Aloe vera is a plant native to the tropics. However, even if you live in an area with cold winters, you can have a healthy and beautiful aloe plant indoors. In areas with winter, aloe vera should be planted in pots with a planting medium in the form of a soil mixture made specifically for succulents-plants whose natural habitat is dry areas and cannot grow large. Aloe vera likes dry and warm conditions, not wet and cold, so it is enough to water when the soil is very dry. A healthy aloe plant will produce "saplings" that can be separated from the mother and planted in separate pots.
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Part 1 of 2: Providing Sunlight, Water and Fertilizer
Step 1. Put aloe vera in a place that gets a lot of sunlight
The kitchen window or other places in your house that are exposed to sunlight are perfect locations for aloe vera. Places with indirect sunlight are also quite good for aloe vera. This plant will not thrive if it is completely in the shaded area. So, make sure that there is at least a little bit of sunlight into the space where you put the pot of aloe vera.
- During the summer as long as there is no chance of frost, you can move aloe vera outdoors. Aloe vera is 95% water, and even the slightest bit of frost will freeze the plant and turn it mushy like mush.
- If you live in a warm growing zone (based on the USDA Hardiness Zone, which is a geographically defined vertical zoning with a specific category in which plants can live) and grow aloe outdoors, choose a spot that gets full sun (six to eight hours). per day).
Step 2. Flush the aloe vera with plenty of water, but not too much
Aloe vera requires very little maintenance, as this plant does not require a lot of water. Wait for the soil to dry at least to ± 2.5 cm below the surface, then aloe vera needs to be watered. Pour in plenty of water slowly, until you see water coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. You no longer need to water it until the soil dries to at least ±2.5 cm below the surface. In most similar environments, watering is done once a week and one and a half or two weeks, and reduced during the winter.
- If you have recently transplanted aloe vera into a pot, wait two or three days before watering it. The goal is to give the plant roots a chance to acclimate to the new soil before absorbing water.
- When in doubt, water less, not more. When aloe is watered too much, the roots will rot, and eventually the plant will die. If you're not sure whether it's time to water or not, it's best to wait a few days longer.
- If you really love your aloe vera plant, consider using rainwater. So, when it rains, let the aloe vera get splashed by rain, if it doesn't rain, let it grow without rain. This method imitates the conditions of the plant's original habitat.
- Remember, over-watering your aloe vera plant can lead to root rot and mold growth. So, make sure to avoid it.
Step 3. Fertilize during the growing period
In the summer (in the US around April to September), aloe vera will grow quickly. You can support it by applying fertilizer twice a month during these months. Dilute the fertilizer 15-30-15 (the series of numbers that are usually written on the packaging label indicate the levels/percentages of each nutrient in the fertilizer in addition to other fillers), by mixing water. Fertilization is done at the same time you water the plant.
Stop fertilizing during the winter, as the plant cannot use the fertilizer when its growth is dormant
Step 4. Watch out for insect attacks
There are several pests that often attack aloe vera plants, one of which is the mealybug. This pest is flat and brown or light brown in color and likes to suck the sap of the aloe vera plant. To prevent this, use natural pesticides that are not toxic to plants.
Part 2 of 2: Repotting Aloe Vera
Step 1. Pay attention to the condition of the pot when you buy aloe vera
Aloe vera plants are usually sold in thin and small plastic pots. In order for aloe vera to thrive for years, it's a good idea to transplant it into a larger pot so the plant has adequate growth space. However, if the aloe vera has been planted in a relatively large clay pot with drainage holes at the bottom then you don't have to bother moving it.
Step 2. Provide a special soil mixture for cactus plants
Aloe vera, like other cacti plants, prefers dry sandy soil, and will not do well when planted in a very wet soil mix. Visit a store that sells gardening necessities to get a mixed planting medium specifically for cacti or succulents-the types of plants that have water reserves and prefer dry roots.
If you live in a 10-11 grow zone (which has a temperature of -1 to 10°C according to the USDA Hardiness Zone, which is a geographically defined vertical zoning with specific categories in which plants can live) where there is no chance of freezing, you you can plant aloe vera outside as a garden plant not as an indoor plant. You need to cultivate the soil by prying it out and replacing it with soil mixed specifically for succulents. If the soil where you live is very loamy and wet, you will need to add sandy soil for better drainage
Step 3. Choose a pot that is three times the size of your aloe vera clump/root ball
The root ball is a mixture of roots and soil at the base of the plant. Aloe vera likes to spread and grow out, so you need to choose a large pot that will provide adequate space for your plant to grow. Choose a clay pot that has drainage holes and also has a tray to catch the soil and water at the bottom.
After a few months or about a year of maintenance, you may notice signs that your aloe plant is starting to grow beyond the size of the pot. If the length of the aloe vera leaf is equal to the height of the pot then it is time to move the plant into a larger pot. Purchase a new pot that is three times the size of the root ball, then re-pot it
Step 4. Plant aloe vera in a pot, with the leaves above the soil surface
Fill half the pot with soil, then position the root ball of the plant in the center. Next add soil around the root ball and so on until it reaches the base of the plant's leaves. Gently tap the soil with your hands to stabilize the plant in place.
Remember that the soil only needs to cover the root ball of the aloe vera plant. After that, give the pebbles on the surface
Step 5. Spread pebbles/coral or shells on the exposed soil
This will help keep the soil moist and mimic the natural habitat of aloe vera. Choose the type of coral, rocks, or shells that you like. Gently press the material to cover the soil at the base of the plant well.
Step 6. Breed aloe vera "saplings"
Saplings are small aloe vera plants that sprout from the mother plant. When you see the aloe vera saplings are fully formed, immediately separate them from the mother. Be careful not to damage the roots. Place on a clean, dry rack, to cool for two days. Then, plant it in a small pot with a suitable planting medium for succulents or cacti.
