Aloe vera aloaceae

Native to the SW, aloe is usually grown in pots in the eastern US for its medicinal uses. A good choice for a house plant, with size controlled by the pot it grows in. Many uses in the home such as body rub, treating burns, ingredient for salves, a bruise banisher, soothes sunburn, insect bites, frostbite rub, rashes, health drinks, and used in toothpaste. Zones 8-11

Aloe Care Guide

Plants should be well watered during irrigation, but more importantly, allow media to dry completely between watering. Plants go dormant in the winter, thus take up water at a much slower rate, and less frequent irrigation will be required.

Most aloe can tolerate strong, bright light once they are acclimatized, but also do quite well in part shade. If aloe plants are moved to direct sunlight too quickly, sunburn or white bleached spots can occur. Aloe such as Pink Blush and Dinothere Sunset have coloring that deepens and becomes more vivid in full sun, whereas aloes such as the hybrid Grassy Lassie change color dependent on light levels; a crisp green in the shade and a bronze orange in full sun.

Aloe are hardy outdoors in areas where there is no chance of freezing (USDA Zones 9 to 11). In colder regions, they make excellent interior plants when they are given sufficient light. After over wintering plants indoors, they can be placed back outside after any danger of frost has passed.

Aloes, like most other succulents, prefer a well-drained media. Growing media should contain 30% of a draining agent, such as perlite or pumice.