Aloe Vera Plant

Aloe vera plants are perennial plants in the lily family which is known for its healing and pacifying properties. It is an old tradition that is still broadly followed to keep a pot of aloe on the kitchen windowsill in case of burns. Due to their popularity, Aloe vera plants are obtainable at almost every garden shop or nursery. Aloe vera is a succulent, and as such, retains a large amount of water within its leaves and root system.

During the winter months, the plant will become slightly abeyant, and utilize very little moisture. During this period watering should be minimum. Allocate the soil to become completely dry before giving the plant a cup or two of water. During the summer months, the soil should be entirely soaked, but then be endorsed to dry again before re-watering. The center of each leaf is pilled with a viscous gel.

The plants are vase-shaped, and disperse by shallow roots. While Aloe seldom thrives as a houseplant, when grown outdoors or in a warm green house, it will produce tall stalks of one inch long green, white, yellow or orange flowers. Aloe Vera plants are connatural to the Mediterranean region and Africa. There are about 250 species varying in size from a few inches to a few feet.

The health benefits of aloe vera are on the rise with its prodigious healing qualities. It helps in reducing the cholesterol, blood fat lipid levels and triglycerides that are some of the major causes for heart problems. In cold environment, it can be grown as a house plant year round, or grown in a container and moved indoors in the winter. The plants like a very well drained potting mix, containing sand, perlite, pumice or aciculate grit.

The most common issue with care is watering. In the winter climates, plants take up less moisture, so be specially careful not to over water. If your Aloe gets enough light to bloom, remove the flower stalk when it is finished blooming. The succulent juice inside of the leaves is harvested to make a gel or liquid to treat gastrointestinal complcations. Externally it is applied to minor cuts, burns and insect bites and used to sooth fellowed or sunburned skin. It is an ingredient in different commercial lotions, hair products and cosmetics.

As with all medicative plants, use with caution. In hot climate, Aloe is used in hoi polloi in the landscape. It naturally forms colonies and the peculiar pointed leaves and tall flower stalks can be quite showy. Pair with other xerophytic plants such as agave, yucca, and cactus. They differ in colour from grey to bright green and are sometimes striped or mottled.

Aloe have magnesium lactate, an itch inhibitor bringing in palliation to insect bites, acne, sunburns and rashes. Aloe effectively treats warts and also lesions inlying and outlying the mouth. Its healing quality can even elixir psoriasis. Aloe vera retains external healing properties and speeds the healing of skin injuries such as poison ivy, ulcerations, hives, and burns. Internal healing properties ensue from its use as a laxative; however, use as a laxative can cause agonizing cramping.

Other herbs including senna and sagrada are usually used instead. It is used as an anti-wrinkle treatment because of its effectiveness in stimulating the production of collagen and elastin which helps in keeping aging at bay. As a cleanser it helps in removing dead cells. It is an benefitial moisturiser for the skin. Aloe vera is a large, stemless rosette succulent. The fleshy, sword-shaped leaves are gray-green and grow to 80 cm long. Younger leaves have pallid spots. The plant will slowly counteract to form a clump.

Only large plants flower. The unbranched flower spike bears yellow, tubular flowers. In cultivation in California, hummingbirds visit these. Aloe vera is an primitive plant, long respected for its many healing and soothing properties. For this reason, aloe is one treatment that no modern medicine cabinet should be without.

Species of Aloe vera plant

There are around 400 species in the genus aloe. Species include:

• Aloe aristata - Torch plant, Lace aloe.
• Aloe arborescens - Aloe arborescens miller, used in healthcare.
• Aloe dichotoma - quiver tree or kokerboom.
• Aloe ngobitensis.
• Aloe variegata - Partridge-breasted aloe, Tiger aloe.
• Aloe vera Barbados aloe, Common aloe, Yellow aloe, Medicinal aloe. This is the variety used medicinally.
• Aloe wildii.

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