Growing My Edible Aloe Vera

I am just documenting the yearly cycle of my aloe vera plant. There are more than one variety of aloe vera that I know for sure. I grow the kind that is sterile, meaning it doesn’t pop out sucker plants by the base or by runners. My aloe vera has big fat thick leaves that are commonly available at Latin and Asian markets used to make aloe vera drink. My aloe vera recipe is in the Recipe/Beverage tab.

Potting and Potting Mix for Aloe Vera: I plant my aloe vera in a pot so I can move it around easily. I use the bagged potting mix designated for “cactus, citrus, avocado trees” that you can find at Lowes and Home Depot.

Planting Aloe Vera in Ground: Well, I have planted this very aloe vera plant in the ground on the side of my house where it gets the most sun. It grew very well and big but never sent out any pups, so I am very sure it’s sterile as can be.

4/24/24: I thought today is the best time to start my aloe vera documentary because my aloe vera has already flowered and the flower stalks have dried up. The mature outer leaves are turning orange too. Perhaps it’s due to too much moisture in the potting mix.

So I emptied the potted aloe vera out and harvest the mature outer leaves by treating it off from the base. I will be using the mature leaves for aloe vera drink.

Yes. I do saw or cut the root ball to shorten it. The bottom stalk will develop new roots again. I have been doing this repeated cycle once a year when I harvest the mature leaves. So I know at least my aloe vera plant would not die. 😂

I reported the aloe vera with the existing potting soil and a scoop of paver base course sand because the potting is too dense. Aloe vera doesn’t like to have wet feet and needs that fast draining soil like a succulent plant. I repotted my aloe vera with soil covering up to where the harvested leaves were.