Why grow Aloe Vera? That was a question I asked myself. Are they really worth the effort
of growing and did the benefits claimed really live up to their reputation? well in this
video we are going to find out right after this.
Welcome to Uk Here We Grow. I’m Tony O’Neill, and on this channel, I make videos on gardening
beekeeping and poultry keeping. If its your first time here consider hitting the subscribe
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Aloe has become very popular over the last 10 years, and it has a multibillion-dollar
industry behind it. and is extensively used in beauty products and for good reason. It's
got antiviral and antibacterial properties, and the ability to help treat everything from
constipation to diabetes.
This year the temperatures have been crazy hot and I found myself applying suncream to
my children on a constant basis. Each bottle I used contained Aloe Vera. This got me thinking
about all the other health benefits of Aloe Vera. It was at this point I decided to buy
2 small plants to grow myself at home.
These two plants came from eBay. Now they are pups that probably came from a mother
plant. This is exactly how they came and as you can see they are a little bit top heavy.
Now growing Aloe isn't difficult if you follow some basic rules. I'm going to share those
with you right now.
Aloe typically grows one or two feet tall with prickly leaves, which act as a defence
to keep animals and insects from eating the plant. That got me thinking of whether the
aloe in my own garden as an insect repellent. So later on in the year when these plants
get a little bit bigger, We are going to look a little more into that.
The leaves contain a gooey translucent gel, which is really really bitter and known all
over the world for its incredible healing properties. This gooey gel is made up roughly
of 96% water, some organic and inorganic compounds, and includes vitamins A B C and E It also
contains a product called Acemannan
Acemannan has various medicinal properties such as osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and
antibacterial, which helps accelerate healing of lesions, burns psoriases and acne
Tip 1 Aloe shouldn't be kept in direct sunlight, they do like a bright location but should
never be in direct sunlight. If your keeping Aloe indoors then do not place it up against
the glass, because that will cause burning to the leaves. Instead just put them into
an indirect light and ensure its nice and bright.
Tip 2 Soil mix needs to be free draining, The quicker it drains the better, Aloe does
not like sitting in wet soils. A cactus mix would be ideal for Aloe. Potting soil or multipurpose
compost will hold on to way too much moisture and can rot the root system killing the plant
Tip 3 Watering Aloe Vera should be done infrequently. The best thing to do is to take your Aloe
plant, stick your finger roughly about 2 inches down into the soil to see if there is any
moisture If there is moisture leave it. You want to let your Aloe completely dry out before
watering it again. Aloe only needs watering every there week in the summer and possibly
every three or four weeks during the winter periods.
Tip 4 Aloe Vera love to be potbound They like their roots to be compact so don’t place
them into too big a pot initially. What I would suggest though is transplanting them
into a terracotta pot. By placing them in a terracotta pot you balance out that heavy
top growth so that they don't topple over, the weight of the pot will balance that out
and keep your Aloe Upright.
Tip 5 Feeding Your Aloe Vera plants is very easy, They only need feeding twice a year,
usually in early spring and mid-summer, Don't feed towards the end of summer because by
that point these plants are starting to shut down for the winter.you can use a cactus feed
in order to feed your plants but be sure to follow the instructions in order not to overfeed.
Tip 6 Harvesting Aloe is very easy, you can cut off little pieces if you need to rub it
on a burn or a cut. or you can take off whole leaves to be added to extra products in order
to make shapoos face masks and other beauty products. As I have already said earlier in
the video I am going to be looking into the properties toward insecticides and prevention
towards other plants being damaged.
There are so many health benefits to this little plant. And did you know it would be
worth keeping one in your bedroom because this is one of the few plants that produce
oxygen as a by-product during the night time so can aid with your sleep patterns
I really hope you have enjoyed this episode on how to take grow and look after Aloe Vera.
I would really appreciate you sharing this video with your friends and groups you belong
too. Question of the day. Do you grow Aloe Vera? let me know in the comments section
below. I would also be interested in any other tips you may have that have not been included
in this video. Put them below for others to read so we can all learn together as a group
I would like to take this time to thank you for viewing, I’m Tony O’Neill, This is
UK Here We Grow and remember folks You Reap What You Sow! I’ll see you in the next one.
Bye Bye.