Aloe Vera is not a difficult plant to care for. It does grow faster outdoors during warmer months, but it doesn’t mind a pot and does just fine in the house. Some basic things to watch out for: it’s true that Aloe’s like sun, but they can turn brown in harsh light. Indirect is best. Also, they can freeze during the winter and should be protected from frost. Move your Aloes indoors during cold months if you can.
Watering Your Aloe
When it comes to watering, an Aloe Vera plant is in greater danger of being overwatered than underwatered. Aloes like a soil that drains well. A cactus mix or a sandy soil is good for larger pots. Smaller pots drain quickly, and any good potting soil will do the trick. Water your Aloe sparingly in the winter since it won’t be drying up very fast. It won’t need to be watered very often, maybe once a ever week or two. In the summertime you can really soak the soil, but let the soil dry out between waterings. Make sure there is a drainage hole in the pot since the roots are prone to rot when exposed to long periods of wet soil.
Down and Dirty
The best way to check the soil is to get about 2-3 inches into the soil. If your Aloe Vera plant is small you only need to check about 1-2 inches in. It is very common for some parts to be dryer than others so make sure you check close to the base of the plant. The roots of Aloe aren’t that long, so the dirt close to the base of the plant should not be moist. By moist, I mean soil that sticks to your fingers. Let the soil get to the point where it is crumbly and lighter in color. Let it stay that way for a few days before watering the plant again.
Reading Aloe leaves
Poor Aloe Vera plant care shows in the leaves. Here’s how you can tell what is happening with your plant:
- Aloe leaves should grow upward, away from the base of the plant. If the leaves are lying flat, your Aloe probably has insufficient light. Although it will turn brown with too much
light, it still needs a good amount of sunshine. - If the leaves are thin and curled, you probably are not watering your Aloe enough. The plant is using up its own liquid to keep itself nourished. Give it some water!
- When the leaves are brown, as I mentioned before, your plant should be taken to a place with less direct sunshine.
- If the plant is growing very slowly, the soil or water might be too alkaline. It could also mean that the plant was too damp for too long, needs more light, or has too much fertilizer. It might also like a bigger pot.
Repotting
Repotting an Aloe Vera plant is not necessary until the upper plant gets too top-heavy. The plant can stand to be root-bound, which means the roots become tangled and grow in circles. When it does become root-bound it will send up more shoots, or pups. More Aloe for you! If these little Aloes are not removed and replanted, they will suck the life out of the mother plant- parenting is tough. Some signs that this is happening include a bright green color in the parent horizontally growing leaves. When repotting Aloe pups, give them a good watering in their new pot, and then don’t water them again for 3 weeks. This will force the new roots to seek water. It is normal for the transplanted plant to turn grey or brown for a while. They are in shock. Keeping them in a shady spot during this period will help them to bounce back faster. For step by step instructions on repotting, check out this article.
mikerosss says
Nice site, nice and easy on the eyes and great content too.
minty says
Thank you sooooo much my aloe was in to much sunlight thanks!
Dave says
Great info, clear and straight forward easy to understand
j.w.kreder says
how old will a well kept plant get……
TW3 says
My aloe “farm” came home to TN from AZ nearly 30 years ago. It is quite hardy and hard to kill as long as it is not frosted or frozen.
Laura says
my aloe plant is at least 19 years old. I have repotted once and it took off, It’s ready for another repot…
Corrie Fowler says
what type of soil did you use, when re-potting? Thanks, Corrie
Amira says
What soil did you use to repot your plant?
Ali says
I used soil designed for succulents.
Sue Bergeron says
I just got a aloe plant thanks for for the information
Irma Dobbs says
My third or fourth aloe plant is dying, I cannot seem to get one to grow. It is by a window with no direct sunlight, could this be the problem? Is a pot that waters from the bottom ok with the aloe? The leaves die, fall off at soil level, can they be re-rooted? Thanks,
BeckyB says
Thanks for the tip, I am do not have much of a green thumb and this was very helpful!
Sue Bergeron says
I just got a aloe plant thanks for for the information. J
Fatimah says
Thank you
Jude Bowman says
This is great information. Short sweet and to the point with pictures to support narrative. Thanks for that!! My 10 year old son was given a small Aloe Vera plant from a kind old gent who lives closed to the school. He stopped the kids on the way home and said “here.. take this home for your mum to brighten her day” he had lots of other little plants he was giving away. So my son embraced this (not at all what i thought he would do) Oddly enough the Aloe has thrived since. We have just had to re-pot. The plant has a little ‘pup’, so we will have to take that out. Thank you for the information.
michele heath says
This is a well wrote out site, very easy to understand, without going to much into detail.
Joseph Fields says
hello great info my aloe plant was nearly dieying but you saved it thank yoooooooooooooooooou
angela backer says
written not wrote
Tia says
Grammar Nazi
Rayne says
That bothers you buy dieying doesn’t? Lol
Rayne says
And autocorrect makes me lol like a joke… not buy, but*
Val Coates says
Thank you, you took the word right out of my mouth! ????
Geri says
I want to repot the aleo correctly–I am going to try what article said, but if you have any other suggestions I am open to them–thanks so much—-Geri
Victory says
Me too- I want to re-pot mine without hurting my plant. It has grown very nicely in the pot it’s in but it is growing too big and looks like it needs more room to grow. Now that the weather is getting warmer I’m thinking about maybe putting it outside. The flowers have bloomed and are doing well so why not my aloe plant? I just want to make sure I don’t do anything to harm it. I was raised on a farm and my Dad always told me, ” You don’t want to do anything to hurt the plants Vic. They are alive too & they feel it when you harm them.” It was good advice because throughout my life everything I’ve grown has grown well with gentle love & care.
Victory says
How did your plant do, Geri?
Danielle Brown says
Hi Victory,
Before you repot your aloe or move it outside, read up on both subjects. Understanding the pros and cons of moving your plant outside as well as how to repot your plant safely and effectively will help you protect your plant and improve its health. Check out this article on growing an aloe outdoors. This article on repotting should also help you out! If you aloe is growing too big and looks like it needs a bigger living space, you may also want to consider separating some of its pups from the mother plant. This process will give you multiple aloe plants instead of one giant one. Here’s an article so you can learn about propagating an aloe. So many solutions! Best of luck!
MOLLY says
This website answered all my questions. Very informative.
Ryan says
I know this thread is old but OMG could you imagine the pain that grass must go through everyday with mowing – sports – and walking on. Lol
Trace' says
OMG Ryan, I’m rolling on the floor laughing….
jerry karp says
i have a question:
my aloe plants are flowering. the long stem that grew for the flowers remains, while the flowers are now gone. should the flower stem be cut back, or should the stem be left alone?
your input would be deeply appreciated. thank you very much, jerry
David Martinez says
I have a top heavy aloe that has laid down. It is growing fine, but I would like to straighten it out. Is it possible to cut some of the roots off to do this, or should I just get a bigger pot?
Judi Morris says
Nice site. Thanks for not covering just some of the info but rather everything I was looking for: watering, leaves, light, repotting. Great!
deb hiser says
I HAVE LITTLE ALMOST FRUIT FLIES, SIZE ON PLANT WHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF THEM.
Euhill says
If the flies look like a cross between a fruit fly and a miniture mosuito, then you have fungus gnats. It would mean that your aloe is being over watered as these guys like warm moist places. Also if the aloe is in straight potting soil, then it isn’t draining as well as it could. In which case you would want to replant it in a pot with 1 part potting soil, 1 part gravel and 1 part sand. That will mimick desert soil fairly closely. To get rid of the gnats, make sure your aloe has enough water stored in it’s leaves and stop watering it for about 3 to 4 months. If it doesn’t have enough water stored the leaves will be thin. Just give it a heavy watering to fatten up the leaves and then stop watering for the 3 to 4 months. The soil should completely dry out and the gnats should die off.
Nadine says
My aloe plant is top-heavy. There is a 6″ gap from the soil level in the pot to where the leaves are healthy and upright.
When I transplant it, will it root from the stem? Can I bury the 6″ gap and have the leaves sit at the soil level?
Dee Clarke says
I have the same problem. I have re potted the plant further down inside the pot. I am hoping for the best results.
Dee
Jenny says
My aloe vera plant has got very large andis growing in a spiral and is so heavy it leans. How can I support it? I have had it at least 6 yrs. Any tips?
Susan Williams says
Very nice site! Great content, easy to use and understand, without a degree in botany!
Paul Clark says
Hi… I have a 3 foot Aloe Vera that I purchased as a 6 inch beginner. Each February for the past 3 years, it has produced a 40 inch spire covered in flower buds. The 1st year, i continued the once a month watering, the 2nd year, I watered weekly. This year, I denied it all water. Not one of those buds has bloomed in any of the 3 years. HELP. What does the flower look like? Does it smell? What am I doing wrong?Any help you can provide would be deeply appreciated. Thanks…Paul Clark
Wanda Hildebrand says
You talk about brown leaves but nothing about brown spots on the leaves and the leaves are drying out regardless of water amount. I have it in front of my kitchen window which only get sun in the evening. The sun hits the widow about 4 pm. My mom had an Aloe Vera that did great there and she didn’t do anything as far as taking pups from it. This is my first one and I could sure use the help.
