Garden Houseplants Succulents How to Grow and Care for Aloe Vera, Both Indoors and Outside From planting and propagating to harvesting, our aloe vera plant care guide will help your succulent thrive. By Lauren Wellbank Lauren Wellbank Lauren is a lifestyle and gardening contributor for Martha Stewart. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Prevention, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, and other highly regarded publications. Editorial Guidelines and Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 2, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Planting Aloe Vera Caring for Aloe Vera Varieties of Aloe Vera Propagating Aloe Vera Repotting Aloe Vera Harvesting Aloe Vera Common Problems With Aloe Vera FAQ Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Sundaemorning / Getty Images Aloe vera has been a popular plant for centuries. Belonging to the succulent family, it originated in arid and tropical climates, which is why it can withstand extreme temperatures and thrive without much water. Its thick, green stalks—which contain water, vitamins, and other active components—grow just as well outside as they do living in a container in a well-lit room in your home. Best of all, this variety is versatile and low-maintenance—a winning combination. While keeping your aloe vera plant happy isn't difficult, there are still a few things to keep in mind to help this succulent thrive. Ahead, learn how to grow, care for, water, propagate, and harvest an aloe plant, according to plant experts. Ryan McEnaney, garden designer and author of Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space Chris Satch, plant doctor at Horti How to Propagate Aloe How to Plant Aloe Vera Planting aloe vera is an easy process with a few basic steps. Planting Outdoors Aloe vera is hardy in zones 10 through 12 and can be planted outdoors in warm climates. If growing outdoors, make sure that your soil is well-draining, says Ryan McEnaney, garden designer and author of Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot the plant is in.Place the plant in the ground, making sure the crown is even with existing soil. Backfill the hole with soil so the roots are covered.Water the plant thoroughly, letting it drain completely before re-watering. How to Find Your Gardening Zone—Plus, the Best Plants to Grow in Your Region Planting in Containers Aloe vera is a low-maintenance houseplant you can grow indoors year-round. "If you’re planting aloe in a pot, I recommend a porous terracotta pot, which allows water to more easily evaporate," says McEnaney. "Choose a well-draining soil, preferably one marked for cactus or other arid plants." Fill a container most of the way with soil.Place the plant in the center of the pot.Backfill with soil to cover the roots.Water the plant, making sure it fully drains through and doesn’t leave any standing water. 14 Succulents That Will Thrive Indoors All Year Round How to Care for Aloe Vera The key to growing healthy aloe vera in your garden is making sure it is in the right environment. Soil Mimic aloe vera's native environment with well-draining sandy or rocky soil. "For indoor plants, a cactus or succulent soil is a great option," says McEnaney. "If you’re planting outdoors, especially for year-round growing, make sure to have lots of great drainage so water doesn’t sit at the roots." Water Overwatering your aloe vera can lead to root rot. Whether you're growing the plant indoors or outdoors, it's important to test for dryness by checking the soil moisture with your finger. "Water aloe vera when the soil is bone dry," says Chris Satch, plant doctor at Horti. Light Aloe vera plants do best with a lot of sun. If your aloe vera is planted outside, six to eight hours of full sun is best. "Interestingly, while they prefer full sun outdoors, they just need bright indirect light indoors," says McEnaney. "The amplification of the sun’s rays through windows can burn the leaves, so make sure they’re not sitting in full sun all day inside." Temperature Aloe vera needs warmer temperatures and is not adaptable for frosts or ongoing cold temperatures. "Ideally, aloe vera should be kept between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit," says McEnaney. If growing it in a climate with cold seasons, you can keep the plant outdoors during summer then bring it inside when temperatures drop. If you move from indoors to outdoors for the summer, be sure to transition it slowly over the course of a week. "If nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the aloe inside overnight," says McEnaney. Fertilizer Aloe vera needs very little to no fertilizer. "If you’re growing the plant indoors, you could give it some succulent fertilizer in early spring," says McEnaney. "But if your plant is outdoors, no fertilizer is needed." Iuliia Burmistrova / Getty Images Varieties of Aloe Vera There are many types of aloe vera, but these are some common varieties to grow in your garden or as a container plant. Aloe barbadensis miller: This is the most popular type of aloe vera and has spiky, green, fleshy leaves that aim upwards with jagged edges. It typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, depending on where it’s planted. Aloe brevifolia: A short-leaved aloe vera beloved for its compact size, this variety is great in pots or as a ground cover in warm climates. Because aloe plants produce pups, Aloe brevifolia can clump and expand over time and fill in a small space. Aloe broomii: This variety has spiked foliage and can produce orange-yellow flowers when grown in optimal conditions. Even when it’s not in flower, the turgid foliage is really impressive, says McEnaney. Aloe polyphyll: The leaves on this species form in a beautiful geometric pattern that appears like a spiral from above. The green leaves have bright, light edges with a dark point at the end. It's an amazing accent to a xeriscape or container garden. How to Propagate Aloe Vera Aloe vera naturally produces new plants called pups that you can remove and re-pot, says McEnaney. Cut the pups with a clean, sharp knife at the root. If the pup has its own taproot, remove that with the leaf. Note: If your pup doesn’t have roots yet, it might take a while to develop them in the new container, so give it time.Once you remove the pup—or pups—lay them on a clean towel in a window with bright, indirect light so the base can callous before re-planting.Fill a container with soil meant for cactus or other arid plants.Place the pup into the soil and water well.Follow your standard planting and watering instructions, making sure not to plant too deep or overwater, even with the young new plant. How to Repot Aloe Vera Repotting aloe vera is a pretty simple process, but just be careful not to damage the leaves. It may be time to repot your aloe vera plant when you notice the roots are starting to circle and pop out of the soil, or if the pups are crowding the existing pot, says McEnaney. Gently remove the plant from its existing container. Mostly fill a larger container with cactus media. Place the plant into the container. Add additional media on top of the roots so they're just covered. Water thoroughly, making sure to let the water drain fully. How to Harvest Aloe Vera Aloe vera gel is a naturally soothing gel-like substance that can be harvested from a mature plant. Simply make a horizontal cut near the base of a mature leaf and squeeze the gel from the leaf. "Young or small leaves may not produce much gel, so be sure you’re harvesting the larger, more mature leaves," says McEnaney. Common Problems With Aloe Vera Aloe can be affected by common pests like mealybugs and mites. "Soft-bodied insects can be treated with a natural insecticide and shouldn’t cause too much long-term damage, especially if caught early," says McEnaney. "Aloe scale is another insect that looks like a silver patch or streak on the leaves, and ultimately could cause more severe damage if left untreated. Insecticidal soap will also take care of scale." How to Make Insecticidal Soap, a Natural Way to Remove Bugs From Your Houseplants Frequently Asked Questions How long do aloe vera plants live? In the right conditions, aloe plants can last ten to twenty years. Should you cut the brown tips off of an aloe plant? If you see brown tips on your leaves, you can either remove the brown section or trim back the entire leaf for a more uniform habit. What does an overwatered aloe plant look like? If you notice the leaves of your aloe vera plant are softening or drooping, or if you notice the base discoloring at the soil, there is likely root rot from too much water. Is aloe vera easy to care for? In general, aloe is easy to care for. Because of its natural habitat in arid climates, it’s a plant that doesn't need much water or fertilizer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit