Whether grown outside in the summer or inside all year, aloe vera is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing aloe.
Jump to:
Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Aloe Vera Belong To?
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family, also known as the daylily family.
One of its best-known relatives is the daylily.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Aloe Vera?
The minimum container depth recommended for mature aloe is 2-3 inches.
Aloe vera plants have very shallow roots, usually staying within an inch of the surface. But they grow somewhat tall (1-3 feet high when mature) and very wide.
Because of this, it is best to select a container that is shallow but wide.
The container should be open on top so that the aloe can stretch out. If planted in a container that is cramped width-wise or that walls the aloe in, the plant will attempt to grow taller, thus becoming very top-heavy and likely falling over.
You may choose to start a baby aloe plant in a smaller container, such as one that is a couple inches deep and 6-10 inches wide, and then gradually "pot up," or re-pot it into larger and larger pots, as the aloe grows.
Of course, you can begin with a larger pot to avoid repotting, but the plant will not stretch out and take up all of the space for some time since it grows relatively slowly and gradually.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Aloe Vera?
Some of aloe's best companions are as follows:
- Elder, the plant that produces elderflower and elderberry
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chives
- Leek
- Lavender
- Sage
- Yarrow
- Rosemary
- Calendula
- Oregano
- Thyme
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Aloe Vera?
Aloe is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with aloe vera are as follows:
- Turmeric
- Watercress and other plants that need a high amount or high frequency of water, since aloe needs a dry environment
- Black cohosh, blue cohosh, chard, and other woodland and shade-loving plants, since aloe needs full sun and dry soil.
What Soil Conditions Does Aloe Vera Need?
Aloe prefers dry, sandy soil.
Succulent potting soil or a mixture of potting soil and perlite are an excellent fit for aloe.
How Long Does Aloe Vera Take to Germinate?
Aloe vera seeds take 2-4 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 70-90°F.
Keep in mind that aloe vera does not always produce seed. Many aloe plants never produce the flowering stalk that the seeds come from.
Reproduction by pups or leaf cuttings is much more reliable. See the reproduction section.
How Much Sun Does Aloe Vera Need?
Aloe vera prefers full sun, specifically 6-8 hours per day.
If you are growing it inside, it is best to place your aloe planter beside a south- or west-facing window.
Despite its full-sun preference, in hot climates, aloe can get sunburnt. If you grow aloe outside in an area that is regularly 80°F or higher, you may want to consider giving it shade for part of the day or growing it in a section of your garden that has dappled shade.
If growing aloe inside in an area that regularly has hot, intense sun, you may consider placing it in a west-facing window rather than a south-facing window in order to give it relief from the sun for part of the day and to prevent sunburn.
How Much Water Does Aloe Vera Need?
Aloe vera should only be watered once every 1-2 weeks. However, it should be watered deeply when it is watered.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Aloe Vera?
Aloe grows fastest in temperatures of 55-80°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Despite being native to warm and hot areas, these plants are tough! Most mature aloes are hardy to around 30°F.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety.
How Tall Does Aloe Vera Get?
The average height of mature aloe vera is 1-3 feet.
Is Aloe Vera Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Aloe is a perennial succulent, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
Specifically, it can live up to 12 years.
How Does Aloe Vera Reproduce?
Aloe vera primarily reproduces by pups. These are much smaller plants that pop up at the base of the parent aloe.
The pups can begin appearing when the parent plant is 6 months to 6 years old depending on a variety of growth factors.
Crowded aloe plants tend to produce pups more quickly since they are stressed, similar to bolting in other families.
When conditions are right, some aloe plants produce a flowering stalk. These flowers then produce seeds. However, as noted in the germination section above, this is not a reliable method, and many aloe vera plants never develop the stalk or the seeds.
Aloe can also reproduce by leaf cuttings.
Can Aloe Vera Be Ingested?
The gel inside aloe leaves is edible.
Aloe leaf gel also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and emollient properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparation is to add gel directly to either the skin (external) or to a juice or smoothie combination for internal use.
Aloe leaf gel is generally recognized as safe in most contexts. However, it should not be taken internally during a staph infection. Also, although it can assist with the repair of shallow wounds such as paper cuts, it should not be used on deeper wounds such as surgical wounds.
Aloe leaf latex, the thin yellow substance found between the gel and the inside of the leaf, has laxative and cathartic properties and is also used in herbal preparations.
Aloe leaf latex contains anthraquinones. While these are not known to cause any issues when taken in small doses over a short period of time, they can accumulate in the liver when taken over a longer period of time and in larger doses. Since aloe latex is a laxative, it can lead to intestinal laxative dependence and electrolyte imbalance, just like over-the-counter pharmaceutical laxatives, if taken for more than a short period of time.
Aloe latex is best taken for 1-3 days for an acute complaint for which a laxative is suggested. It should not be taken for longer than 1-2 weeks due to the safety concerns mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Any information about herbs provided on the Plant to Plate website is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. It is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical advice or treatment. See the Using Herbs article for more information.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
Wondering what else to use aloe vera for? Check out my article on quick, simple uses for aloe here!
Aloe is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: