Over thousands of years, Aloe Vera has been used in traditional medicine. From Africa it came to Europe and later on it was successfully introduced in the Caribbean. From there on it spread over America.

The juice or gel in the thick leaves contains anti-inflammatory saponins and antibacterial anthraquinones. They are rich in vitamin C and E and minerals. Salicylic acid, the therapeutic compound of aspirins, gives Aloe Vera its pain relieving properties. So as you can see, this plant is very helpful to have around your house. It does wonders for sunburns, cuts and insect bites. The gel can safely be applied internally or externally.

This desert succulent plant is easy to care for. Aloe Vera grows faster during the warmer months. So if you’re living somewhere in the world where winters are cold, keep them in a pot and move them in the house during the colder months. Aloe Vera plants don’t mind to be kept in pots. They’ll do just fine. Aloe Vera plant care is very similar to caring for a cactus. Not much can go wrong 😉

Aloe Vera Plant Care: Basics Things You Must Know!

• Although Aloe Vera likes the sun very much, the leaves can turn brown when the light is too harsh. Indirect bright light is the best option. If you keep them indoors, place them within 5 feet from an east or west facing a window. Aloe leaves grow upwards, so if they are lying flat on the ground they may not have enough light.

• Aloe Vera plants don’t fancy cold temperatures and can freeze during the winter. So protect them well against frost. A better option is to keep them in pots instead of plain ground and move them indoors during winter if you can.

• Don’t overwater your plants. Every one to two weeks should be fine. When the leaves are getting soft and your plant looks dull you probably overwatered. If this is the case stop watering for a while until it looks fine and healthy again. In the summer you can soak the soil but let it dry out before watering again. The root of an Aloe plant is not big, so check the soil as close as possible to the base of your plant. The ground must be dry before you water again. When you keep your Aloe in a pot make sure it has draining holes. The roots are very prone to rot if they are in wet soil for longer periods. So it is better to forget to water than overwater your plant. If you underwater your plant, the leaves will be thin and curly. They are using all their liquid to feed itself.

• Use good potting soil. If you use larger pots mix it with some sand for a better draining of the water. A cactus mix can be used as well. If the climate where you live is mild or more tropical, Aloe Vera grows very well in most soil types in the garden. They’ll grow faster, so leave enough space between them.

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