In warm and dry areas, aloe vera can grow outside. In Germany, real aloe is cultivated as a houseplant. She can spend the summer outdoors. In winter, the frost-sensitive aloe vera has to be brought into the house.
Is aloe vera hardy?
Aloe vera is not hardy and cannot tolerate frost. It should be brought indoors in September and overwintered at 10-15 °C. Aloe aristata is hardy for outdoor use and can overwinter outside in Central European climates.
Aloe vera is believed to have originated in the African desert. The wild specimens are species protected by the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Endangered Species. The only exception is the famous aloe vera (true aloe), which is now grown on large areas in Central America, Asia, Africa, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. The heat-loving aloe plants prefer constantly warm temperatures combined with short periods of rainfall.
In this country, aloes are valued as easy-care houseplants. They only need a few things to thrive:
- a bright and warm location,
- permeable soil (soil-sand mixture),
- little moisture without waterlogging.
Do not bring aloe outside until June
If there is no longer any fear of late frosts, aloe vera can be placed outside. She feels comfortable there in a warm and sunny place. Initially you should place the aloe in partial shade and slowly accustom it to the sun. Later it tolerates the full sun location. Their leaves may turn brownish to protect themselves from the sun's rays, which is not harmful.
Aloe should be back in the house in September
Aloe vera does not tolerate frost. She should therefore be brought back into the house at the end of the summer. There it can overwinter at 10-15° Celsius and prepare for flowering in spring. During winter dormancy, watering is only carried out when the soil is completely dry and no fertilization is carried out.
Tip
Aloe aristata is a small, hardy aloe species that can overwinter outside even in Central European climates.