The aloe vera plant makes a great houseplant. It's easy to look after, and has some surprising health benefits...
 Although the aloe vera plant looks a lot like a cactus, it’s actually a member of the lily and onion family.
Usually found in hot, dry climates, such as the Mediterranean, it can however be grown successfully in the UK - as long as it's not exposed to frost.
It's a short-stemmed succulent perennial, and grows to about 85cm tall. It has thick fleshy green leaves with small spikes along the edges. These tend to grow in a rosette pattern from the base of the plant.
The aloe vera plant usually produces about 25 of these leaves, at any one time, which can grow to be over to 15” long and 3” wide.
The aloe is a succulent, which means its fleshy leaves hold a lot of water for the plant, so it can survive long periods of drought. Aloe vera is now commercially grown across parts of the southern US, Mexico and the Caribbean for its beneficial side-effects, hidden within the leaves.
There are over 200 different species of aloe, although the aloe plant which tends to be cultivated most often is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller, or ith the most benefits has been found to be Aloe Vera – or “true aloe” – otherwise known as .
Caring for the Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe Vera plants are very easy to care for and easy to grow in frost-free climates – either as houseplants or outdoors. However aloe vera plants do need a lot of sunlight, so it’s best to place them in a sunny spot, or near a window that gets lots of sunlight. A common mistake that many people make is the tendency to over-water. Remember these plants are succulents. They hold water in their leaves and root system to cope with long periods of drought, so they need less water than you might think.
You can buy aloe vera plants at most plant stores and nurseries. Be sure the pot has good drainage and don't water it too often: overwatering aloe vera plants may cause the spongy leaves to rot at the base of the plant. And do allow container grown plants to dry out before you re-water. The plants often become dormant in winter.
Small plants often have white marks on the leaf which disappear as the plant grows. Once the plants are large enough to handle, you should transplant them into larger containers, then increase the pot sizes as they grow larger. It comes to full maturity at about 4 years, although they do grow rapidly. Maybe start with a fair-sized, relatively mature plant which can be as tall as 2 feet.
Some leaves droop on the aloe plant as they age, so you can simply cut the lower leaves away from the stem with a sharp knife. Aloe vera plants also produce many pups – or offshoots of the plant – which tend to grow around the base of the plant. You’ll need to take these out gently and replant them, when they are 3-4 inches high, so they don’t cause the mother plant too much stress. Sometimes the pups can make the aloe plant spread its leaves horizontally rather than vertically. The pups also make lovely gifts for your friends and family.
With a little care and attention, aloe vera plants can live for many years, and provide a fascinating addition to your home or garden, as well as a wonderful source of aloe vera gel.
 To obtain this gel, just remove one of the lower leaves, cut it in half along its length, and rub the inner pulp over the affected area of skin.
For more general information about the Aloe Vera plant, or to find out about the health benefits of aloe vera gel, please see these articles:
All About Aloe Vera
The Health Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice
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