Sarah Parker says
My aloe vera plant has black spots on the leaves. What is causing this.
We Love Aloe says
Probably too much water and not enough light Good Luck!
Jameelah says
This is not my first aloe plant. I should say more like my fourth or fifth, and I’ve killed them all. So my fiancee brought me a nice healthy aloe plant. My plan is to keep it that way. Thank you so much.
Sue says
Thank you so much for this well-written article. I just got my first aloe and want to take good care of it. I appreciate how specific you were with every step!
God bless!
Kirby says
Very efficient information. This worked out well for my school project.
barbara trujillo says
i have a aloe vera plant, it seems to be doing ok , if some leafs fall ,1 only is that ok
Barbara says
I have several aloe vera plants. Two are planted under some large oak trees, so very shaded. They do well during the hot Georgia summer and came back nicely this spring. Another I have in a pot and it rode out the winter on my porch and is now HUGE. And this year it bloomed. It sent up a GIANT stalk and had gorgeous orangish-peach color hanging blooms.
My question is: Now that the blooms are beginning to fade and die, how do I care for the remaining stalk? Do I cut it, let it die off? I have a pup to transplant from it also, so I want to make sure I don’t damage the plant doing too much to it.
Any info you can give me is much appreciated.
Wendy C says
How do you ‘fatten up’ the leaves? I rescued several and have transplanted almost all the pups, but even though the leaves are now green again, they aren’t as pump as I would like. I already do all the recommended steps, but the only thing I have left to try is feeding. Any recommendations? I am in San Diego County, zone 9/10.
Judy Meadows says
My aloe plant is covered with sticky crystals. What causes this and what should I do about it?
Jeanne says
I agree with Mike Rosss
linda roper says
just got a plant from lanzarote and found the info good
Susan says
Fantastic information without the technical speak!!!!! You have just “saved” my newly purchased Aloe Vera Plant from becoming yet another “Victim” – Thanks so much
jesse says
hi. My allo plant has little white bugs all over the new shoots and they’re not looking all that great. how do I get rid of these little buggers???
We Love Aloe says
A little soap and water spray can do wonders.
Hefen says
Thanks so much for your thoughtful aloe info. Please tell me if the aloe likes to be crowded. My plant was doing so well. Then suddenly a large “branch” fell off after about 5 years of growth. Now leaves are thin in spots. Perhaps it’s getting watered unevenly because the base is too packed.
Also, in repotting, do I have to place the part to be repotted into water first or can it be placed directly into soil?
Thanks,
Hefen
We Love Aloe says
Hefen, I’ve had good results dipping in water, and then replanting in soil directly. Good Luck!!!
Jonathan Snell says
thank you for the gudie my plant is reproducing I guessing as there are smaller shoots. 1 Is that reproducing? 2 if so how do I repot new shoots and i’ll change my soil to be more sandy tho it seems to be doing well
Courtney says
Hi, I live in Texas and I’m growing an aloe vera plant. I bought mine at a yard sale and then found out that I had about 20 plants. I just thought it was a big plant at first. So anyway, when I first got my plants I left half in the pot they came in and transplanted the rest to a different pot. There was a crowding issue. My plants were doing okay but I noticed that the roots on some of the plants were brown and yellow but I bought them like that so I didn’t think anything of it. Some of my plants were healthy and the others had root rot. Once I found out they had root rot I looked up how to help my plants and was told to peel off the brown or discolored parts and to water it less frequently so I watered about once a month. I did that and my plants looked like they were a starting to improve. Then I went away and left a friend to plant and puppy sit, I watered my aloe vera just before I left so I knew it didn’t need to be watered until I got back. Told my friend to only water my peppermint plant and to leave the aloe Vera’s alone but apparently my friend has ODD and does the opposite of what people say. Long story short my friend watered my already damaged plants twice per week for about 3 weeks. When I got back and saw my plants they were a lot worse then when I left them and were dying from over watering. Tried to save them and all but one died. The one that I saved is a small size, I’ve been trying to give it a break and am afraid to water it again. Not really sure when its safe to start watering again. It seems healthy and is sprouting new leaves on the bottom but I have it by the window and one of the tips of the leaves is brown and thin and has no gel in it. I’m not sure if this is because of overwatering or because of too much sun or not enough water. It’s been in direct sunlight before. I’ve left it alone for a few weeks and haven’t watered it. It’s in a big and deep post and has good drainage. Do you know what the brown is from and should I cut it off? Any suggestions? Thank you. -Courtney
We Love Aloe says
I think the brown is from too much sun. I had the same issue with some of my plants, after reducing the sun they returned to green
Amy says
Thanks so much! This article was crystal clear and extremely thorough. I now understand so much better how to treat my aloe plant.
