Aloe Plants are handy to have around, especially in the kitchen. The gel inside the leaves of the aloe plant can be used topically to treat minor kitchen burns. Aloe gel can also be used to aid in the healing of sunburn, rashes, bug bites, and to help reduce scarring. Attractive and easy to care for, aloe plants make a great addition to a sunny kitchen window sill.
Caring for aloe plants is easy. They don’t require frequent watering, in fact they are quite drought resistant. During the winter months, aloe requires less watering, since they tend to enter a state of dormancy. During the winter, allow the soil around your aloe plant to completely dry out between watering. In the summer months, soak the soil thoroughly, and then allow the soil to dry before watering again.
Aloe plants store large quantities of water in their leaves and roots. In fact, they are almost 95 percent water. Because of their high water content, aloe plants are very susceptible to freezing. They should not be grown outside except in very mild climates with little chance of temperatures dropping below the freezing point.
Caring for aloe plants is best done in wide terra cotta pots. The pots are easy to transport, allowing you to move your aloe plants outdoors during the hot summer months, and indoors to a sunny window sill when the winter turns cold. Terra cotta is a great choice since it doesn’t retain the extra moisture that could harm your aloe plants. Choose a wide pot rather than a deep one. Aloe plants have a wide spreading root system, and often become somewhat top heavy as they grow. A wide pot helps reduce the probability of the aloe plant tipping over.
Good drainage is important for aloe plants. Use a pot with drainage holes, and cover the bottom of the pot with gravel to help facilitate drainage. Some sand mixed in with regular potting soil works well for aloe plants.
If your aloe plant becomes limp or the leaves turn mushy or black, it is a sign that the plant is being over watered. Remove any blackened areas, including any you may find in the roots. Replant in dry soil. The plant may recover and reroot. Make sure to allow the soil to completely dry between each watering.
If your aloe plant begins to change color, turning tan or pink, this is a sign that the plant is getting too much direct sunlight. Aloe plants thrive in bright but indirect sunlight. A sunny windowsill seems to provide the ideal condition.
Aloe plants are very hardy, and make great plants for beginners. Aloe plants can often survive fairly rough treatment, such as being broken or knocked over by house pets or small children. If your aloe plant gets knocked over or otherwise damaged, simply replant it. It may take several weeks to recover from it’s spill. During this time keep watering to a minimum since the stress may cause the plant to enter a dormant state. It may drop loose or damaged leaves, but don’t worry. If your aloe plant is still green, it is still living.
A mature aloe plant will reproduce by forming young plants around it’s base. These young aloe plants can be removed and replanted in separate containers when they are several inches tall. Dampen the soil before potting the young aloe plants. After transplanting, they won’t need to be watered again for a couple of weeks. Because young aloe plants are so hardy, transplanting is a great project for young children. Aloe plants can survive some pretty rough treatment.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or consider yourself to have a brown thumb, caring for aloe plants can be a rewarding experience.
