There are around 200 African and 300-400 other species in the genus of Aloe flowering succulent plants. The best known and easiest to grow is Aloe vera, or “true aloe”. In the UK it is not frost hardy and is most frequently grown indoors.

Easy Growing Tips

• Aloe vera are succulent plants made up from 90% water and hold the water for long periods.
• Aloe vera stores food, liquid and nutrients in its leaves to compensate for days when it does not have access to water.
• The leaves are thick to protect Aloe vera from drying out.
• Aloe vera plants have strong photosynthetic properties and will need more exposure to sunlight than regular plants.
• In winter they do not need much water as they will grow much slower due to low light conditions.
• Aloe grow small plantlets as offsets to increase your stock. Also a young spikey stem will root quite easily to grow more plants to pass on to others.

Aloe Vera Indoor Plants

• There are several uses for the Aloe sap but do not crop a young plant too often.
• Aloe variegata have a better leaf form with a triangular V section
• Aloe brevifolia forms a large rosette of leaves in little colonies of small plants
• Some aloe flower indoors but their shape and form is the main reason for their cultivation.
• Over watering can cause the thin roots to rot.

Photo Credits

Aloe Vera by Powerhouse Museum CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Aloë Vera by Rutger Middendorp CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

This Aloe vera plant has been grow in a mixed medium of gell to make a welcome novelty gift.