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Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that’s been used to treat various health conditions for thousands of years. It’s usually safe to use also vera directly from the plant or you can buy it in gel form.
Aloe vera creams, gels, and ointments contain the clear gel found in aloe veraleaves. These products can be applied topically to treat various skin conditions. Aloe is sold in capsule or liquid form to take internally to promote health and well-being.
It’s relatively simple to harvest an aloe plant for gel and juice. You’ll need a mature plant that’s at least a few years old. This ensures a higher concentration of the active ingredients.
You’ll also want to wait a few weeks before cutting leaves from the same plant. You may want to have a few plants on rotation if you plan to harvest aloe often.
If you want smooth aloe gel, after separating the aloe from the exterior part of the leaf, you can put the aloe into a blender and then strain the substance to remove the pulp.
Aloe vera is well-known for its medicinal and skin healing properties But did you know that this versatile succulent can also provide amazing benefits right in your own garden?
Growing aloe vera is easy and rewarding With just a little care, the aloe plant thrives and produces healthy leaves full of gel that can be used for natural DIY solutions.
In this article, I’ll share why aloe vera is such a worthwhile plant to grow, how to grow and care for it, and the many ways it can be used as a natural solution – both for your health and to help your garden thrive!
Why Grow Aloe Vera?
There are so many great reasons to add aloe vera to your garden landscape or containers:
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Medicinal uses – Fresh aloe gel can be used to treat burns, wounds, dry skin, acne, and more. It’s handy to have around!
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Edible and nutritional – The inner aloe gel is safe to eat and contains antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins.
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Air purification – Aloe filters benzene, formaldehyde, and other pollutants from indoor air.
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Low maintenance – Aloe thrives on benign neglect. It doesn’t need much water or care to flourish.
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Hardy and resilient – Aloe tolerates a wide temperature range and bounces back from stress. It also resists pests and disease.
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Attracts pollinators – Bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators visit the bright aloe flowers.
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Natural plant remedy – Aloe vera contains salicylic acid, antioxidants, and antimicrobials that can help your garden plants.
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Cloning and rooting – Aloe gel helps propagate new plants from cuttings.
With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why aloe deserves a spot in every garden!
How to Grow Aloe Vera
Aloe is one of the easiest plants to grow. Here is a quick overview of aloe vera care:
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Allow soil to dry out between waterings
Temperature: Above 50°F/10°C
Fertilizer: Diluted liquid fertilizer once or twice a year
Pests & Disease: Very resistant! Good air circulation helps prevent disease.
Propagation: Remove offsets from the mother plant (pups)
Hardiness Zone: 9-11 as perennial, grow as annual or houseplant elsewhere
Aloe prefers warm temperatures and should be protected from frost. Fortunately, it’s easy to grow in pots and overwinter containers indoors. Aloes thrive outdoors year-round in frost-free climates.
Using Aloe Vera in the Garden
Once established, aloe is a generous plant that produces plenty of thick leaves full of useful gel. Here are some of my favorite ways to use those aloe leaves from the garden:
Soil drench: Blend aloe leaves and water. Use to water transplants for strong roots and reduced transplant shock. Also great for stressed plants!
Foliar spray: Spray diluted aloe gel directly on leaves to boost nutrition and immunity. Best done early morning or evening.
Seed starting: Water seeds with diluted aloe vera gel to increase germination rates.
Cloning: Dip cuttings in aloe gel before rooting for better success. The enzymes help initiate root growth.
Compost activator: Add chopped aloe leaves to your compost pile. The enzymes help accelerate the composting process.
Pest and disease prevention: Spray plants preventatively with diluted aloe to deter pests and diseases.
Weed control: Pure aloe gel wiped directly onto weeds may act as a natural herbicide.
Fertilizer: Mix dried or aged aloe leaves into potting mixes as a mild organic nutrient booster.
Natural preservative: Add aloe gel to homemade skin care products to extend shelf life naturally.
As you can see, aloe vera has so many uses in the garden! Whether used for preventative care or solving specific issues, aloe vera helps other plants thrive in a natural way.
Growing Aloe for Self Sufficiency
In addition to benefiting the garden, a thriving aloe vera plant provides abundant leaves for medicinal and health uses:
- Treat minor burns, wounds, and irritations
- Make homemade skin care and cosmetics
- Soothe insect bites and rashes
- Support digestive health and detoxification
- Boost nutrition through edible gel
- Enhance oral hygiene
- Reduce inflammation or acid reflux
- Aid respiratory issues and immunity
With your own aloe, you’ll no longer need to buy pricey skin care products or bottled juices to enjoy the benefits of aloe vera! It also makes a great barter, gift, or addition to your emergency herbal medicine cabinet.