Question: I repotted my aloe plant before reading this. It turns out I placed it too deep in the new pot. Should I re-repot it or leave it? I’m concerned about too many repottings being detrimental to the plant, but I want it to grow well!
We Love Aloe says
Amy, you should be able to repot without hurting the pant too much. Aloe are pretty hardy.
Amy says
Thank you!
Gary says
Hi,
My Aloe has leaves about 6-8 inches long. They are plump. However, they are top heavy as there are almost no roots, as evidenced last night when a clump of leaves fell out of the pot. And what roots there are are all at the surface.
What can I do to help the roots grow? On another site he says a healthy plant starts with healthy roots. And the root ball should be about the same size as the fullage on top. But he was talking about other sorts of plants.
When I originally was given them I used the potting soil I had on hand, so it might not be a proper mix.
Watering; I drench them not more frequently than once per week. I feel the soil and it’s now wet when I water, but it’s not bone dry either.
They are in a 14″ clay pot, with rocks in the bottom and a drainage hole, siting on a saucer also with rocks under the pot.
Gary
We Love Aloe says
Gary, Aloe typically don’t need the same type of root systems as other plants. An Aloe can be pretty healthy with small root ball. I would try to reduce the amount of watering you are doing for a time and see if that encourages any additional growth. However if the top of the plant is fine, I would not worry too much about it. Best, Admin
Gary says
I’m not sure I would call it a root ball. More like a several hairs maybe an inch or two long.
I’m not sure how the top is doing. There are a lot of dried and withering leaves. But there are also a lot of plump and green leaves. There are also some leaves that appear bent or broken, but maybe I bumped into those and did that.
Maybe I should take a picture for you.
There have been times when she was doing great. She has spread to pretty much cover the top of the 14in pot. And it’s really a chore to get between the plants to feel the dirt.
I guess she’s the kind to spread horizontally as opposed to the kind that have long leaves that soar vertically.
Gary
ashley [email protected] says
Hi pls help me with my aloe vera plant I live n a 2 bedroom apt. Where the sun never shines n my window I have moved it several times and and it’s still dying its really soft and its leaning down also its getting white spots on it what can I do to save my plant pls help I have tired to get help from other sites but no responds. I’m desperate now so what can I do I’ll b waiting by the phone for your response.
We Love Aloe says
Ash, move the plant away from the window and keep it dry. Good luck!
Paula A. Matthews says
Thank you so much for the information, it helps very much. I have a problem with my aloe plant though, we moved a month ago and before the move I saw the plant was very tight in one pot and I re-potted which turned out to be a few different ones and about 2 weeks later we had to move. When we re-potted we added the water at the bottom where the pot instructed to do so and I have not added any more water since but the soil is very wet, the plants leaves continue to get soggy and brown as well as the new babies. I changed the soil and only added 1 cup of water for the very large pot of soil and it is still doing the same and one thing I forgot to mention is that the top layer of soil gets some kind of mold on top. When I check the soil it is very wet, I changed the soil again for the third time no water this time and I put my entire hand in it to the bottom because the leaves are still rotting and the soil sticks to my hand like mud. If you can help I would really appreciate it.
Thank you,
Paula
Sarah Robins says
The problem with mine is probably over watering. I will keep this bookmarked for future reference.
JoJo says
Hi Im new to this whole plant thing 😛 I want to grow aloe because it has many uses and I would like to have my own. Unfortunately I started off on the wrong foot and bough outdoor soil for an indoor plant (i didn’t event know there was a difference between indoor and outdoor soil). So anyways, I want to know if and why I would need to repot or change the soil ever? (after i get the right one hehehe) I got a giant pot for it so I don’t think I would ever need to repot it because of the pot size 🙂 the soil is very pricy since i want to use Organic soil since I will be eating my aloe. I need lots of help, Thank you!
Karen @ Pledging for Change says
Thanks for this info. I just acquired an Aloe and now ordered organic cactus compost to repot it. I hope it will grow and give me much of that lovely aloe vera gel from inside it leaves for all the amazing health benefits.
Did you know that aloe vera has astaxanthin which is a powerful anti oxidant?
Luis says
Can aloe plants grow together in one pot?
We Love Aloe says
Yes
Marilyn Holtmann says
I have an indoor Aloe Vera plant in a pot that’s growing like crazy & getting too tall. Can I lop some of the plant off the top?
We Love Aloe says
Yes no problem
Mwuese Agav says
my aloe plants have been turning brown and i noticed it was the once more exposed to the sunlight. I thought maybe they got infected or something, but reading this helped me learn it’s just too much sun! thanks!
shirley bower says
I have a huge aloe plant – maybe 10 years old — love it – I had a small rash on my leg, so I cut off a stem – to apply the aloe to my leg – which was soothing — however, not sure if it is coincidence or I damaged the plant — but a day or so later – it just seemed to droop over – it just may be top heavy – and wintertime near the window – or did I damage it by cutting off a stem ?????????????? I feel so bad — but I read on the internet that aloe was great for an itchy rash. oh my . I think I cut off a stem some years ago to put on a burn – but plant had no reaction. confused.
