Aloe vera has its natural habitat in areas where there are only short rainy periods. It copes better with the drought than with too much moisture.
The aloe vera does not like it too humid
Aloe vera probably comes from South Africa. It is now native to many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Aloe grows best in moderately warm temperatures of around 22° Celsius and little moisture. The plant also needs a lot of light to thrive.
Avoid waterlogging
The thick leaves of aloe vera are able to store water and can therefore survive for long periods without water. Aloe vera does not tolerate waterlogging. For this reason, the substrate should consist of a mixture of soil and sand so that excess water can always flow through and drain away. A drainage layer of potsherds and gravel on the bottom of the pot is helpful.
Do not water from above
The aloes that are outside in summer should be watered sparingly about twice a week. After moving indoors, watering should only be done when the soil is really dry. In any case, pour directly onto the substrate and not onto the leaves.
Young plants need a little more water
Observe the following for the young plants:
- they are not yet able to store enough water in their leaves,
- they depend on a regular supply of water,
- they should only be slowly acclimated to sunlight.
tips and tricks
As with all plants, rainwater is ideal for watering. However, the frugal aloes don't mind if you use normal tap water for watering.