Does Aloe Vera Need A Lot Of Sun?

Last Updated on March 3, 2022 by Griselda M.

Does aloe vera need a lot of sun? Aloe vera is another popular variety of succulents. Their tolerance to drought makes them one of the favorites among gardeners. They require very little care to grow.

The aloe plant has hundreds of species, including those with thick and spear-shaped leaves. Some aloe has large spines or teeth at the edge of their leaves. As you may know, these plants don’t have stems but they use their spike to protect themselves from their predators.

Generally, aloe plants can grow in arid conditions. But they are more adapted to the dry season than winter. That means they want to have a lot of sun. Aloes are best grown outdoors because of their thirst for sunlight. You need to expose them to at least 4-6 hours of sun every day.

However, some gardeners from cold hardiness zones 5 and below may be forced to grow aloe indoors because of the frost from the winter season. If you are a beginner in the world of succulents, here’s a guide about the aloe vera light requirements.

Does Aloe Vera Need A Lot Of Sun To Blossom?

So, do aloe vera plants need sunlight to blossom? For sure many have read that aloe plants bear flowers. 

While most aloe vera images don’t come with flowers, they do blossom.

 Aloe vera needs a lot of sun to grow. Yet interestingly, they don’t normally start budding in the late winter season. These buds appear to be very small and would show in the middle of the plant. But you have to wait until spring or summer before they finally bloom.

The blooms can last 2-3 months. Aloe vera flowers come in red, orange, yellow, or white. The vibrant-colored, tall flower spike of the aloe is called “inflorescence”. This refers to the portion of the entire flower with the stem, stalk, and bracts.

 Contrary to popular belief, aloe vera plants don’t die after they have bloomed. Your aloe vera will continue to live until it forms new buds again in the next winter. The best thing you can do with the flowers is to gather the seeds, so you can reproduce them.

Aloe Vera Light Requirements Outdoors

Aloe vera performs best in full sun, particularly in cooler microclimates where haze or cloudy skies are normal. Six to eight hours of direct sun is ideal, albeit most aloe vera plants will endure some light shade or sifted sun in the late morning. A south-or west-bound outside the region and somewhat sandy soil give ideal conditions to developing aloe vera, regardless of whether in a pot or the ground. 

Does aloe vera need a lot of sun? We say, yes it needs a lot of sun but you should be careful not to expose your aloe vera plants too much. As we’ve said, 4-6 hours of sunlight is enough for them. Some aloe vera plants can withstand heat for more than 6 hours and still live in the wilds while depending only on the rain for water. 

Nevertheless, aloe vera house plants have acclimated to calmer weather. Hence, you should also make sure not to overexpose your aloe vera, especially if you’ve just replanted it. Progressively adjust the plant to open-air conditions by exposing it to daylight for an expanding length of time every day throughout one to about 14 days before planting or leaving it outside. This helps minimize stress to the aloe.

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Does Aloe Need Sun Even When Grown Indoors?

The quick answer is yes. Aloe still needs sunlight exposure even when they are grown indoors. They can perform well if they have a fair share of sunlight every day.

They require a high light level, which you can accomplish by situating the plant inside 3 feet of an unshaded south-or west-bound window. In cooler, cloudier environments and homes with north-or east-bound windows, light levels ought to be enhanced with fake developed lights.

A fluorescent light situated 1 to 2 feet over the aloe vera plant during sunlight hours, or approximately 16 hours of the day, will give satisfactory light to solid development even in faint insides. Simply keep an eye out for indications of an excessive amount of light, like whitened leaves or hindered new development.

Will using grow light enough for my aloe plant to grow?

 Using grow lights when planting aloe vera indoors can help supplement the right requirement for growing healthy aloe vera plants. