Aloe vera: Medicinal Easy to Care Plant – Details and Care Tips
The Aloe vera are succulent plants that can be grown indoors as well as outdoors. They are easy to grow and have very low maintenance. The Aloe Vera is not only grown as an ornamental plant but also has medicinal properties. They have thick succulent leaves.
Quick Details for Aloe Vera
| Common Name | Ghrit Kumari, Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant |
| Type | Ornamental, Flowering and Medicinal Plant. |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Flowering | Summers |
| Light | Bright Direct / Indirect Sun Light |
| Water | Normal |
| Temperature | Can survive the harsh climate up to an extent |
| Soil | Any well-drained potting soil |
| Fertilizer | Any house plant fertilizer like Compost |
| Habitat | Arabian Peninsula |
| Toxicity | Decolorized Aloe Vera can be toxic |
| Common Diseases | Mostly resistant to diseases |
| Scientific name | Aloe vera |
Overview of Aloe vera:
The Aloe vera is an evergreen perennial succulent plant native to Arabian Peninsula. They belong to the family of Asphodelaceae. They are used in traditional medicine and can treat several diseases. The Aloe Vera plants are stemless or have very small and slender stems that connect the leaves to the stock. The leaves are fleshy and succulent and store water and nutrients. The plant’s flower in summer. The inflorescence is a spike with yellow or orange flowers.
Special features of Aloe vera:
Aloe vera is used as both medicinal and ornamental plant. Aloe vera is used in treating a wide variety of diseases. It is one of the best remedies for sunburn and for maintenance of healthy and strong hair. Aloe vera is also used in treating stomach ailments.
Usage of Aloe vera
- Ornamental plants.
- The aloe vera gel and the latex are commercially used.
- The aloe vera gel is used in cosmetic industries.
- It is used in healing many ailments related to skin and irritation.
- Aloe vera juice is said to aid the digestive system.
General Care of Aloe vera
Soil: they require a well-drained potting mixture preferably the one used for planting succulents. A perfect mix should contain lava rock, perlite or coarse sand or a mix of three
Light: Aloe vera likes warmer temperatures and can be kept in direct sunlight. However, they can also grow indoors with indirect sunlight. The aloe vera blooms only when provided with the right amount of light and water.
Watering: It can be deep watered ones in a week. Over watering can be harmful to the plant and can also lead to rot. The presence of excess water makes the plants look weak.
Fertilizer: Does not require fertilizer. However, if needed it can be fertilized ones in a year during spring or summer with a normal house plant fertilizer.
Pruning: It does not require much pruning but you can pull out or cut side leaves for better look.
Diseases in Aloe vera:
They are not attacked by any fungal or bacterial pathogens. Over watering can lead to conditions like root rot, soft rot, fungal stem rot, and leaf rot. This can be avoided by making sure that the soil is well-drained off excess water and by preventing over watering.
Scales and mealybugs are also seen to infest the plants. In such cases spraying soap solution can help get rid of the pest.
Propagation of Aloe vera:
The propagation can be done either from the offsets or from the leaves. Propagation through offsets is a more preferred method as the chances of development of a new plant is more. The offsets grow near the mother plant. The offsets can be taken and planted into a new soil as an individual plant.it can be watered ones in a week.
For growing from the leaves, the leaves are cut at the tips in a downward direction. The cut leaves are kept in a warm place until a layer appears on the cut area. This is then planted into a pot containing cactus potting soil and watered every day until the roots develop. Care should be taken to not overwater the plants. A well-draining pot can be selected to plant aloe vera.
