27 Different Types of Aloe Vera Plants: Growing, Caring and Common Problems
Aloe Vera is the most common plant that you will find in almost every household. This familiar plant is also called as a wonder plant due to its various benefits. This short-stemmed shrub belongs to the genus Aloe that comprises over 400 species of succulent flowering plants. Here, you will about know about different types of aloe vera plants and other important things related to them.
If you are thinking of growing this amazing plant in your home, you should read this article. Before moving on to its types, you must know a little more about aloe vera and its benefits. You will be amazed to read about its health and medicinal benefits. So, let’s move on without further delay!
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What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera is a plant whose leaves are erect, succulent, and an intense rosette. People are growing and using this plant for thousands of years. It is a well-known plant that humans use for medicinal purposes and as a decoration. Extract or gel of Aloe Vera is used in various beauty and skin products. Today, Aloe Vera is commonly used in cosmetics, herbal remedies, cosmetics, food supplements, and food flavoring.
Aloe Vera belongs to the tropical area of North Africa. However, you can grow this succulent plant in your house as well! Aloe is one of those plants that do not require much care. You can have a gorgeous looking and healthy plant without paying much attention to it.
Health Benefits of Aloe Vera
Everyone knows about the healing properties of Aloe Vera. Earlier, people used to call it a plant of immortality. People from all over the world have been using Aloe Vera since ages including North Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, and Indians. Now, Aloe Vera has different names like lily of the desert, elephant’s gall, and lily of the desert because of its healing properties from treating hemorrhoids and wounds to hair loss and digestive issues. So, read about some of its health benefits below!
Digestive Help
Aloe Vera produces Aloe Latex, which helps to treat constipation if taken orally. This latex from Aloe Vera contains an anthraquinone called Aloin. It helps to cleanse and smoothen the digestive tract and boosts digestion. Aloe vera even helps to eliminate awful bacteria so as to endorse a hale and hearty digestive system. So, Aloe Vera aids diarrhea and constipation because of its anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties.
Sunburn Relief
Most people believe that aloe vera relieves sunburns. As studies have shown, Aloe Vera effectively treats sunburns of first and second degrees. Its gel offers a cooling effect to the skin. You can give it a try on experiencing sunburns yourself.
Wound Healing
Aloe Vera heals cuts and burns on the skin. If you apply the aloe vera gel on the affected area, it effectively helps to speed up the healing process.
Heartburn Relief
Some researchers claim that aloe vera helps to reduce some symptoms of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), which includes belching, vomiting, and heartburn. This digestive disorder affects the esophageal sphincter that connects the stomach and the esophagus. Intake of Aloe vera gel reduces the intensity of heartburn or GERD. So, aloe vera is a safe and gentle remedy for GERD due to its lower toxic levels.
Treat Skin Conditions
In markets, you can easily find Aloe Vera creams. These creams have a soothing effect on skins along with reducing inflammation and itchiness. Aloe Vera even treats skin related problems like acne and psoriasis.
On the other hand, aloe vera gel also helps to slow down the aging process of the skin. This gel increases the collagen production of skin and hence, improves skin elasticity. One can use Aloe vera to thwart the premature onset of skin aging.
Lower Blood Sugar
If one drinks two tablespoons of Aloe Vera juice for two weeks every day, it helps to lower sugar levels among type 2 diabetic persons. Aloe vera juice also improves triglyceride levels among diabetic people, who are at greater risk of mounting heart-related diseases.
Pain Reliever
Mouth ulcers are one of the most common problems that occur inside of the cheeks, on tongue, or lips. Aloe Vera helps to heal these ulcers really quick. This happens because of the presence of polysaccharide Acemannanin the gel. This gel even lessens the pain of ulcers. So, apply aloe vera gel on ulcers to cure them faster.
Other Uses of Aloe Vera
Today, Aloe Vera is used in various personal care products and cosmetics such as suntan lotion, shaving cream, soap, and moisturizer. Some other uses of Aloe Vera include the following:
Mouthwash
As you know, unchecked oral health could lead to various tooth and gum diseases. One can prevent these diseases by reducing plaque buildup. For this, you can make use of Aloe vera juice as a mouthwash. It promotes excellent oral health. The best part is that aloe vera juice does not cost you much as compared to expensive commercial mouthwashes.
Moisturizer
Aloe Vera is one of the most common ingredients in face washes, lotions, moisturizers, soaps, and various other cosmetic products. This is so because of the curative and moisturizing properties of Aloe Vera. Aloe vera even protects acne due to its astringent and anti-bacterial properties.
Keep Produce Fresh
Aloe vera is the best alternative to a refrigerator so as to keep the food bacteria-free and fresh. For this, you have to coat vegetables and fruits like tomatoes with aloe vera gel. This prevents the growth of harmful bacteria on the produce. So, keep the produce fresh with aloe vera to protect your family against potential future diseases.
