How to grow aloe vera at home. Ideal for calming burns and stings, accelerating the healing of pimples, herpes, scars, treating inflammation of the skin on the face and body, fighting against skin aging, dandruff and hair loss. So why buy it in a pot or tube, and not grow it at home?
1 – HOW TO GROW ALOE VERA YOURSELF?
To plant Aloe vera at home, you need:
- A clay or terracotta flower pot, pierced at the bottom and preferably wide enough
- Well-drained soil (you can use special cactus potting soil or make a homemade mixture of soil, sand and gravel)
- Clay balls
- An aloe vera cutting to grow
Instructions
- Start by placing clay balls at the bottom of the pot, which will serve as a drainage system so that the plant does not rot.
- Place the potting soil in the pot, without filling it all the way to the top.
- Place the chosen aloe vera plant in the center of the pot, then add potting soil until the beginning of the leaves are covered.
- Add clay balls to the surface for more effective drainage.
It is possible to add drainage felt to separate the clay balls from the potting soil at the bottom of the pot.
2 – HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ALOE VERA?
Some parameters to take into account to ensure that your plant actually grows:
- Sunshine: To allow aloe vera to flourish, it is recommended to expose it to natural light. However, exposure to too much sunlight risks tarnishing the leaves. The secret is to leave it in a lit place, without direct contact with the sun’s rays.
- Ambient temperature: Even though this plant is very resistant, it is recommended to place it in a place that is neither too hot nor too cold. A temperature between 18 and 21°C remains ideal.
- Humidity: Aloe vera likes humid soils. However, when waterlogged, it does not survive long and rots quickly. This is why it is recommended to drill holes in the pots so that the water can drain away. Easy to maintain, it requires very little watering: every two weeks in summer and once a month in winter.
3 – EXTRACT THE ALOE VERA GEL
Aloe vera gel has indisputable therapeutic virtues.
To harvest the gel, simply cut a leaf at the base and then cut it into pieces a few centimeters wide.
Then cut these pieces lengthwise to extract the gel that you can use in multiple ways.