How to Speed Up The Growth of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is undeniably one of the simplest plants to take care of. As a succulent, it doesn’t need much water, has no particular needs, and matures quite rapidly. However, if you’re eager to see your darling succulent flourish more quickly, there are numerous steps you can take.

With proper care and the right amount of water, light, pest control, fertilizer, and weather conditions, one can ensure their aloe vera plant grows healthier and quicker.

Other than these considerations, there are quite a few things that one needs to keep in mind while growing aloe vera, especially if they are hoping for verdant, thick, and pointy aloe leaves to emerge from the pot soon. Here are many tips that will help you grow your aloe vera plant much quicker.

Pick the right pot for your aloe plant.

One of the vital factors for the optimal growth of plants is the type of pot you select. Other than the type of the planter, the size of the planter also plays a significant role.

People just beginning to experiment with gardening or planting often don’t know the importance of choosing the right pot for their plants.

aloe vera plants growing in different types of pots

No two different plants can thrive in the same pot type or size, so it becomes an important parameter to consider.

To speed up the growth of your aloe vera plant, it is suggested to opt for pots made of clay or terracotta instead of plastic pots. Coming to the pot’s size, choose a pot that is just an inch or inch and a half bigger than your plant instead of a huge pot.

This will offer your plant enough space to grow. Also, consider picking a deeper pot rather than a wider one to ensure proper root development of your aloe vera plant.

Look For The Proper Drainage in The Pot

pots with drainage holes

While picking the right pot for your aloe plants, don’t forget to check for the draining holes. A well-drained pot is important if you wish to accelerate the growth of your aloe vera plant.

Draining holes in the pot can help you eliminate the plant’s excess water and help avoid the danger of root rot, which is quite common in aloe plants.

As aloe vera is a succulent plant, it grows well in pots with a porous structure and moisture retention. Such pots can also help absorb excess moisture, which benefits these plants. We all know that anything excess is never favorable; apply this concept to gardening. Everything in optimum can help you achieve the desired result.

Choose the Best Soil for The Succulents

aloe vera pups growing outdoors

Once you have found the perfect planter for growing aloe plants, the next step is to look into the type of soil you opt for. Succulents grow well in soil that drains quickly without holding excess water. To defy the issues with overwatering, resulting in water pools near the roots, one should consider selecting soil with a mix of sand or gravel that offers good drainage.

Growing your aloe plant in soil that offers good drainage can help reduce the chances of nutritional deficiency and rotten roots. Plant your aloe vera in the pots with a mixture of commercial succulent or cactus mix, and add sand or gravel to make it more porous.

Check for Proper Sunlight

aloe vera plants receiving sunshine

Sunlight is a bare minimum for most of the plants you grow. When it comes to succulents like aloe, it does require lots of sunlight. However, they are not immune to scorching, so paying attention to this parameter becomes essential.

Aloe plants can grow well when exposed to direct sunlight for 6-7 hours daily. So opt for such partial sunlight as it is just the optimal level of the sun that can help your aloe plants to grow.

Keeping aloe plants near windows or doors is suggested, which can be good spots for getting such partial sunlight. However, ensure it is not too exposed to direct sunlight, which can lead to drying the plant.

And avoiding the sunlight altogether will stunt the growth of aloe plants, so aim for 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight.

You can pick a spot that only receives direct sunlight or use a shade cloth to protect your plant from the direct sun rays during noontime.

Note: Always check for the early signs of sun damage, such as scorched leaves and brown spots, to know when to reduce sunlight exposure.

It is essential to get the correct light levels for your Aloe Vera. So How Much Sun Does Aloe Vera Require?

Optimal Temperature for the Win

Some people often don’t pay attention to the temperature aspect the plants are exposed to. Temperature also plays an imperative role in a plant’s growth, so do not miss out on this important factor. The ideal temperature range for your aloe plants to grow is between 55-80 F. Temperatures above 80° F can dry out the plant, whereas temperatures lower than that can result in stunted growth.

