Whether an aloe vera is growing well can be told just by looking at its leaves

Whether an aloe vera is being cared for well can be told just by looking at its leaves. Plump leaves with a glossy surface mean it is at its healthiest. Unhealthy aloe vera plants may have scorched leaf tips, some curl inward, and some even become soft and droopy.

Below is the correct care routine

1. Make sure the aloe vera gets plenty of sunlight

Except in summer, it is best to give an aloe vera 8 to 10 hours of light every day, usually by placing it at a south-facing or west-facing window. In the current weather, full sun is best.

Shade it in summer, and move it inside by the window to bask in the sun in winter, and it would be hard not to grow it well this way.

2. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering

Many gardening enthusiasts water their aloe vera thoroughly right after planting it, which is wrong. The aloe vera is a succulent plant, so water it 4 days after planting, and let it see light after 5 to 7 days.

After that, always wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering. You can insert a finger 3 to 5 cm into the soil; if it is dry all the way, then it is completely dry. Aloe vera does not like too much water, and too much water causes root rot.

In winter the aloe vera grows upright and does not need watering (at most two or three times), while in summer it needs more water.

3. Fertilize once every spring

Fertilizing should be mainly with phosphorus fertilizer, giving a little slow-release long-acting compound fertilizer. Of course, do not give strong fertilizer, and do not fertilize frequently; once a year is enough.

4. Prevent infection by pathogens

What should you do if you see whiteflies or scale insects? Detect them early, immediately apply alcohol to the affected spots, and you can easily clear away the pests. Usually, take care that the potting soil does not stay waterlogged.

If the air is too dry, spray a little water around it, not on the leaves. Do not keep spraying water on the leaves; long-term water accumulation in the leaf center easily causes stem rot.

5. Check the leaves to understand its health

Whether an aloe vera's leaves are healthy or not is most directly seen by looking at the leaves. Some gardening enthusiasts find that the leaves even ooze a yellow sticky liquid, which means the roots have not grown well and there is too much water. If it looks like the left one in the picture above, with leaves curled, thinned and shriveled, then it is lacking water, and drooping leaves mean it is lacking sunlight.

6. What should you do if the aloe vera grows slowly?

Sometimes, friends' aloe vera plants have no pests or diseases (they are not prone to attracting pests or diseases), but they have been grown for a long time without growing any bigger. What should be done?

(Before repotting the aloe vera, too much water, and the roots had not grown well)

The simplest method is to line the bottom of the pot with small pebbles each year when repotting, then add a layer of soil, a layer of organic fertilizer, another layer of soil, and only then plant the aloe vera. This is very helpful for the aloe vera's growth.

Many aloe vera plants grow poorly because the soil drainage is poor, so water less, and only give water once the leaves have shriveled a little.

(After repotting the aloe vera, it grew very well, with side shoots constantly sprouting)

Be sure to give it plenty of sunlight. Although it can also grow indoors, sunlight is what makes it grow stronger. (If it has been kept indoors for a long time, do not expose it to too much sun all at once; take it slowly)

Some gardening enthusiasts water it with tap water for a long time, and the soil becomes alkaline, so it will not grow either. You can appropriately give a little alum fertilizer water as a supplement. Repot once a year and properly clean up the roots, and only then can it grow better.