Aloe Vera Plant

By Emmalee Hazer

Common Name: Aloe Barbadensis (vera)

Family: Liliaceae

The Aloe plant is a tropical plant, that grows best in warm, dry habitats. Although this plant is sun loving and adapts well in warmer tempuratures, it is able to survive cold conditions as long as the ground is not frozen. This plant has thick, succulent, non-fiberous leaves that are toothed on their edges. Their leaves expand one to two feet long and have a diameter of two to three feet wide. This plant includes colorful flowers such as: yellow, orange, coral pink, red, and purple. The flowered part of the plant can reach four and a half feet tall.

Caring for Aloe plants requires few and simple instructions. This plant requires full sun or bright indirect light. The plant is succulent, so keep watered, but do not over water, if overwatered the plant will start to wrinkle or even rot. This plant is succeptible to plant pests, so the plant should be kept clean, misted, and ocationally kept out side for fresh air. If neccessary fertilizer should be applied every four months.

The Aloe plant is most commonly known for its medicinal benifits. The plants large leaves contains a thick liquid that is widely used. The aloe is tapped and dried to be sold as a laxative. Most commonly the aloe is a first aid for healing burns, cuts, abrasions, dermatitis, and other skin complications. Aloe is also said to benifit skin. In this way the plant helps to retain moisture.

 

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