Aloe plants cannot flourish in extremely cold or hot weather, so make sure that you are placing the plant in a bright sunny spot that doesn’t get that hot or too cold, for that matter.

You can find such spots near windows or in your gardens where these plants can be exposed to good 6 hours of direct sunlight. So, always opt for the optimal temperature to enhance aloe vera’s growth.

Resist the urge to overwater

picture of a tied hose pipe

We often misunderstand the concept of speeding up the growth process by going overboard with water, sunlight, etc. At the same time, many people think watering your plant now and then in a day can help your plant thrive. But it’s not true! Every plant has a distinguished requirement for water.

A common saying, “killing it with kindness,” seems entirely appropriate in this scenario. Gardeners usually like to tend to their plants and offer them more water. However, this can, in turn, damage the plant.

As aloe plants have good water retention properties, these plants can hold water for longer. And hence it can do with less watering.

Succulents need less water as these plants can withstand drought. If you use the right soil mix and container to grow aloe plants, excess water will be drained well, which is beneficial for growth.

A quick tip is to water aloe plants and see if the upper layer of soil has dried. If it has dried, this can be your indicator to water the plant, but again, resist the urge to overwater and strictly opt for less watering. However, if the upper layer of soil has not dried out, avoid watering it.

Use good quality fertilizers.

spreading fertilizer in the field

Aloe plants can grow quite well without fertilizers. However, using a fertilizer can help you speed up the growth of aloe plants. This is because fertilizers offer nutrients to plants; you can add them during their active growing season. Aloe plants have an active growing season from spring to summer.

However, instead of opting for chemical fertilizers, it is recommended that you use organic products or compost that will also help accelerate the growth of your aloe plant. One can also get general organic succulent fertilizers from the stores.

These fertilizers do not harm plants and help fast-track their growth. If you do not wish to go for store-bought fertilizers, you can make your composts at home and use them.

Note: Aloe plants don’t grow well in winter, so don’t add fertilizers or composts as the plants go into a state of dormancy.

Growing aloe vera can be pretty fun. But if you are starting and looking for an easy and hassle-free way of growing aloe vera plants, here is a video that highlights some tips that will help you straightforwardly grow aloe vera:

Quick tips for boosting the growth of aloe plants

  • Always check for sufficient room for your aloe to grow in the pot; if not, consider repotting it.
  • Dipping the roots of the aloe plants in root-stimulating hormones while planting. This can help you accelerate the growth of roots.
  • Add chopped banana peels as natural fertilizers while repotting aloe plants, as it’s a rich source of potassium and can help foster more strength.
  • Ensure the plant is free of pests and diseases, as they can hamper its growth.
  • Lastly, opt for keeping your aloe plants outdoors instead of indoors to ensure it gets proper sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should we water aloe plants?

Watering your aloe plants once a week or fortnight is suggested, depending on the temperature and season. As mentioned above, the best way to know when to water the aloe plant is to check if the soil has dried up. Water your aloe plants sparingly in winter as the moisture is not lost quickly, and the soil doesn’t dry very quickly.

How long does it take for aloe to grow?

Growing aloe vera plants can take 3-4 years as it takes that much time to attain full maturity. However, optimizing the parameters responsible for growth, such as soil, sunlight, and temperature, can help you fast-track the growth of aloe plants.

How would you know if your aloe plant is healthy?

A healthy, thriving aloe plant will look thick with tall, firm leaves. The leaves of the plant are bluish-green, and that’s when you can tell that the aloe plant is healthy.

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In Summary

Understanding and getting the basics of gardening right is key to having an aloe plant thrive in its full glory. Studying a little regarding succulents and their requirements for sunlight, soil, and water can come in handy to speed up their growth process.

Aloe plants are deficient in maintenance and are one of those no-fuzz plants you can opt for if you often forget about watering your plants. And also, being one of the most beneficial succulents of all time, aloe vera is one of the plants that should be in your garden.

All the points and tips mentioned in this blog post can help you save time waiting for your aloe plants to grow.

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