Aloe Vera Plant Care

The Aloe Vera plant makes a fascinating houseplant. As well as being very easy to care for, it yields some surprising health benefits.

The aloe vera plant is a short-stemmed succulent perennial, which grows 60-85 cm tall. It has thick spiky green leaves which grow in a rosette formation from the base of the plant. Found predominantly in hot, dry climates, the aloe looks a lot like a cactus, although it's actually a member of the lily and onion family.

There are usually anywhere from 22 to 29 leaves on the aloe vera plant. And each leaf can be about 40cm long and 10cm wide. These thick fleshy leaves, along with its short roots, hold a great deal of water. So the aloe vera plant can go long periods without water. It's now grown commercially for the natural benefits it contains, across the southern US, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Although there are more than 200 distinct species of aloe plants, the one which holds the most benefits seems to be Aloe Barbadensis Miller - also known as Aloe Vera - which means the true aloe.

Aloe vera plant care is pretty straightforward. They like warm climates and plenty of sunshine. They do not like over-watering or temperatures below zero. They are very hardy plants, and since they are succulents (they hold water in their leaves and roots) they don't need a lot of water. In fact they seem to thrive on very little. A sunny part of the garden, or south facing window would be ideal.

It's quite easy to find aloe vera plants in your area at your local garden center or nursery. Look for a fairly mature plant, and ensure that the pot is adequately drained. You don't want to water it too often, in case the leaves at the bottom of the plant get waterlogged. And allow enough time between watering for the soil to dry out. Some of the smaller aloe vera plants occasionally get white marks on the leaf. This usually fades as the plant matures.

Once the plants are large enough to handle, you should transplant them into larger containers, then increase the pot sizes as they grow larger. It comes to full maturity at about 4 years, although they do grow rapidly. Maybe start with a fair-sized, relatively mature plant which can be as tall 12 - 18 inches. Some leaves droop on the aloe plant as they age, so you can simply cut the lower leaves away from the stem with a sharp knife.

As the aloe vera plant matures, it produces offshoots, or 'pups' around the main stem. Although they look very pretty, you should remove these as soon as they get large enough to replant on their own. If you don't they may well suck the life right out of the main plant! Doing this also helps keep the plant growing upwards, rather than outwards. The pups do make lovely presents for family and friends.

With a little care and attention, aloe vera plants can live for many years, and provide a fascinating addition to your home or garden, as well as a wonderful source of aloe vera gel. To obtain this gel, just remove one of the lower leaves, cut it in half along its length, and rub the inner pulp over the affected area of skin.

Article Source: Free Articles - http://www.articlesworldonline.com

Jo Johansson enjoys traveling and exploring all things related to natural health and healing. For more information on pure aloe vera products, visit AloeandYou.com.

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