We Love Aloe says
I don’t think you would have damaged the plant by cutting off a single stem. Your plant should be fine with a little TLC
Jon says
Hi!
Thanks for the helpful site as I’ve been asked to care for my neighbor’s Aloe Vera plant while they are away this winter (now until April).
I am hoping to not only keep it alive but actually make it thrive in that time so I am thrilled to have found your helpful information. However, I found a fairly significant typo that I need to have cleared up so I am sure to do the right thing.
Under Watering Your Aloe it states the following:
” It won’t need to be watered very often, maybe once a ever week or two.”
I’m not sure what “once a ever week or two” means.
Will you please clarify this statement? Thank you.
Any additional tips on how to make my neighbor’s plant THRIVE while they are away?
I have eastern exposure through some windows and southern exposure too.
Regards,
Jon
We Love Aloe says
I would only water the plant once per week.
Kathy says
Thank you so much for your site and information. I know my plant will be healthier now. 🙂
Diane says
I thought Aloes likes sun,but now realise they do not like too much. My plant was looking paler in colour when I moved it into the conservatory. It’s too big for a windowsill now, so will have to find a more suitable site for it.
Danielle Brown says
Hi Diane,
Many people think that the cactus-like aloe will never run into a problem with overexposure to the sun, but that is far from the case! Find out the symptoms of a sunbrunt aloe in this article as well as advice on how to rescue your aloe from too much sun!And this article talks about the proper amount and type of sun an aloe needs, which you might find helpful!
In regards to finding a new home for your growing aloe vera, try placing it on a table in the middle of a brightly lit room in your house if it has grown too big for a windowsill. The dining room table or even the coffee table in your living room could make a nice home for your aloe if those rooms in your house get enough light! Artificial light is always an option, too!
Cassie says
Hi,
I have had my aloe for 8-10 months now, I bought it at 9″ and it has grown to be 21″ so far. I was just about to transfer it for the second time since I bought it, but was unsure if transfering it over to cold soil would be a problem.
After reading this I have more questions, my aloe is currently in a 5″x4″ pot and I was going to move it to a 12″x8″ pot using “vitalium” brand potting mix with mycorrhiza . This is the same potting mix I used the last time I transferred it. It says on the bag that it has good water retention and so far it has done well. I don’t water my aloe until the top layer of soil is nearly dry but the leaves are all thick and healthy looking except for the very very tips of 3 of them. They have a tiny bit if Brown that is only noticable if you really look for it. I believed this was due to being in my bathroom window and lacking space as they had been touching the window and I live in Canada where it gets pretty cold.
However now I’m concerned that the soil may be a problem, and I’m afraid that the pot I purchased may be too large. The new pot does have a drain and a “catch area for water, I had bought it thinking that it would be good since it won’t be getting as much moisture anymore as it will be in the living room now and I will be watering it a bit less since its in a less convenient place.
I’m afraid to transfer my poor aloe now, should I get a different pot and soil or will this be ok?
So far this is the only plant (including a supposedly “unkillable” cactus) that I’ve been able to keep alive longer than a week.. I really want to see my aloe live a long healthy life.
What do I do?
We Love Aloe says
A large pot should not be a problem for you plant at all. Just place some small stones at the bottom of the pot, and perhaps mix a little sand into the soil. Good luck!
Penny says
I have a pup growing at the top of the flower stalk now the flowers have died & need to know what to do with it, I don’t want to kill it off.
Any help much appreciated.
Penny
Danielle Brown says
Hi Penny,
It’s probably time to separate that pup from the mother plant! Repotting time! Right now, your aloe may have too many pups to take care of, causing a drain on its energy and therefore the death of your flowers. Refer to this article for help propagating your plant and getting those flowers back!
Wilma Hopson says
I must get rid of at least half of my aloe plants and would like to know if I can save the gel in the freezer or fridge?
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Uzma says
Such asimple and inforative website. I am growing my aleo vera plant in Canada ,where mostly it is cold.i moved it putside but it got brown . I think direct sunlight or cold weather . Now i have moved it in for less sunlight. I hope it will turn green again or i have to trim it.
Jessie says
Your website is very informative, and I have a few questions concerning my Aloe.
I have cats, and one of them likes to knock everything and anything down. When we first bought our little aloe plant, we put it up some where thinking it’d be safe until we put all our groceries away. Not long after we put it on top of our tv stand, the one cat knocked it down.
