Meet the Aloe Vera Plant (Aloe barbadensis)

It’s said that Cleopatra claimed aloe vera as one of her greatest beauty secrets. Who am I to argue with Cleopatra?

Launch Gallery

It ’s tell that Cleopatra take aloe vera as one of her greatest beaut secret . Who am I to argue with Cleopatra ?

ostensibly aloe is still take by leading ornamental company for suntan lotions , hand and look creams , as well as shampoos . Beauty is n’t the only valuable gift aloe impart ; it ’s also have sex for its remarkable healing properties .

Aloe vera heals and moisturizes skin tissue paper to the period of even being used to treat radiation burns . Gardeners will often produce them here and there in their gardens so they can employ them for cuts , scrapes , burns , or chapped bridge player at a instant ’s notification .

This handy succulent is aboriginal to Africa but also grows in China Central America , and Chile . Worldwide , there are 350 coinage of aloe . The leaves are blades of pale unripened , very fleshy , and sometimes have spines along the side . The leafage do n’t grow off of a stem , but rather the antecedent come directly from the alkali of the works .

arise Aloe Vera

bitter aloes like the full Sunday , but do n’t mind some light shade and once established need very small piddle . This take in them sodding candidates for xeriscape planting . In fact , please do n’t over H2O them ; the less bicker that ’s made over them the better .

The Holy Scripture on the street is that they do well in zones 8 , 9 or 12 - 24 . I ’m not allege they ’re wrong , but you still may have to fetch them deep down for the winter or at least cover them to keep them protect from the hoarfrost . A cloggy frost nails them reasonably unspoiled , in fact , I survive in zona 9 and I bring mine under a cover during the cold calendar month .

Aloe vera ’s roots like to be crowd together , so pot ‘ em up ! They prosper in pot and amazingly make great indoor plant . If you need more aloe , they ’re propagated by film the little plantlet from alongside the female parent plant .

Harvesting Aloe Vera for Medicinal Purposes

Aloe ’s healing holding are at their good when used directly from the plant as ask . Some authorization claim that the plant ’s gel is strong in a flora that ’s more than 2 year previous – but I would n’t lease the years of the plant stop me from using it .

When the foliage is trim , it ’s the clear sap you are looking for that ’s so soothe on burns and cuts . It also varnish the combat injury and protect it allowing faster healing . The base of the leaf also contain a white-livered sap called “ biting bitter aloes ” , which is used as a laxative . Do n’t eat that . An interesting point is that people have n’t discovered a way to truly keep up aloe vera for very long once it ’s break from the folio . The heal property of aloe vera ’s gel drop off its potency quickly .

Making Aloe Vera Lotion

My 4H Gardening / Plant Science group and I made our own aloe vera software . Each child had their own aloe vera works and they took a slicing or two off of their farewell . We took unscented software and mixed it together . Next we add together scent ( essential oils ) and the coloring . We used the same hooey crafty citizenry habituate to make soap .

We had little purse - size bottle to put the app in and they even had oval stickers that they stick to their lotion bottles afterward . Each 4H - er distinguish their lotion themselves . youngster like to do thing with plants – not just planting and watering . One of my favorite things to teach my mathematical group is all the health benefits plants bring to us even in these New fourth dimension . Today , 25 % of all of our prescription medications are derived from plants .

Disclaimer : The entropy in this clause is for informational use only . It is not intend to be a substitute for seeking advice from a aesculapian professional . Serious burns ask medical attention straightaway .

all right Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Get our latest top , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Growing Aloe Vera in Southern California

Aloe Vera, A Favorite and Useful Houseplant

In the Greenhouse Today

Plant a Garden Theme with Herbs

conjoin Fine Gardening for a free engaging springy webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals proficient manager …

When I spotted a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in bother . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritise plants we need over plants our landscape needs , each season is fill with a never - ending lean of chores : pruning , pinching , lachrymation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Photo byBiology Big Brotherunder the Creative Commons Attributions License.

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you enter the backyard of garden decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …