Last Updated on July 5, 2021 by Marco C.
Do you ever wonder what the aloe vera temperature tolerance is? Aloe vera can do best in temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 and 27 degrees Celcius. This makes aloe vera ideal as a home plant.
Aloe vera likes humid temperature. But do not expose them to too much sun. You can bring them out from May to September when the sun shines at its best. However, you should bring them back inside in the evening if nights are cold.
Caring for your aloe vera plant should be easy-breezy. In this article, we are going to tackle how cold can aloe vera tolerate and some care tips for beginners.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is an attractive succulent that makes a great indoor companion. This plant has many uses. Aloe vera is being used as the main ingredient for skin and hair care products. Many people use the juice from their leaves to relieve pain from burns and scrapes. The juice feels cool on the skin when applied topically. It has a soothing and relaxing effect.
Any succulent lover cannot miss an aloe vera in their collection. Since it is very easy to grow, it makes one of the favorite succulents for plant moms.
Aloe vera is a stemless succulent with thick and greenish leaves.
The shape like a fan out from the plant’s central stem. The edge of the leaves is serrated with small teeth. Be careful not to prick your palm in them.
Before you buy an aloe vera, you must have a location that offers bright sunlight. Aloe vera loves indirect sunlight. If not, you can make your room conducive to the aloe vera plant temperature. Just make sure you don’t expose it to direct sunlight. It tends to dry out quickly turning its leaves yellow.
Aloe Vera Care Tips: How Cold Can Aloe Vera Tolerate
Choosing A Container
If you are planning to get an aloe vera, make sure to get the right type of container. Terra-cotta pots or porous pots can make good material for aloe vera. They allow the soil to dry the water thoroughly between watering. Their weight also keeps the plant from tipping over.
The container must be wide and deep. Your aloe vera needs to be able to fit inside the pot. Also, make sure it has drainage. Aloe vera can easily die when it is all soaked up all year round.
Soil Mix
Since aloe vera plants are succulents, you must use a well-draining potting mix. Do not use gardening soil. The perfect mix for aloe vera should contain perlite, lava rock, or chunks of bark. You can also combine those three.
Put a layer of gravel or clay balls for the drainage. To encourage your aloe vera to grow new roots after planting, dust some rooting hormone powder on the stem.
Lighting
Place your aloe vera in a place with bright and indirect sunlight. Putting them in the western or southern winder is perfect. Aloes are grown in low-light areas often grow leggy. With just enough sunlight, your aloe vera can thrive with very little care.
A healthy aloe vera should reach about 1 to 2 feet tall. It also becomes wide upon reaching maturity. Its leaves are fleshy and would often grow yellow flowers.
Water
Aloe vera plants are succulents and don’t need much watering. Simply water them enough to keep the soil moist. Only Only water it again when the soil has dried out to some extent. If the soil stays overly wet, the roots can rot.
Succulents are used in arid environments. They can go with very little care. The key with aloe vera plants is to keep them in place at the proper temperature. During the hot summer days, you should water your aloe vera plant about 2-3 times a week.
When winter comes, you must water your aloe vera only once every four weeks.
Aloe Vera Cold Hardiness: Temperature Below 40 Degrees
Protecting aloe vera in cold weather is essential. This succulent is only hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. But it cannot tolerate cold temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, your aloe vera may not survive. Aloe vera plants naturally retain a lot of water. These innate characteristics make them intolerant of freezing temperatures.
You must take your aloe vera plants indoors.
If your aloe vera plants are not potted and the temperature drops towards 32 degrees, you can drive stakes into the ground. Make it around the plant and drape a blanket over the stakes. Then put some rocks on the edges to prevent the blanket from flying away. This protects your plant from light and infrequent frosts.
Aloe Vera Temperature Tolerance For Cold-Hardy Aloe Species
There are aloe vera varieties that can survive cold weather days. These aloe vera species prefer nighttime temperatures of no less than 50 to 60 degrees but will tolerate 40-degrees weather.
An example of cold-hardy aloe vera is the lace aloe. Also known as Aloe aristata or torch plant, the lace aloe can withstand temperatures down to 13 degrees. It normally survives in USDA zones 7 to 10. The lace aloe is also called tiger aloe because of its dark green leaves with white spots. It’s fierce-looking like the tiger. During the fall months, it can develop terminal panicles that reach up to 20 inches in height. They can also grow orange flowers when given the proper care.
Another cold-hardy aloe is the coral aloe. It is tolerant to both cold and wet weather conditions. It can also withstand temperatures below 18 degrees.
Taking care of aloe vera plants can be enjoyable. Note that there are many varieties of aloe vera plants with different temperature tolerance. If you live in cold-weather regions make sure you choose the right variety that can survive in your area. Moreover, take note that aloe vera plants are poisonous to cats and dogs. You need to keep them in safe locations if you have pets in your house.