2 of the leaves tips broke off, where they broke off at has now turned brown and that part of the area is dry and they haven’t grown either. I guess that is normal but my one main concern is the one leaf.
It got punctured some where in the middle, it was at the time the biggest leaf and use to stand tall. Now it’s laying down. It’s still got a lot of gel inside it except the area that got punctured. So its like Fat at the bottom, thin in the middle and fat at the top. The leaf also hasn’t grown much since it fell either.
The rest of the plant seems to be doing just fine. So it’s just the leaves I’ve mentioned. Any tips on how to care for them?
Rae says
I just got my aloe plant yesterday and this was so helpful! I don’t have the greenest thumb that I could, so my mom told me to look up how to care for it. My first option for a site and I didn’t regret it! Thank you so much for making this site, it was so helpful for me. This is a good site for kids who attend school like me. 😀 THANK YOU!
adrienne says
good thing i came here.i was doing the opposite of what was best for aloe.i need to go out and move them out of the sun and quell the urge to water,water,water.
Leslie P says
Hi! Thank you for the post. I have kept my large aloe plant (it’s in a pot) indoor since last fall, and when I put it back outside now that it is almost summer and getting warm again, I was shocked to find it a week later with brown, mushy leaves. Some have curled up and a few of the small pup leaves have died altogether. I did water it really well, as it had been a while since it was last watered, and then it rained. Is my aloe’s problem too much sun or too much water? I left it outside all summer last year, and it rained A LOT, and the aloe was fine. I’m just really sad because only a week ago it was strong, thick and bright green… 🙁 Do you think it will bounce back from this?
Joseph says
wow! just wow! your description on step by step, every word, thank you, i’ll get right on it, i had the plant for what… 5 years? it had 2 pups and now im on my 3rd all sat next to there mum, the 2 pups are in their young adult state and the 3rd is in a vodka shot glass with water and its ready for planting, but my problem is that the 2 young adults and mum are top heavy and its loose like its easy to pull out any suggestions on how to sort this out? Thank you!
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yvonne says
i bought a large aloe plant at a yard sale, i cant tell what it is planted in, the material is very hard like concrete, should i repot it ? how do i remove it from that hard stuff?
Michele says
Hello! I bought a new aloe plant today and I am looking into REALLY taking great care of it and hopefully multiplying it and allowing it to grow as much as possible. With that being said, upon inspecting it when I got home I notice one of the leaves is rather brown. All the other leaves on the plant are nice and plump. Beautifully green and very healthy looking. I am not sure what I should do about that ONE browned leaf. I would appreciate ANY advice!!! 🙂
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Oils that are perfect for sealing are Olive oil, jojoba oil, safflower oil or castor oil.
Loretta says
My aloe plant is beautiful on the top half but the bottom half is limp and completely dead? Can I trim the dead half? And what do I do to keep the top half healthy? It has grown in a fan shape and it just cant seem to hold it’s own weight.
capillus chile says
It is an unfortunate irony that many “nutritional” products people take to
improve their appearance have the side effect of
causing them to go bald. They use a multi-therapeutic approach,
trying to win the war on hair loss by using every possible angle.
Are you in a situation where you cannot be among your friends and feel free because of your
hair issues.
igrow 800 says
Ear deformities, especially in children can become a target for the less caring
children resulting in the child being ridiculed and teased.
Redheads and folks with course hair will typically be higher shedders than blondes or those with fine hair.
Oils that are perfect for sealing are Olive oil,
jojoba oil, safflower oil or castor oil.
Doris Daniel says
I have a very old plant- I have just had to repot because of root bound. It was doing great then we had a drop in temp. did not get plant inside soon enough. Now my plant is limp- with blistered spots that has come up on some of leaves. and there is a drip of liquid (water)? coming from the ends.
What should I do? I do have two little new sprouts come up that seem just fine.
Your article was wonderful and so informative. Thanks.
Olivia says
‘Treat your aloe as you would like your aloe to treat you’
Carl says
Hi, I need help with my Aloe plant and fast!!! It was a house plant in a property of mine which has been rented out. Anyway when I’ve come to check on it the plant has been left outside for about 5 weeks during December and January. I have rescued it but it’s clearly in need of some TLC, it also needs repotting. The leaves are a healthy looking green by put I’m afraid some are extremely limp and lifeless :0(
It clearly needs repotting as it’s too big for the current pot but I’m at a loss where to start……help!!!!
Stoffb says
My aloe Vera is turning brown, and that’s why I ended up reading your article… I’ll take the advice and keep it off direct sunlight! Fingers crossed this wil work. Thanks for the great and easy to follow article!
