How to Grow and Care for Aloe Vera, Both Indoors and Outside

Aloe vera has been a popular plant for centuries. Belonging to the succulent family, it originated in arid and tropical climates, which is why it can withstand extreme temperatures and thrive without much water. Its thick, green stalks—which contain water, vitamins, and other active components—grow just as well outside as they do living in a container in a well-lit room in your home.

Best of all, this variety is versatile and low-maintenance—a winning combination. While keeping your aloe vera plant happy isn't difficult, there are still a few things to keep in mind to help this succulent thrive. Ahead, learn how to grow, care for, water, propagate, and harvest an aloe plant, according to plant experts.

How to Plant Aloe Vera

Planting aloe vera is an easy process with a few basic steps.

Planting Outdoors

Aloe vera is hardy in zones 10 through 12 and can be planted outdoors in warm climates. If growing outdoors, make sure that your soil is well-draining, says Ryan McEnaney, garden designer and author of Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space.

1. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot the plant is in.
2. Place the plant in the ground, making sure the crown is even with existing soil.
3. Backfill the hole with soil so the roots are covered.
4. Water the plant thoroughly, letting it drain completely before re-watering.

Planting in Containers

Aloe vera is a low-maintenance houseplant you can grow indoors year-round. "If you’re planting aloe in a pot, I recommend a porous terracotta pot, which allows water to more easily evaporate," says McEnaney. "Choose a well-draining soil, preferably one marked for cactus or other arid plants."

1. Fill a container most of the way with soil.
2. Place the plant in the center of the pot.
3. Backfill with soil to cover the roots.
4. Water the plant, making sure it fully drains through and doesn’t leave any standing water.

How to Care for Aloe Vera

The key to growing healthy aloe vera in your garden is making sure it is in the right environment.

Soil

Mimic aloe vera's native environment with well-draining sandy or rocky soil. "For indoor plants, a cactus or succulent soil is a great option," says McEnaney. "If you’re planting outdoors, especially for year-round growing, make sure to have lots of great drainage so water doesn’t sit at the roots."

Water

Overwatering your aloe vera can lead to root rot. Whether you're growing the plant indoors or outdoors, it's important to test for dryness by checking the soil moisture with your finger. "Water aloe vera when the soil is bone dry," says Chris Satch, plant doctor at Horti.

Light

Aloe vera plants do best with a lot of sun. If your aloe vera is planted outside, six to eight hours of full sun is best. "Interestingly, while they prefer full sun outdoors, they just need bright indirect light indoors," says McEnaney. "The amplification of the sun’s rays through windows can burn the leaves, so make sure they’re not sitting in full sun all day inside."

Temperature

Aloe vera needs warmer temperatures and is not adaptable for frosts or ongoing cold temperatures. "Ideally, aloe vera should be kept between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit," says McEnaney. If growing it in a climate with cold seasons, you can keep the plant outdoors during summer then bring it inside when temperatures drop. If you move from indoors to outdoors for the summer, be sure to transition it slowly over the course of a week. "If nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the aloe inside overnight," says McEnaney.

Fertilizer

Aloe vera needs very little to no fertilizer. "If you’re growing the plant indoors, you could give it some succulent fertilizer in early spring," says McEnaney. "But if your plant is outdoors, no fertilizer is needed."

Varieties of Aloe Vera

There are many types of aloe vera, but these are some common varieties to grow in your garden or as a container plant.

• Aloe barbadensis miller: This is the most popular type of aloe vera and has spiky, green, fleshy leaves that aim upwards with jagged edges. It typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, depending on where it’s planted.
• Aloe brevifolia: A short-leaved aloe vera beloved for its compact size, this variety is great in pots or as a ground cover in warm climates. Because aloe plants produce pups, Aloe brevifolia can clump and expand over time and fill in a small space.
• Aloe broomii: This variety has spiked foliage and can produce orange-yellow flowers when grown in optimal conditions. Even when it’s not in flower, the turgid foliage is really impressive, says McEnaney.
• Aloe polyphyll: The leaves on this species form in a beautiful geometric pattern that appears like a spiral from above. The green leaves have bright, light edges with a dark point at the end. It's an amazing accent to a xeriscape or container garden.

How to Propagate Aloe Vera

Aloe vera naturally produces new plants called pups that you can remove and re-pot, says McEnaney.

1. Cut the pups with a clean, sharp knife at the root. If the pup has its own taproot, remove that with the leaf. Note: If your pup doesn’t have roots yet, it might take a while to develop them in the new container, so give it time.
2. Once you remove the pup—or pups—lay them on a clean towel in a window with bright, indirect light so the base can callous before re-planting.
3. Fill a container with soil meant for cactus or other arid plants.
4. Place the pup into the soil and water well.
5. Follow your standard planting and watering instructions, making sure not to plant too deep or overwater, even with the young new plant.

How to Repot Aloe Vera

Repotting aloe vera is a pretty simple process, but just be careful not to damage the leaves. It may be time to repot your aloe vera plant when you notice the roots are starting to circle and pop out of the soil, or if the pups are crowding the existing pot, says McEnaney.

1. Gently remove the plant from its existing container.
2. Mostly fill a larger container with cactus media.
3. Place the plant into the container.
4. Add additional media on top of the roots so they're just covered.
5. Water thoroughly, making sure to let the water drain fully.

How to Harvest Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel is a naturally soothing gel-like substance that can be harvested from a mature plant. Simply make a horizontal cut near the base of a mature leaf and squeeze the gel from the leaf. "Young or small leaves may not produce much gel, so be sure you’re harvesting the larger, more mature leaves," says McEnaney.

Common Problems With Aloe Vera

Aloe can be affected by common pests like mealybugs and mites. "Soft-bodied insects can be treated with a natural insecticide and shouldn’t cause too much long-term damage, especially if caught early," says McEnaney. "Aloe scale is another insect that looks like a silver patch or streak on the leaves, and ultimately could cause more severe damage if left untreated. Insecticidal soap will also take care of scale."