Drinks
Nowadays, people incorporate Aloe Vera in various recipes after knowing its tons of benefits. One can even find numerous Aloe Vera juices in the market, which are made with Aloe Vera. So, drink this juice and get all the benefits of aloe vera in a delicious way.
27 Different Types of Aloe Vera Plants
When we talk about Aloe Vera, there is no single range of it. As stated earlier, the genus Aloe comprises more than 400 species. Each one of these types has different characteristics. Out of all, four are known to have various health benefits. So, know about some common types of aloe vera right below.
1. Aloe Barbadensis Miller
Most common species of aloe vera, it is known, used, and widespread due to its beauty and healing properties. This variety can be easily distinguished from other varieties as these aloe vera plants have white spots on their leaves. These spots start to disappear as plants age.
2. Aloe Saponaria
Known as Aloe Maculata or real pita, this aloe vera plant helps to treat skin conditions. The leaves of this variety are placed in a circular form. They are jagged, broad, and fleshy along with having white spots. The flowers of this variety are of orange reddish color.
3. Aloe Arborescens
Known as Arborescent Aloe, Candelabra, and Candelabra Aloe, this variety offers various healing and medicinal benefits, especially for burns. This aloe vera species can grow to 10 feet tall and blooms around winters with red-orange colored flowers. This aloe vera looks more like cactus while having a woody trunk.
4. Aloe Capitata Var. Quartziticola
This plant grows up to 3 feet and looks attractive to birds and bees. The leaves of this species are of grey green color, which produce a 3-feet flower stalk. The flowers of this species are bright yellow with orange center. These aloes look attractive to birds and bees.
5. Aloe Ciliaris
Known as Climbing Aloe, it grows exceptionally fast. This plant has hair-like and soft teeth, which looks perfect with flowers. These plants are tough and thin, which produce flowers of red orange color with yellow tips. They attract a lot of bees and birds while make prefect garden plants.
6. Lace Aloe
Known as Guinea-Fowl Aloe, Aloe Aristata or Aristaloe Aristata, this plant’s roots are used in various medicines for healing. These plants have dark green colored leaves with flowers of red orange color. This species of aloe vera bears quite large flowers, which go up to a height of 20 inches.
7. Aloe X Principis
This plant grows orange and scarlet spikes during winters. It looks great in succulent gardens. This species of aloe vera grows up to a height of 9 feet. It produces spikes during winters, which turn orange and bright scarlet in color. These plants are inhabitant of South Africa.
8. Arabian Aloe
Known as Aloe Rubroviolacea, this plant has red margins with purplish leaves. It tolerates all kinds of soils with any pH balance. The leaves of this aloe species are of blue-green color with tinges of purple on them. These leaves turn violet-red during winters.
9. Cape Aloe
Known as Aloe Ferox or Bitter Aloe, it has bluish green leaves with rose tints. Its orange-red flowers blossom during winters. It is well-admired due to its precious gel. This bitter aloe is very useful for medicine and skin care so it is used in many famous cosmetics. This species belongs to South Africa, which grows up to a height of 3 feet. The old and dry leaves of this plant stay there while forming a petticoat around stems.
10. Cape Speckled Aloe
Known as Aloe Microstigma, this plant has bluish green leaves. It blossoms with beautiful red-colored spikey flowers. Later on, the color of the flowers changes to orange and yellow orange. This bi-color appearance is what attracts bees and birds the most. This plant is disease-free and attracts various bees and birds.
11. Coral Aloe
Known as Aloe Striata, this aloe vera grows up to 18 feet in height with 18 feet width. It has broad and flat blue-green leaves with coral orange flowers, which appear during winters to springs. These plants look really beautiful in sunny borders and containers. They do well in full sun and well-drained soil.
12. Aloe 'Crosby's Prolific'
This dwarf aloe has green leaves with translucent teeth on edges. It grows up to 12 inches. Like other aloes, it is disease-free and deer-resistant. The leaves of this species are fleshy and turn red in the full sun. The plants bear bright orange flowers, which are tubular.
13. Fan Aloe
Known as Aloe Plicatilis, this aloe comprises long and slender leaves. The leaves of this aloe vera species have a structure like a fan. They are of bluish green color with bright orange edges. This specific species has won numerous international flower awards. These plants grow 8 feet high and look exactly like a small tree.
14. Golden Toothed Aloe
Even called Aloe Nobilis, this plant has triangular leaves of green color. It blooms orange flowers in a tubular form. It grows just 2 feet in height. These aloe vera plants are ideal for borders and groundcovers. These plants flourish well in full sun when planted in gravelly and sandy soil.
