aloe vera plant correctly, you will be able to harvest your leaves once they mature. Aloe vera leaves are full of gel that you can use in multiple DIY recipes. The video below does an awesome job of showing how to harvest your aloe vera leaf and ways to use it.
Pests and Diseases Of Aloe Vera Plant
Pests
Even if you take great care of your aloe vera plant, unfortunately, your plant may still attract some unwanted visitors. Mealybugs and Scale are the usual pests that feeds off aloe vera plants.
Mealy bugs are a common pest to aloe vera plants 
Scale bugs are a common pest to aloe vera plants
If you see them on your plant, dip a cotton ball or q-tip in rubbing alcohol and wipe them off. You can also take a knife to scrape them off or use your nail. The video below does a great job of explaining how to do it.
Diseases
One of the common diseases of aloe vera plants is root rot. Root rot is when the roots of your plant die. When your aloe vera plant is overwatered and the roots are left in the water, the roots will rot your plant will eventually die.
To prevent root rot, make sure your aloe vera pot has the proper drainage holes and that you do not overwater your plant.
I’m super happy that I bought an aloe vera plant! I will definitely be buying more and having them throughout my home. I love the way the plant makes me feel and how it makes my home look. The aloe vera plant is a beautiful plant, and I find myself drawn to it. It aligns with how I want to be in life. Strong and independent, but willing to give back to the world.
