Aloe Vera Aloe vera

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

A classic windowsill succulent — a rosette of thick, pointed, gel-filled leaves edged with soft teeth. Famously tough, sun-loving, and drought-proof, it thrives on neglect and rewards a forgetful waterer better than almost any other houseplant.

Light

Aloe vera wants as much bright light as you can give it — a south or west window where it gets several hours of direct sun is ideal. With good light the rosette stays tight, compact, and slightly grey-green, and mature plants may push up a tall flower spike. In low light it grows pale, floppy, and stretched, with leaves leaning toward the window and spreading flat instead of standing upright. If you're moving one outdoors or to a sunnier spot, acclimate it over a week or two — aloe that's been in dim light can sunburn, turning leaves reddish-brown or developing pale scorched patches in strong unfiltered sun.

Watering

Water deeply but infrequently — soak the soil until it runs from the drainage holes, then let it dry out completely before watering again. In a warm bright spot that's roughly every 2–3 weeks in spring and summer and once a month or less in winter, but always go by the soil, not the calendar. Aloe stores water in its fat leaves and far prefers drought to wet feet; overwatering is the number-one way to kill it. Plump, firm, upright leaves mean it's happy; thin, curling, or puckered leaves mean it's thirsty, while soft, mushy, translucent leaves mean too much water.

Soil & potting

Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus or succulent mix, or make your own by cutting regular potting soil with plenty of coarse sand, perlite, or pumice — aim for at least a third grit by volume. The goal is a mix that drains in seconds and never stays soggy. Always pot into a container with drainage holes; terracotta is ideal because it wicks moisture and dries the rootball faster. Repot every 2–3 years in spring, or sooner if the plant is crowded with pups or top-heavy, moving up just one pot size.

Humidity & temperature

Aloe vera is a desert plant and asks nothing of humidity — ordinary, even dry household air suits it perfectly, and no misting or pebble trays are needed. Keep it between 55–80°F. It tolerates summer heat well but is not frost-hardy: cold below about 50°F stresses it, and freezing temperatures turn the leaves mushy and translucent. If yours summers outdoors, bring it back inside before the first cold snap, and keep it off icy windowsills in winter.

Fertilizing

Aloe is a light feeder and does fine with little or no fertilizer. If you want to push growth, feed once in spring and again in mid-summer with a balanced liquid houseplant or cactus fertilizer diluted to half strength. Skip feeding entirely in fall and winter while growth slows. Less is more here — over-fertilizing produces weak, floppy, etiolated growth and can leave a crusty salt build-up on the soil that browns the leaf tips.

Pruning & maintenance

Aloe needs little pruning beyond tidying. Remove any leaves that have gone brown, shriveled, or mushy by cutting them flush at the base with a clean, sharp knife — the cut oozes gel, which is normal. If you need to reduce a crowded or lopsided plant, take whole leaves from the outside of the rosette first, since the youngest growth comes from the center. If a flower stalk fades, snip it off at the base. Take care around the soft marginal teeth, and always use a clean blade to avoid introducing rot into the wound.

Propagation

The easiest method is dividing the offsets, or 'pups,' that sprout around the base of a mature plant. Wait until a pup is a few inches tall with a few roots of its own, then gently separate it with a clean knife, let the cut callus over for a day or two, and pot it into dry cactus mix. Wait about a week before the first light watering so the wound seals. Leaf cuttings rarely work with aloe — unlike many succulents, the leaves tend to rot rather than root, so stick with pups.

Common problems

Brown, mushy, or translucent leavesAlmost always overwatering and the start of root rot — check the roots first.→Thin, curling, or browning leaf tipsUsually thirst, sunburn, or salt build-up — easy to tell apart and fix.→

Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — resume regular watering, give it your sunniest window, divide any pups, and repot if it's crowded or top-heavy.

Summer

Peak growth. Water deeply when the soil is fully dry, feed once mid-season, and enjoy the brightest light; it can summer outdoors after acclimating.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch the time between waterings, stop fertilizing, and bring any outdoor plants back inside before cold nights arrive.

Winter

Near-dormant. Water sparingly (monthly or less), skip fertilizer, keep it in bright light, and protect it from frost and cold glass.

Recommended supplies for Aloe Vera

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Haworthia Agave Jade Plant Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

Go deeper

The complete Succulents & Cacti care library

Every species in one printable, organized reference — side-by-side care, a pet-toxicity table, and a seasonal calendar.

Guide coming soon