Can you think of a plant that is green, spiky, sturdy, and gorgeous all at the same time? That is an aloe plant with varied benefits and uses. It is one of the most common succulents that is very simple and easy to maintain but looks gorgeous.
Surprisingly, you can place aloe plants both indoors and outside your home. While helping with hair and skin problems, the aloe plant’s gel has lots of applications at home and works as a cosmetic product as well.
Aloe plant
Aloe, an evergreen succulent, has spikey green leaves appearing in a proper rosette form. Sometimes it might carry orange, yellow or red flowers.
One can choose from a plethora of shapes and sizes, considering the colors and leaves. The plant has a central stem from where green fleshy leaves spread out with small teeth at the edges.
In case you are planning to bring beautiful greenery to your home, you must know about the conditions and requirements for the plant to grow. A bright artificially lit place or somewhere where it can get indirect sunlight will be better.
However, direct exposure to sunlight can damage the plant, making the leaves go yellow. In this case, you might have to water the plant more frequently.
What’s the ideal aloe plant temperature range?
The ideal temperature for an aloe plant is between 55 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 13-27 degrees Celsius. It is because of this suitable temperature that the aloe plant is ideal for growing at home.
It is between May to September that this plant can perfectly grow outdoors as well. However, if you think that the temperature is falling a little for these succulents to bear, you better bring it inside your house.
When you keep it indoors, try to keep it near a windowsill where indirect sunlight would brighten them the whole day.
The west or north-facing window is a better place to keep it. Here, you can try to rotate the pot every week so that all the leaves get proper light which in turn will result in optimum growth of the aloe plant.
Your aloe plant needs protection from extreme cold, regardless of the variety you go for. For most of the species, there is no need to worry unless the temperature reaches freezing point.
However, for the aloe plant, the temperature is almost at the border of 40 degrees. Therefore, it is suitable if you grow aloe in a pot. So, whenever the temperature drops, you could easily move it inside to a warmer place.
How cold is too cold for aloe plants?
Most aloe plants prefer a warmer climate. They cannot survive in conditions as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. During extremely low temperatures, the liquid inside the leaves freezes, resulting in the rotting of the plant. However, some aloes can survive in 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit as well.
Mature aloe plants sometimes produce a tall flower spike known as inflorescence. Numerous red or yellow flowers appear, which add a uniquely colorful touch to the plant.
However, these blossoms don’t appear in the aloe plants that survive indoors. This is due to the ideal surviving and growing conditions that the plant needs.
Sufficient light and water along with the perfect range of temperature are necessary for the plants. Therefore, when you grow these plants outdoors, they receive adequate warmth.
During summer and spring, flowers can grow when the aloe plant develops outdoors in full sun with a temperature above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius.
This kind of aloe, called Aloe Arborescens or Torch Aloe, can reach up to a height of 180 cm. However, during the night, if the temperature drops below 16 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the plant inside.
One important thing here to remember is that you must not shift your aloe plant from indoors to direct sunlight.
It requires some time to adjust to the light or it might result in sunburn. Here, you should place it in a partially shaded area for a few days and then shift it outdoors.
Aloe plants tend to bloom in the late winter season or early springtime. At this time, watering them properly, i.e., not drowning them or drying them, will help in producing flowers.
However, you should understand that the indoor conditions are not perfect for aloe plant blossoms. Therefore, if yours doesn’t bloom even after you try hard at it, do not get disheartened.
Can aloe survive in 40-degree weather?
There are many types of aloe plants and there are several species of aloe plants that can survive in 40-degree weather.
However, this plant will require some extra care and protection if the weather falls below 40-degree. The plant will not tolerate lower degrees and might die.
There are many types of aloe plants worldwide. Generally, the cold sturdy aloe plants love temperatures at night of around 50-60 degrees. Whichever plant you choose to grow, make sure you investigate properly before planting.
Especially if you plan to grow it outdoors, make sure you discern which aloe plant you want to choose. Make sure you have adequate knowledge about the temperature tolerance level of the plant.
Aloe Aristata, or the lace aloe plant, is a very hardy and cold tolerant plant and can withstand up to 13 degrees.
However, another type of aloe called Coral aloe or Aloe Striatula can bear both wet and cold weather and can tolerate weather going down to 18 degrees and USDA zone 7.
Can I put my aloe plant outside in the summer?
The aloe plant is good at tolerating heat. You can simply plant an aloe plant outside in proper sunlight or slight shade. Since aloe does not prefer overwatering, water it only when the soil is dry.
It can survive well even in dry air or drought conditions. If the weather is wet for a long time, they might suffer from stem rot, bacterial soft rot, or fungal leaf.
Many gardeners shift the aloe plant from indoors to outside in the partly sunlight-shaded area. During the hottest days, try to keep the plan away from direct sunlight. A better place to keep the plant is on a shaded patio or a porch.
During the winter months, avoid watering your aloe plant too often. It is the expert’s advice that when planted outdoors, cover the aloe plant with a frost cloth when you see the weather is turning frosty.
This is because the frost cloths are airy and breathable meant to keep the plants a little warmer during winters.
You can remove the cloth once the temperature is more than 45 degrees. Make sure the soil is good at drainage since aloe will not like wet soil.
Conclusion
As a beginner, you might be hesitating to try a hand in gardening. The aloe plant will be a suitable green signal for you. With a flexible and easy-going requirement, this plant is super easy to grow and maintain.
Many people are trying to make the world green by even gifting it on occasions. Along with holding a very beneficial gel, the aloe plant has made its name for its medicinal value.
People also consume it in capsulated form. Although it has some allergic tendencies, most people have enjoyed its benefits.
You can easily get it in a florist’s shop or garden center, and nowadays even online. Go green with aloe and help the planet become a better and greener place to live in.