How to Grow Aloe Vera
Selecting and Planning the Site
If you plan to grow Aloe Vera outdoors, you have to select a site that has well drained soil and has full sunlight coverage.
On the other hand, if you are planning to grow Aloe Vera indoors, you have to prepare pots that you can place outside during the summer season. You can put the plants in a greenhouse during the winter.
Preparing the Aloe Vera Garden Site
If you are planting Aloe Vera indoors, you should plant in rich quality soil that contains a mixture of sand, compost and pebbles.
Make sure that good drainage is available at the base of the pot. If you have a large area, you can use a large pot that measures eighteen inches in diameter. A large pot will allow Aloe Vera to grow to its full size.
If you want to plant it in a greenhouse, you have to prepare a glass frame to cover it from extreme cold.
Required Materials
- Aloe Vera
- Large pots
- Fertilizer for the soil
Watering Requirements
You should water at least once a week particularly when you observe that the soil is dry. However, do not over water Aloe Vera; one or two cups of three hundred milliliters of water will be enough.
During hot seasons, the entire pot of Aloe Vera can be soaked but you have to ensure that good drainage is available so as not to rot the roots.
Nutrients Needed
Aloe Vera needs sunlight and enough water for its own growth. Apart from that, it is advisable that you uproot all weeds to ensure that the soil retains its acidic pH. You can also add ammonium nitrate to the soil every year as a supplement.
Seasons Suited
Widely cultivated in tropical regions, Aloe Vera flourishes in dry and warm locations. Planting Aloe Vera may not be successful for those living in cold climates.
Benefits
Aloe Vera is an herbal plant and can be found in many commercialized herbal preparations in the market. If you grow Aloe Vera under suitable conditions, it is likely that you will see positive results too.
Here are some beneficial uses of Aloe Vera extracts:
- The salicylates and magnesium lactate help prevent bronchitis, allergies and sinusitis.
- Mannan polysaccharides found in Aloe Vera help strengthen the immune system.
- The plant is also the source of Aloe Vera gel that can be used to heal burns and wounds. It is also used as a constituent in creams that moisturize the skin.
