Aloe Vera cultivation and uses

I would recommend you grow some aloe vera either indoors or outdoors which has been used for centuries for all sorts of medical conditions.

Aloe Vera is a succulent herbal medicinal plant which grows happily in full sun or partially shaded conditions but needs a well drained soil. Being a succulent it is very drought tolerant and is resistant to most pests and diseases. The plant stores it's own water supply and should be allowed to completely dry out before re-watering in the summer months and only water minimally during the winter months.

Aloe Vera can easily be propagated from off-cuts and is an excellent indoor plant but it can be grown outside where there is no possibility of temperatures dropping below zero. Aloe Vera grown outside will result in its leaves becoming much lighter in colouring.

Once established, leaves can be harvested for many uses. Use the leaf sap to make a soothing and healing moisturising cream which is excellent for dry skin, add some sap to your shampoo to assist with itchy or dry scalps or use the sap to cool and heal any skin which has been sunburnt.

The sap has medicinal properties and is useful for treating a variety of skin conditions, athletes foot, insect stings and burns.