I Have An Aloe Vera Plant That Is Just Not…
Betty Asked
I have an aloe vera plant that is just not growing. What can I do for it? Do they like much water?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Betty: Aloe vera is a common houseplant for those of us gardening in Kentucky. This African native belongs to the Asphodelacaea family, which contains hundreds of species. This plant is a succulent, meaning it has the ability to hold moisture and in turn requires less watering on our part. Indoors, this plant should be in a south-facing window or any room that gets bright, filtered light. It is happy to live outdoors during the summer months and can handle full sun, but it must be acclimated to those conditions gradually so that it does not burn. It will require more water during the warm months and significantly less during the cold winter months when the light levels are lower. Aloe vera should be planted in a soil mixture made specifically for cacti and succulents. The soil should always be allowed to dry out before adding additional moisture. Make sure the container it is planted in has adequate drainage holes and never allow the soil to be sopping wet. Less is better when it comes to watering these succulents. As for fertilizing, these plants are not considered heavy feeders but if you have not fed it in a few months, go ahead and give it a half-strength dose of liquid fertilizer labeled for cacti and succulents. As long as the foliage is not soft and mushy but firm and sturdy, you should not be too concerned about it not growing. It will in time but certainly not during the winter months.
