How to care for aloe vera in winter? These methods help it overwinter safely

Aloe vera is a multi-purpose plant that combines food, medicinal, cosmetic and ornamental uses, and it is often seen in daily life, so it is surely familiar to everyone. Aloe vera is easy to grow, and many households keep it on their balconies, but as a tropical plant native to the Mediterranean and Africa, aloe vera is highly tolerant of heat and drought but extremely intolerant of cold. Therefore, aloe vera needs special care in winter, otherwise it is easily frostbitten or killed by freezing. So if you want aloe vera to overwinter safely, what exactly should you do?

First, we need to understand that the minimum temperature for plant growth is around 10 to 12°C. If the temperature drops below this, its growth will come to a standstill. If the temperature falls further, below 5°C, the plant becomes vulnerable to diseases and pests. If the temperature continues to drop below zero, it will easily be killed by freezing. Because of climate differences between the south and the north, insulation methods vary by region and should be adjusted according to specific conditions.

1. Temperature

The minimum temperature for aloe vera growth is 10-12°C. In winter, aloe vera can be moved indoors, and on clear days when the temperature is higher, placed in the sun for several hours and brought back in before sunset; alternatively, the aloe vera can be covered together with its pot with transparent plastic film and kept on a wind-sheltered, sunny balcony to overwinter, opening the film regularly on clear days for ventilation.

2. Light

If aloe vera is kept for a long time in a environment with too little light or even no light, its leaves will fade in color and become very soft and easy to break. Therefore, in winter, give aloe vera as much light as possible, and take it out to bask in the sun more on clear days.

3. Ventilation

While increasing light for aloe vera, pay attention to proper ventilation, and especially do not let the soil become waterlogged.

4. Humidity

Aloe vera is extremely drought-tolerant, and excessively high soil moisture will cause it to die. In winter the temperature is low and the soil does not dry easily, so do not water frequently; just make sure it is not too dry.

5. Watering

Keep the potting soil of aloe vera dry, watering once every 15-20 days, and reduce the frequency of watering or skip watering when the weather is cold. If it is grown indoors, you can spray water on the leaf surface.

6. Fertilizing

Aloe vera is best given organic fertilizer, with a top dressing once every 40-50 days in winter. Usually, a urea solution with a concentration of no more than 2% is used for watering, and for foliar fertilizer, the concentration is best kept no higher than 0.1%.

The above are the relevant care measures for growing aloe vera in winter. Make sure the temperature stays above 5°C during the overwintering period, and aloe vera can overwinter safely. At this time aloe vera will hardly grow, but it will not be killed by freezing. If the temperature drops below 0°C and no insulation measures are taken, the aloe vera leaves will quickly freeze, causing the aloe vera to die.