Growing Aloe Vera Plants

The Aloe Vera plant makes a great choice for growing at home. It's easy to look after, and has some interesting side benefits.

Many people think aloe vera is a cactus, but it's actually a cousin of the lily and onion family. It has a short stem, with thick spiky green leaves that grow out from the stem like the petals of a rose. It's known as a succulent perennial and usuallly grows to about 2 or 3 foot tall. It is usually found predominantly in hot, dry climates.

The aloe vera plant usually produces about 25 leaves, which can be up to 15" long and 3" wide. As a succulent, these fleshy leaves contain the water supply for the plant, so it can survive long periods of drought. It is now widely cultivated in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean for its natural benefits, which are hidden within the leaves. There are over 200 different species of aloe, although the aloe plant with the most benefits has been found to be Aloe Vera - or 'true aloe' - otherwise known as Aloe Barbadensis Miller.

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.

You should be able to purchase an aloe vera plant near you, at a garden store or nursery. Some aloe vera plants have small white markings on the leaf. This is nothing to worry about, and will fade as the plant gets older. Look for a healthy plant, with thick leaves and dry soil. You certainly don't want to give aloe vera plants too much water, and in the winter, even less. So make sure the roots aren't waterlogged, and the soil is sandy.

Aloes like to have some room to grow, so do re-pot them as necessary. Expect that a mature aloe vera plant (about 4 years old) maybe about one metre high and 50cm across the widest part of the leaves. But the pot won't have to be that large, because the stem and root system is quite shallow. If the outer leaves start to sag or show their age, they can be sliced off, or gently pulled away from the stem.

Once you have an aloe vera plant, you'll have many! You'll find that you'll get lots of aloe vera pups - small plants that grow from the lower part of the main plant. You'll have to remove these gently and re-pot them, or give them to your friends. They make great gifts! If you leave them with the main aloe vera, they can sap too much energy from the main aloe and cause it to wither.

It's easy to care for aloe vera plants, and they live for a good many years. They provide an interesting focal point in your garden or in your home. And you will be able to give others the gift of aloe through your pups! You'll have the added benefit of your own source of pure aloe vera gel whenever you need it. Gently trim away one of the larger leaves, cut it open with a sharp knife, and rub the clear inner gelly on your skin. It's great for healing burns, scrapes and cuts. It's always good to keep one handy in the kitchen!

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

Jo Johansson enjoys traveling and exploring different topics related to natural health and nutrition. For further information on pure aloe vera products, check out AloeandYou.com.

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