One of the most common questions gardeners ask is, “How often do you water aloe plants?” Aloe vera is a drought-resistant plant that doesn’t need frequent watering, so you may water the plants once every two to three weeks, and they will still survive.
We will discuss the watering frequency, soil, sunlight, and fertilizing techniques for aloe vera plant.
Keep reading to join the discussion on aloe plant care if you love aloe plants.
Contents
How Many Times Should Aloe Plants Be Watered?
You should water aloe vera plants only once every two to three weeks. Although it is a drought resistant plant, but it shouldn’t be left without water, which means, aloe irrigation should be infrequent and deep. The water should reach deep inside the soil instead of just dampening the topsoil.
For indoor plants, watering them twice a month will be sufficient. Also, never try overwatering the aloe plant since it will suffer from edema and root damage. Similarly, not watering the aloe plants for an extended period might cause them to die without nutrients.
Hence, knowing the signs of overwatering and under watering aloe vera plants is crucial. You must also know the proper rules to accurately irrigate indoor and outdoor aloe plants.
– In Summer
Watering the aloe plants once every two to three weeks is enough during summer and spring. However, if your summer is really hot, then you can add one more watering session. During summer and spring, there will be proper moisture in the soil. Which means that, infrequent watering won’t affect its health.
When the aloe is in warmer and drier conditions, watering it every six to eight days will help. If you live in an arid and cold region with less moisture in the air, this frequency for aloes will be valuable.
Water it once a week if the plant is exposed to direct sunlight too frequently. You may run a touch test. You need to insert the finger two/third inches inside the soil and feel the moisture.
– In Winter
In winter and fall, you should double up the irrigation time. It means you may water them twice a month during fall and winter. The plant will still thrive without any problems.
Basically, if you want it in simpler terms, your watering frequency of the aloe plant should be half in winter than in summer. So, you should water them twice in winter if you have watered them four times a month in summer.
Alternatively, feel the soil for dryness and water it, as in winter it will take more time to do so, because it is colder so it takes more time to dry up.
How Much Water Do Aloe Need?
The amount of water that aloe need depends on the moisture of the soil. In other words, if the soil is dry as you would insert your finger in it, then it is time to water it, however, make sure that you would water it deeply, but not frequently.
As a rule of thumb, enter your finger about two/third inches inside the soil and feel the dampness. If the soil feels dry, you should water aloe vera plants. After pouring water from the top to the bottom, recheck the topsoil. When it is moist, stop watering.
– Indoor Care
You need to increase the watering frequency of the plants if you plant aloe vera in smaller and terracotta pots.
These pots tend to dry out sooner. So, you should water the indoor aloe vera plants in these pots once every week.
– Drying of Soil
Between the watering cycle, you should allow the two/third of the soil inside the pot to dry out properly. It will help you maintain the proper watering cycle for aloe plants. Check the soil once a week to see the moistness. When it feels dry, pour in the water.
Since it likes to grow in drier conditions, ensure the soil has maximum drainage. You should choose potting soil with a lot of sand and perlite to ensure the perfect growth of aloe. You may prefer planting aloes in pumice, rock garden, and Leca soil. It will manage the moisture better and allow aloe to grow fast.
– Bottom Watering
You should water the aloe plants right from their bottom. It helps the water reach deep inside the soil and aloe roots. It will assist the plants in thriving better. In addition, note that since you are not always watering it, you need to water it very deeply.
– Drainage Holes
If you see water over the top soil accumulating after 10 to 15 minutes of watering, dump it. Or else it will cause root rot. Also, ensure proper drainage holes to help the soil remain in good condition.
– Moist Soil
Another crucial question about growing aloe vera properly is its water requirement. Do you need to overwater it, or will regular watering do? When you water the aloe vera pot and soil, ensure the soil is moist.
Wait to see if the soil soaks the water. After 10 to 15 minutes of waiting, recheck the soil and water. If there’s any water left over in the soil, remove it carefully. You can tilt the pot to remove its remaining water and help the aloe grow confidently.
What Are Some Signs of Overwatering Aloe Vera Plants?
Some signs of overwatering aloe vera plants can be root damages, or fungal development on the leaves and the soil at the same time. In addition to this, it can also have blacked and soft edges on both, the leaves and the stems.
The reason for these signs is that aloe needs minimal watering; thus, it is easy to overwater the aloe vera gel plants, eventually affecting their health. If you continue overwatering aloe vera, it will have root rot, edema, and damage in other parts. At such a moment, aloe will die due to overwatering problem.
You don’t need to water the aloes if the soil is still moist. You should water the plant when the soil feels dry. The touch test works brilliantly in summer as the sun can quickly soak the moisture. Hence, you must know the signs of overwatering aloes. It will help you when to stop watering aloe plants. Also, it will assist you in maintaining the right watering frequency for aloe care.
– Root Damage
Like most cacti, root damage is the primary sign that you are overwatering aloes. So, you should check the root of the aloes if you suspect any overwatering issues. You can use a spoon to remove the soil from the aloe surrounding it to access its root.
Then, feel the root with your hand to see if it appears damaged or softened. Also, use the flashlight of your smartphone to observe the root. You must consider cutting off the damaged roots if it shows any edema. It will help the problem stop without spreading further.
Also, for growing aloe vera indoors, you need to report it to fix the overwatering problem. When you face such problems, always use succulent soil to repot the aloes. The key is to ensure proper aloe drainage for maximum fluidity inside the soil.
– Fungus Development on Leaves and Soil
An easy way to determine to overwater is to look for a white fungus attack on the soil and aloe foliage. There will be white spots due to fungal attacks. The frequency of the white specks on aloe leaves will depend on the overwatering level. If you have watered the aloes too overly, the white spots will be more and thicker on the foliage.
– Blackened and Soft Edges of the Leaves and Stems
Finally, overwatering will damage the aloe leaves and stems. So, you will see the stems and leaves softening gradually. Aloe leaves are sword-like around the edges and thicker. When you put too much water on the aloe soil, it will damage the thick leaves.
It happens because, like all succulent leaves, aloe collects water in its leaves. So, when the soil receives more water, the aloe leaves will soak more water from the soil. As a result, it will start damaging and breaking apart due to the water pressure. So, you will see the leaves falling apart, exposing their tissues.
Plus, there will be blackened spots due to water damage. When it happens, you must treat the aloe as soon as possible. You may rub isopropyl or rubbing alcohol to treat the damaged leaves. Also, repotting it with proper drainage is a must.
Conclusion
Aloe vera plant is an excellent indoor and outdoor plants. It doesn’t need extreme care and watering like many sensitive indoor plants. When you maintain its proper watering cycle, the plant will thrive, so here’s what this article covered:
- When watering, you must water the aloes plentifully. The idea is to help the water reach as deep as possible because aloes have deep roots.
- If you don’t use adequate water, it won’t reach the root deep inside the soil.
- Ensure that the water isn’t standing at the bottom of the pot. It will lead to excessive moisture and hurt the roots. Having proper drainage holes for the pot will help maintain the moisture.
- During summer, aloe needs more water because it is the plant’s growing season. On the contrary, aloe needs less water in winter because it is dormant.
Hopefully, this comprehensive guide on aloe water cycling and its care guideline will help you grow it ideally. You may maintain these suggestions and see the plant strive in all weather conditions.
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