15. Malagasy Tree Aloe
Aloe Vaombe with 12-feet height and 5 feet width produce red-colored beautiful flowers. This species belongs to Madagascar. The leaves of this species have white teeth and are fleshy. These leaves turn deep red from dark green when leave out in full sun.
16. Mountain Aloe
Called Aloe Marlothii, this aloe has brownish red spines. It grows about 10 feet and blooms tubular flowers in winters. This species of aloe vera forms a dense cluster of green-colored leaves. The flowers of this aloe variety are of bright red or yellow color while blooms as orange red in color.
17. Red Aloe
Aloe Cameronii has curvy leaves and upright stems. This aloe species looks great as borders in rock gardens. It grows up to a height of 2 feet with a width of 4 feet. These plants look really beautiful in rock gardens. These aloe vera plants do well in partial shade or full sun.
18. Sand Aloe
Known as Aloe Hereroensis, the leaves of this plant come with fine lines while flowers of orange and red color. It is one of the stunning species of aloe vera. These plants grow up to a height of 2 feet. For growing these aloe vera plants, you need to use well-drained and alkaline soil.
19. Short-Leaf Aloe
Called Aloe Brevifolia, it has round perennials. It grows up to a certain height of 2 feet and blooms orange flowers during late springs. The leaves of this aloe species are of pale blue color, which turn golden-yellow and rose-pink in the sun. These plants are disease-free and deer-resistant.
20. Snake Aloe
Aloe Broomii comprises beautiful and long green leaves. It usually takes six years to bloom to the fullest. This aloe species is the most striking one. It is ideal for semi-arid and arid regions. These plants are disease-free and flourish great in well-drained and sandy soils.
21. Spiral Aloe
Even called Aloe Polyphylla, this aloe has been awarded various international flower awards. It forms a perfect shape in a spiral. The leaves of this species have white to green spines with purple-brown tips. The flowers of this species are tubular and salmon-pink in color.
22. Sunset Aloe
Called Aloe Dorotheae, this plant blooms yellow flowers in winters. This 2-feet aloe turns red in full and direct sun. These sunset aloe plants look very beautiful as groundcovers or even in containers. The flowers of this species produce nectar. Hence, these plants are really attractive to birds and bees.
23. Tilt-Head Aloe
Known as Aloe Speciosa, this plant grows dense and thick spikes of three colors such as brownish-red, creamy yellow, and red. It adds great beauty to gardens. The leaves of this aloe variety are of blue-green color with tinges of pink at the edges. These leaves grow up to 3 feet and are quite large in size.
24. Tree Aloe
Even called Aloe Barberae, this tree aloe grows up to 60 feet. It blooms red flowers in winters. There are various kinds of tree aloes such as Aloe pillansii, Aloe dichotoma, etc. Aloe dichotoma is also known as quiver tree, which is even considered to be the largest aloe vera plant.
25. Van Balen’s Aloe
Known as Aloe Vanbalenii, this plant has curled leaves like an octopus. This species of aloe vera grows up to a height of 3 feet. It has bright-green colored curling leaves with copper-red corners. It produces flowers in winters of yellow-orange color. Like other aloe vera plants, it is also deer-resistant.
26. Stone Aloe
It is also known as Aloe Petricola. This species of aloe vera blooms flowers of yellow, orange, and red in color. It is really easy to look for this specific aloe variety. It acts as a perfect addition to any garden. These plants are often used to treat wounds and minor burns.
27. Spider Aloe
Spider Aloe is also called as Aloe Humilis or Hedgehog Aloe. This species of aloe has triangular leaves that form a rosette. These plants bear yellow, orange, and red flowers. Most gardeners choose this aloe variety for their gardens. Spider aloe is known to relieve sunburns.
How To Grow Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a plant that anyone can take care of. It is the best for people who forget to water their plants. For growing aloe vera, you need a terra cot pot full of well-drained dirt. You can even opt for a succulent mix or even combine potting soil and sand in equal parts. Once your aloe vera starts to tip off, you can repot your plant. If you want your plant to thrive, offer it lots of space.
You can place your plant in a sunny and bright place. You can put your plant outdoors in the summer but avoid the direct sunlight immediately. Keep on changing the place of your plant to a brighter position after every few days to avert overexposure. Otherwise, your plant will stop growing once gone dormant. You need to water your plant heavily once every two weeks. On excess watering, the leaves will start to limp or turn brown in color. For watering it again, you need to wait for the soil to completely dry out. Now, all you need to buy is a perfect pot, special soil, and a beautiful aloe plant.
How To Take Care of Aloe Vera?