Growing your own aloe allows you to control exactly how and when it is harvested. You can be confident in its purity and potency. Having fresh aloe gel on hand can provide priceless natural healing and peace of mind.
Bringing Aloe Indoors for the Winter
If winter temps in your area dip below 50°F (10°C), it’s best to bring potted aloe plants indoors. Select the healthiest, most vibrant plants to overwinter.
Before bringing them inside:
- Trim any dead leaves
- Check for pests and treat if needed
- Prune the plants to a more compact size if necessary
Provide the following care for indoor aloe:
- Bright, indirect light
- Allow soil to dry out between waterings
- Average room temperatures
- Occasional liquid fertilizer
The goal is to mimic its dormancy period and prevent new growth over winter. With proper care, your aloe will be ready for another lush season come spring!
Try Growing Aloe Vera Today!
With so many benefits for you, your plants, and the planet, aloe vera is a highly rewarding low maintenance plant for gardens everywhere.
If you don’t already grow aloe, I encourage you to give it a try this season! Start some plants from offsets, seeds or transplants this spring.
Within just one season, you’ll have a thriving aloe vera patch providing natural solutions for years to come.
Improves digestive health
Consuming aloe vera may benefit your digestive tract and help to soothe and cure stomach ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A 2018 review looked at three studies with 151 people. Results from the studies showed that aloe vera significantly improved symptoms of IBS when compared to a placebo. No adverse effects were reported, though more research is needed using a larger study size.
Additionally, aloe vera may help inhibit the growth of H. pylori bacteria, which is found in your digestive tract and can lead to ulcers.
Keep in mind that this advice is for aloe vera only. Other aloe plants may be poisonous and should not be taken internally.
How to use fresh aloe gel
You can apply fresh aloe gel directly to your skin or follow a recipe to make a homemade beauty product. It can also be added to food, smoothies, and drinks.
To make aloe juice, use 1 cup of liquid for every 2 tablespoons of aloe gel. Include any other ingredients, like fruit, and use a blender or food processor to mix up your drink.
If you’re planning to consume the fresh slices of aloe gel, it will keep in the refrigerator for a few days, but its best to consume it as quickly as possible. You can always store aloe vera gel in the freezer if you’re not ready to use it right away.
There are plenty of ways you can use aloe vera, both topically and internally.
Due to its soothing, moisturizing, and cooling properties, aloe vera is often used to treat burns.
A 2013 study with 50 participants found that people who used aloe vera gel to treat superficial and partial thickness burns showed better results than the group that used a 1 percent silver sulfadiazine cream.
The aloe vera group showed earlier wound healing and pain relief. Plus, aloe vera had the benefit of being inexpensive.
More research is needed, but the available evidence suggests that aloe gel can be beneficial for burn wound healing.
If you have a sunburn or another mild burn, apply aloe vera a few times a day to the area. If you have a severe burn, seek medical help before applying aloe.
Aloe Vera Care Guide! // Garden Answer
FAQ
What are the benefits of aloe vera in the garden?
How do you use aloe vera as fertilizer?
Can you use aloe vera straight from the plant?
How do you grow aloe vera?
The best location to grow an aloe vera plant is somewhere sunny and dry. Outdoors, plant it in a spot where the soil is very sandy and well-draining. Indoors place your potted plant in a bright, south-facing window. Though you could keep it inside year-round, you can put it outside during the hot and sunny months.
Why do you need aloe vera?
Why Use Aloe Powder Aloe Veraprovides your plants with Salycylic acid Salycylic acid aids plants in their systemic immuno-response against pathogens.
Can you grow aloe vera in your garden?
This article will discuss the healing properties of aloe vera, how to grow it, use it as a natural facial moisturizer, along with ways to use it in the garden to feed and support the health of other plants. Even if you aren’t able to grow your own aloe at home, there are still ways to obtain and use aloe vera in your garden.
Is aloe vera good for plants?
This superfood-like tonic can be used for enhancing root development, cell strength, and overall plant vitality! Aloe vera also promotes a strong plant immune system for disease resistance. It contains three very important compounds for plant health: acemannan, saponins, and salicylic acid.