Janet says
My aloe is very healthy but has some flat areas on a few leaves. Do not know what is causing this. I water once a week.
Jessie says
I just got my 2nd aloe plant, the last one lasted a year but didn’t know what I was doing now I have a clue. However when measuring size do I count the stem or just the leaves and what would it look like when it has pups, and how much water at a time?
stephanie wilson says
when we moved back from spain to uk a little aloe came with us ,at first it did well but now the outer leaves are a dull brown but the new growth inside looks very healthy,i have kept it dry thinking i had over watered it , what have i done wrong please x
an says
Very easy to understand .very helpful!
Jessica says
I planted an off shoot of my aloe plant and its not developing a root system. I haven’t watered it much because I read that it will kill it. However, there are roots growing from it and it is really skinny.
Wild Wally says
A friend of mine at work just started eating Aloe Vera, he says it alleviates his generalized aches and pains. I just bought three Aloe Vera plants and will start harvesting and eating them as well. I hope I get positive results, both in growing and consuming the Aloe Vera. I will be back to let everyone know how it goes. 🙂
Emme @ Green Global Travel says
Great tips. You make it simple and I really appreciate the list of clues found in the leaves. Thanks for the help!
cheryl says
my aloe plant is wobbly and top heavy, how do I make it stand tall and straight. I have replanted to a bigger pot, but am having to hold it up with wooden dowels.
Shamop says
I got an aloe Vera plant today. Her name is Ally
Mckay says
Huh… at first my plant had brown leaves and some flies. Tried to water less and now it has thin leaves and one thin green curved leave without the flies… I’ll try this out.
Mckay says
But my plant is small… like it was new… but it isn’t… it has sunlight but grows slowly
Nolan Wood says
I have a fove year old aloe plant that has started getting top heavy and is growing toward the ground andly tips?
Roslaund says
I have a plant that is a little over a year old. I have repotted it once since buying it. I used just regular potting soil not realizing it might need something different. Anyway it has gotten out of hand and was growing with a crook in it which I thought repotting would fix. It did not and now is sitting on the window sill where it always has, but has grow to be very tall. It would fall over if I did not lean it against the wall a certain way. I will repot it in a bigger pot but I also wonder should I cut it down some. It seems the plant has grown in height but should have grown larger and leafed out more. So do I cut it down and will this help it grow out more?
Jennifer Chi says
Thank you sooo much, this is straight and simple. 🙂
Jennifer Chi says
Thank you sooo much, so sraight up 🙂
Susan Summerfield says
Hi, I have a small aloe plant and currently it’s in my bathroom. Two of the leaves are lying flat and seem rather spongy.. I will move to a window for light as u suggest .. Anything else?
Misty says
My neighbours have relocated . their aloe plants have become white ,i guess because of not watering them for many months. Can revive them somehow..thanks in advance
Adrienne B. says
Thank you so much. I have been looking all over the internet because I did not know why my aloe plants leaves keep hinging down, I thinking I needed to trim the leaf to a smaller size. Glad I found this page before I hurt my plant. Now the trick is to find a better spot with more sun. Thank you for the info.
DevonHomeYogi says
Great article, and love the clarity of your site! My baby aloe plant is starting to thrive in my yoga studio and will probably need to be repotted before too long, so I thank you for your tips 🙂
Devon http://www.thehomeyogi.net
Hennie Bester says
Aloe vera is a super plant, too many uses to mention all. But real skin care and skin cancer protection as well and burn wond healing is only a few of the external good protection things. I also drink some for colon protection.
Marni says
Hi there, my aloe is droopy. So much so that I call it my spider. It grows like crazy but the leaves (very small in circumfrence) get to be a about 12 inches long and then they droop over. One woman told me that I wasn’t watering it enough and another told me it was in a pot that was too large. But I read here that it is due to insufficient light. I have it in my living room that faces west. Sometimes wearing sunglasses at four o’clock in the afternoon!!
Would it be ok to plant it in a smaller pot? Would it hearty up?
Claire says
My aloe plant seem to be just growing upwards it’s getting very tall and starting to look top heavy any suggestions?
Linda Abbott says
Just a note to say thank you for such a clear article devoid of techno-speak. I’m sure your article has saved many, many aloe plants! Your clear, concise writing has helped all of us aloe parents. Thanks!
Knoxville Website Design says
I saw one of these plants downtown in Knoxville, Tn at Good Golly Tamale and it was huge! I finally got my soil correct after reading a lot online. Had to use a glass tile bit drilling a glazed ceramic pot for drainage and then got some builders sand from a house they were building nearby and made my soil. Also added some small crushed gravel in the soil. Seems happy now!
La Habra Fence Company says
Aloe Vera is very good for skin, best for oily skin. Aloe vera plants are good resource of oxygen. If you have garden and considering securing it, you should think once about fencing.
Boboosy says
Hello there..
I’m SO really confused I have aloe vera and when I cut it there is really an unpleasant smell like onion not only me that realized the smell but my dad and sister also. Why does my aloe have a bad smell. And if there were a type of them that can be used with no smell I would be so thankful if you tell me the name of it.
I read that the aloe barbadinses doesn’t have a bad smell and smell like nothing. Can you help me please I love aloes so much and I want to use it but I can’t handle the smell.
Thanks again
Alan says
We have a small house in andalucia, and one of our neighbours just gave us an Aloe vera plant in a pot the top of the leaves look a bit brown, he tried to explain but only in spanish and my spanish is even less. Could you tell me the best way to replant the aloe as it looks as if there are two plants and a lot of shoots in the bottom. I do not have green fingers but would like to have a go. Thanks for any help.
Alexander Edmiston says
We had some sprouts that came out and flowered. Now that the flowers have died, should the entire sprout be removed from the mother plant? Are these the “pups” you refer to in the article that can be replanted to get a new aloe plant?
Theresa says
I saved two plants that were in to much sun and over watered. They came back to life beautifully. There were two plants in left behind in that laundry room. My boyfriend seen them and brought them to me to save them to. I will do my best and give them attention to save them to. I treat them as a living being. I’m going to do my best to save them.
Brandon says
I’m having draining problems with my aloe in a big pot. I’m trying regular potting soil and sand mixed ,but is silica sand ok to use? Its like pool filter sand or building sand.
Heather says
My mother aloe is very top heavy. I just noticed that there is about 6-8 inches of bare or nearly bare stem from the soil to the healthy leaves on top. I don’t really want to replant it Ina much deeper pot but I’m wondering what else I can do. There are so many pups that I’m sure I won’t have a problem getting those to grow but I don’t want to kill the mother. Can I cut the stem and try to re root? Any suggestions please?
Yvonne Blair says
Hi! I thought my Aloe was in trouble. Tips turning brown, leafs falling towards base rather than growing up. So thanks to helpful tips I found here I bought rooting powder, a bigger pot and the appropriate soil and transfered my plant. Is there anything more I can do for my dear Aloe?
Janice Winchel says
My large Aloe plant after I repotted it , got tall in the middle and the leaves are light lime green and some are white. What has cause this?
Tabitha says
Hello guys! My aloe plant has flat spots in its leaves. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Thank you!
Jodie says
I’ve had an aloe vera plant for a couple years but don’t think I ever looked up how to care for it, lol. I’ve just kind of hated it because it tips over unless I keep a big rock in the pot. The leaves (are they called leaves?) grow outwards, mostly, and I’ve never seen a pup. I had no idea they did that! And I want it to! 🙂
I guess I need to transplant it. Will the leaves eventually grow upwards, the ones that are basically straight out right now?
nicole says
not sure
RM says
Tips of my aloe vera leaves are soggy- and curled in . What’s the cause?
SH says
I just bought an aloe plant and this is really helpful. And the site is pretty, too. :3
Backwater Safari says
After a day paddling around on the water in a kayak I found that a dab of aloe works wonders for your skin
George says
Hi everyone. So, I have a situation. I rescued an aloe vera plant. It is quite big, but it is damaged. The roots and the base is fine, but all the leaves are broken, only one is left. I planted it in a soil that I got from my local market. I watered it slightly the day after replanting and now I am planing to give it 2-3 weeks before I water it again so that the roots grow well and become hard enough. Do you have any advices? How do I make the new leaves appear faster? It looks really bad with all the leaves cut off.
Heather says
I have an aloe plant that I’ve had for a little over a year now. It is still small but it has grown another plant out the side of it. It has a branch and then another plant is growing. Does this sound normal? I do not have the greenest of thumbs and have not seen anything like this before.
TJ says
I got a aloe vera plant the leaves are soft and a couple have pulled out and look like the have rotted what can I do for it
nicole says
I need some tips on how to grow aloe plz!!! :/
LifeWall says
Excellent blog. Easy on the eyes and great content too.
Marcus says
I disagree with the comments oin overwatering. I believe its one of the biggest misconceptions about aloe vera. My aloe in sydney australia love a regular drink of water. In fact they go really green and healthy with regular watering.
Tile Experts says
If this can be wooden then eventually this
may commence to rot causing problems with your roofline.
You can try to eliminate it manually, but between the
time it takes and the likelihood of hurting yourself as well as
the tile, this is one area where obtaining a professional service to get it done makes far more sense.
Heavy tile cleaning and grout cleaning in the bathroom
just isn’t as essential as it is inside the kitchen, and is not required as frequently.
Al says
It did not work