Grow your Aloe Vera Plant at Home

Having direct access to the fresh aloe vera gel is of course a great asset in any household. Just imagine you burned yourself when cooking and only having to walk to your aloe vera plant to get some instant soothing. Or how about those moments when you feel your skin could really do with a little pick me up, just cut of a leave and use the aloe vera gel directly on your skin to make it feel smoother and softer. What is next? How about making your own aloe vera juice to drink in the morning or maybe even create some other aloe vera products for your family.

These are the things that come along when you grow Aloe vera plants, they may be very useful for your medical and cosmetic needs!

What are the different species of Aloe vera plants? Are they all beneficial? What are some of their distinct features? What is their common attribute?

Aloe vera species are extensively cultivated for as ornamental plants at home, in the garden or in the pots. Aside from their decorative attribute, they are also very beneficial for medicinal and cosmetic uses. An Aloe vera plant has been used since ancient times as a treatment for infection, burns, skin diseases, inflammation, viruses, and bacteria. It has a high level of water content that is nearly 96%. This can be easily grown at home and use the fresh gel that its leaves provide to apply on burns and other wounds. The thick and bitter sap that it produces promotes healing and reduces inflammation of the wound.

There are 400 aloe vera species of genus Aloe. Some of the important ones are as follows:

1. Aloe vera Barbados aloe, this can be found in northern part of Africa with various medicinal use;
2. Aloe dichitoma, commonly found in South Africa and Namibia, known as quiver tree or kokerboom having its bark and branches used by bushmen to make quiver for their arrows;
3. Aloe variegate, known as tiger aloe and can also be found South Africa;
4. Aloe arborescens miller, widely used in health care because of its medicinal properties;
5. Aloe wildii, has a grasslike appearance and can also be found in Africa;
6. Aloe aristata, known as torch plant and lace aloe with a flower rich in nectar that easily attracts bees, birds and wasp;
7. Aloe ngobitensis, a specie found in Kenya.

Some Aloe vera plant species are being used to provide products that are advantageous for human consumption such as health drinks, commercial beverages and tea. They are all rich nutritional diets. If you have aloe vera plants in your area, whatever species may that is, you can benefit from their cosmetic and medicinal uses.

Aloe vera plant sap is a think, mucilaginous gel that has plenty of uses in treating various ailments and in functioning as an ointment. Learning about an easy and affordable way to treat certain illnesses, to keep yourself beautiful, and to keep yourself healthy will allow you to think of having one inside your household. As for Aloe vera, aside from buying commercialized products made out of the plant, you can also grow a plant for yourself. So, what are the things that you must consider in growing and taking care of the plant?

You should consider these things:

a. Climatic condition, aloe vera is nearly 95% of water which makes them not a habitat of cold regions but that of tropical and sub-tropical regions so it is best if you plant it in full sun or through a window with proper sunlight, also, providing just the right amount of water;
b. Type of soil, the soil must be moderately fertile and fast draining to provide enough water to the soil as fast as possible;
c. Pots and planter, a wide planter must be chosen for the roots and the pot should have a drainage hole;
d. Cold season precautions, watering should be very minimal and don't water the plant until you find its soil to be completely dry.