Aloe viridiflora is commonly grown as a houseplant and gained favor because the gel from its leaves makes a soothing skin salve, although some people are actually irritated by the gel.The spiky flowers appear on tall stalks, in shades of yellow, orange and red. Young plants don’t generally flower and aloe grown as a houseplant can take years to produce a flower stalk.
Aloe vera plants store water in their plump leaves and thick, fibrous roots. They’re easily prone to root rot if the soil mix stays too wet. In other words, they mush out!
In the garden, you want your Aloe vera to get 2 or 3 hours of sun a day. As a rule, it can take more sun growing in coastal areas than hot inland locations.
Aloe vera does not require a high soil fertility. Feeding once a year, in the spring, with a houseplant fertilizer should be sufficient.
Soil needs to be well-draining. In its natural habitat, Aloe generally grows on slopes so that good drainage is guaranteed. To ensure drainage in a pot, you can use a special cactus potting soil or mix in some perlite or coarse sand and make your own mix.
