Planting Outdoors
Aloe vera is hardy in zones 10 through 12 and can be planted outdoors in warm climates. If growing outdoors, make sure that your soil is well-draining, says Ryan McEnaney, garden designer and author of Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space.
Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot the plant is in.
Place the plant in the ground, making sure the crown is even with existing soil.
Backfill the hole with soil so the roots are covered.
Water the plant thoroughly, letting it drain completely before re-watering.
Planting in Containers
Aloe vera is a low-maintenance houseplant you can grow indoors year-round. If you’re planting aloe in a pot, I recommend a porous terracotta pot, which allows water to more easily evaporate. Choose a well-draining soil, preferably one marked for cactus or other arid plants.
Fill a container most of the way with soil.
Place the plant in the center of the pot.
Backfill with soil to cover the roots.
Water the plant, making sure it fully drains through and doesn’t leave any standing water.
How to Care for Aloe Vera
The key to growing healthy aloe vera in your garden is making sure it is in the right environment.
Soil: Mimic aloe vera’s native environment with well-draining sandy or rocky soil. “For indoor plants, a cactus or succulent soil is a great option,” says McEnaney. “If you’re planting outdoors, especially for year-round growing, make sure to have lots of great drainage so water doesn’t sit at the roots.”
Water: Overwatering your aloe vera can lead to root rot. Whether you’re growing the plant indoors or outdoors, it’s important to test for dryness by checking the soil moisture with your finger. “Water aloe vera when the soil is bone dry,” says Chris Satch, plant doctor at Horti.
Light: Aloe vera plants do best with a lot of sun. If your aloe vera is planted outside, six to eight hours of full sun is best. “Interestingly, while they prefer full sun outdoors, they just need bright indirect light indoors,” says McEnaney. “The amplification of the sun’s rays through windows can burn the leaves, so make sure they’re not sitting in full sun all day inside.”
Temperature: Aloe vera needs warmer temperatures and is not adaptable for frosts or ongoing cold temperatures. “Ideally, aloe vera should be kept between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit,” says McEnaney. If growing it in a climate with cold seasons, you can keep the plant outdoors during summer then bring it inside when temperatures drop. If you move from indoors to outdoors for the summer, be sure to transition it slowly over the course of a week. “If nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the aloe inside overnight,” says McEnaney.
Fertilizer: Aloe vera needs very little to no fertilizer. “If you’re growing the plant indoors, you could give it some succulent fertilizer in early spring,” says McEnaney. “But if your plant is outdoors, no fertilizer is needed.”