Aloe vera

Omani mountain origin

Aloe vera is native to northern Oman in the Hajar Mountains, where it grows in dry, rocky and exposed places. It is now widely grown and also grows wild in many warm regions.

What Aloe vera needs for healthy indoor growth

• Light: Give Aloe vera strong light and several hours of direct sun. If the plant has been in lower light, increase direct sun gradually so the existing leaves adjust.
• Water: Wait until the mix has dried completely and the pot feels much lighter. Water thoroughly at soil level, let the excess drain away and empty any water collected in a cover pot.
• Temperature: Indoor temperatures around 13–27°C suit Aloe vera well. In a cooler room, give the mix more time to dry between waterings.
• Humidity: Average to dry household air suits the plant. Keep the leaves dry when watering because leaves that stay wet can encourage fungal problems.
• Soil: Use a cactus or succulent compost with extra grit or pumice for good drainage. Drainage holes should stay clear.
• Feeding: Feed lightly with a balanced cactus or succulent fertiliser when the plant is putting out new leaves.
• Repotting and offsets: Repot when the roots fill the container or a growing cluster becomes crowded. Separate offsets once they have their own roots and come away easily from the parent plant.

What Aloe vera leaves and roots can tell you

• Leaves become narrow, bend outward and new growth stretches: Light is too weak. Shift the plant gradually towards stronger sun. In brighter light, fresh leaves should grow broader and more upright.
• Leaves yellow, turn pale and see-through or loosen from a soft base: The mix has stayed wet around the roots. Lift the plant from the container and remove the wet compost. Trim away rotten roots or stem tissue with a disinfected blade until you reach healthy growth. Dispose of the rotten material, allow the cuts to dry and repot in fresh, dry mix.
• White cottony clusters or shell-like bumps collect around leaf bases: Mealybugs or aloe scale may be present. Isolate the plant and remove visible pests. Use a suitable treatment for the insect you find, and repeat the treatment as the label directs.
• Yellow spots develop and turn brown: Aloe rust is possible. Cool, humid conditions favour rust and other fungal diseases. Keeping the leaves dry and improving airflow is often enough for aloe rust.
• Dry pale-brown patches appear after a sudden move into intense sun: Existing leaves have scorched. Move the plant slightly away from the glass and increase direct sun gradually; new leaves should show whether the new position works well.

Aloe vera is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs, and handle the leaf tips carefully.
• The leaf latex contains anthraquinone glycosides that can irritate skin and the digestive tract. Rigid tips and toothed margins can also scratch or puncture.
• Swallowing the latex may cause an upset stomach, while skin contact can cause irritation. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

Aloe vera: name and meaning

Aloe comes through Greek aloe, an old name for the bitter plant juice, itself borrowed from a Semitic language. The Latin word vera means true or genuine.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Aloe in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 319.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Aloe perfoliata var. vera in 1753 in Species Plantarum, volume 1, page 320. Nicolaas Laurens Burman later placed it in Aloe as Aloe vera in 1768 in Flora Indica, page 83.