How to care for Aloe Vera
Aloe vera · Asphodelaceae
The well-known medicinal succulent, with thick gel-filled leaves arranged in an upright rosette. It thrives on sunny windowsills and produces offsets (pups) freely once happy. Despite its soothing gel, the whole plant is toxic to pets if chewed. Water roughly every 14 days while it's growing (about every 30 in winter), give it direct sun, kept above 50°F (10°C) — dry air is fine for it.
Care at a glance
Drench the soil, then wait until it is completely dry again; thin, curling leaves mean thirst, while mushy brown bases mean too much.
A south or west windowsill with several hours of direct sun; in weak light the leaves flop flat and pale.
Half-strength cactus fertilizer once or twice per growing season is plenty.
Mistakes that kill this plant
- Regular potting soil and frequent water — it needs gritty mix and long dry spells.
- Keeping it in a dim room, where it stretches, flops, and slowly starves.
- Watering into the rosette in a cold room, rotting the crown.
Seasonal tips
- It can summer outdoors in sun, but transition it gradually over two weeks.
- Water sparingly in winter — cool plus wet is how most indoor aloes die.
- Separate pups in spring when they reach a few centimeters tall.
Is it safe for pets?
We have Aloe Vera recorded as toxic to cats and dogs.
Full pet-safety details for cats & dogsCare for your Aloe Vera on autopilot
Ploomily turns this guide into a Living Schedule — watering tuned to your city’s climate, the season, the pot and the light, and feeding tuned to that same pot, drainage and light, following the growing season and pausing while the plant rests. The founding price in force today is shown in full before you confirm, and locked for as long as you stay subscribed — with 30 days to change your mind.
Build my Living ScheduleAloe Vera is featured in
More succulent plants
Toxicity here is informational, not a safety guarantee. Those are our own records, compiled by following the ASPCA's published toxic and non-toxic plant lists and Pet Poison Helpline's plant poison list rather than copied from them — confirm anything that matters against the ASPCA's published lists, which this one is matched to, or with your vet. If your pet ingested this plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.