When it comes to taking care of Aloe Vera, you do not really have to do much. You need to look after some factors while growing Aloe Vera in your home. These factors include the following:
Temperature
The ideal temperature for Aloe Vera lies in between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It has to be not too cold and not too hot. Aloe Vera can do well in winters with 20-30 degrees temperature. For flowering, Aloe Vera needs full and bright sun. However, it can perfectly tolerate dry seasons.
Watering
Aloe Vera needs little water, where you need to take care of not to underwater or overwater it. Most Aloe Vera plants die due to incorrect watering practices. This succulent plant can tolerate drought while requiring water to flower and grow. You need to water only when you do not feel water after digging in 2 inches with your finger.
During winters, you need to water aloe vera infrequently as these plants go dormant at this time. Normally, it happens where the temperature is too cold for a very long time. You need to water the plant only once or twice a month if you are not keeping it in a heated room all year round.
Light
This plant can become accustomed to low light but requires full sun to flower and grow. You can place aloe vera plant near a window having bright light. Aloe Vera prefers indirect and bright light, which makes it perfect for indoors as well.
Soil
Aloe Vera plants can adapt to drought as coming from deserts. These plants can do well in poor and dry soil. One can grow aloe vera in any kind of soil, whereas well-draining and rich soil will be perfect for it. You can build a mound, where you can mix the soil with the organic compost, to grow aloe vera.
Fertilizer
Generally, Aloe Vera does not need fertilizers. If you want to watch it bloom, you can fertilize aloe vera once a year. For this, you can go for phosphorous-heavy and water-based fertilizer. Before that, you have to water the plant and then, drain the water. It will help to protect roots and make sure not to fertilize the stem, flowers, and leaves.
Humidity
You can plant aloe vera outdoors or indoors as it requires little humidity. This plant has resistance for drought and hence, requires less humidity.
Propagation
Propagation of this succulent plant is quite difficult. The leaf-cutting method does not work for aloe vera. One can propagate this plant through offshoots. For this, cut the baby plant and leave it in a warm place for some days so as to create a film above the cut. Once done, you can place it in the pot.
Repotting
Aloe vera can be repotted but it can damage the plant. In order to do this, take out the plant while loosening the soil and check out the shoots and roots. If needed, cut offshoots. Now, place the plants into the new pot while filling gaps with the soil.
Pruning
Most people prune aloe vera to grow the gel in its leaves. For this, cut down or trim brown leaves that are drying out. Just keep in mind not to prune over one-third section of the plant at a given time.
Common Problems Related to Growing Aloe Vera
To grow Aloe Vera is not much difficult but you can face some problems. Look below for some of the common problems related to growing aloe vera!
Overwatering
Aloe vera cannot stand overwatering and hence, you need to be careful with that. Do not store water in the saucer for aloe vera plants. Just water these plants and let the plant drain it completely. Water these plants when the soil becomes dry.
Not growing
If your aloe vera is not growing, you need to keep a check on sunlight, water, and the soil. Place your plant in indirect light. If the soil is more alkaline, you can add sulfur to it. Also, repot your plant if the pot is small.
Wrap the root ball
When planting the aloe vera plant, you have to keep the root ball of the plant just below the surface of the soil. There are chances to getting it rot if you hide or bury any thick or green leave. The leaves should not touch the soil and not even partially buried.
Get rid of weeds carefully
The soil around aloe vera plants should be eliminated of weeds and grass. In case, your aloe vera resides outdoors, you need to regularly remove them with utmost care. This is so because nice aloe soil is sandy and loose. Hence, it becomes easy to hurt the aloe roots with robust weed-pulling.
Diseases & Pests
Aloe vera plants are prone to pests and diseases just like various other plants. Some of these diseases include aphids, fungus gnats, scale insects, and mealy bugs. Aphids feed on the gel of aloe vera and prevent the plant from growing. To get rid of aphids, use an insecticide spray.
Scale insects are an epidemic that causes brown and yellow bumps on aloe vera. You can get rid of scale insects and mealy bugs with the help of rubbing alcohol. Fungus gnats appear because of overwatering. These gnats cause no harm to aloe vera and can be ridden off by adjusting the watering routine.
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Is Aloe Vera Safe for Humans and Pets?
Aloe Vera is absolutely safe for humans. It causes no side effects while the oral ingestion is not pretty much safe. It decreases medicine adsorption and causes diarrhea. When it comes to pets, Aloe Vera is not safe for animals like cats and dogs. So, it is better to keep these plants away from your pets.
Conclusion
Aloe Vera is a plant with various medicinal and health benefits. It is the most admired plant due to its various benefits. Also, it adds beauty to houses and public areas. Aloe vera plants improve the quality of the air all around. If you are thinking of growing aloe vera at your place, you should go for it.
Aloe vera does not require much care and hence, anyone can grow it. You can even grow more plants from one. So, gift this low-maintenance plant to your friends and other family members.
