Healthy Aloe Plants

Physical Characteristics

• A healthy and mature aloe plant can grow up to 3 feet tall. It shoots masses of thick, tapered leaves from its short stalk, growing from ground level upward. While the aloe has characteristics of a succulent, it is actually a member of the tree lily family, and is a "cousin" to onions, garlic and turnips. During the spring months, a healthy aloe plant bears tube-shaped yellow flowers that somewhat look like an Easter lily. The aloe is also an evergreen and a healthy plant should always bear leaves.

Outdoor Plants

• Aloe vera barbadensis can be grown in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, thrives best in sun that comes from a southwestern exposure so that it receives indirect sunlight. Planting in full sun can cause the plant leaves to turn brown. A mature outdoor plant can produce anywhere from 70 to 80 leaves that are 8 to 10 inches long. If the plant is not divided, the leaves grow in clumps, but this does not impact the health of the plant. Its yellow, lily-like flowers bloom in spikes that shoot out from the leaf foliage in the springtime. Outdoor aloe plants should be watered sparingly during the winter season when it goes dormant.

Indoor Plants

• Aloe grown indoors can be propagated easily with relatively little care. To promote and keep the plant healthy, plant in a terra cotta pot with a good quality potting soil mix for succulent plants. Place the plant in a location in a room that will receive lots of sunlight or in a greenhouse setting. Avoid frequent waterings, and move the plant away from cold windows during the winter months and rooms where the temperature falls below 32 degrees F. Let the plant become dry between waterings, especially during the wintertime, when it is dormant and requires very little water.

Poor Plant Health

• Pay attention to indoor plants for signs they need repotting. When an indoor plant is top-heavy with leaves, it is depleting its nutrients to support the extra foliage. Divide the plant and put it in a two new pots, being careful to include some of its original soil in each pot. If leaves, whether indoors or outdoors are flat instead of standing upright, this is a sign that the plant is not receiving enough light and should be moved or transplanted. If the leaves are brown, the plant is receiving too much light. Should the leaves start turning thin or begin to curl, the plant is using on its own liquids and is not receiving enough water.