Temperature
55–85°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
Aloe vera wants direct light and water every 14 to 28 days, once the soil is dry all the way through. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Light
Direct
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A south or west window within two feet of the glass. Grown dimmer, the leaves flop outward instead of standing up.
Water
Every 14–28 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the soil is dry all the way through, not on a schedule.
Humidity
20% and up
Fine in normal household air. Prefers 40%.
Difficulty
Easy
Scores 1 of 5: Scores 1 of 5: the only common way to kill it is a pot with no drainage hole. It tolerates months of neglect.
Habit
Rosette
Grows to 12–24 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats and dogs — poison severity low
Contains saponins, anthraquinones. Reported signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says 2 sources concur
- ASPCA
- Toxic to cats and dogs · saponins, anthraquinones
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Anthraquinone glycoside · Poisonous through ingestion or dermatitis. Symptoms may include: Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, red urine; skin irritation from latex.
Light
Direct light. A south or west window within two feet of the glass. Grown dimmer, the leaves flop outward instead of standing up.
Water
Every 14 to 28 days in a 6-inch pot, when the soil is dry all the way through.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the soil is dry all the way through |
Soil and potting
Two parts cactus mix, one part pumice or coarse sand.
Repot roughly every 3 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Root rot act today
- Drooping act today
- Brown crispy edges monitor
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-11.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Mealybugs this week
- Scale insects this week
Propagation
Division in soil. Roots in 14 to 28 days.
| Preferred method | division |
|---|---|
| Medium | soil |
| Time to root | 14–28 days |
| Node required | No |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Aloe vera Checked 2026-09-11.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Aloe vera Checked 2026-09-11.
- Wikidata entity Q80079 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Aloe vera Accepted name; family Asphodelaceae. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Aloe vera Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-11.
- Photograph: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY 3.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02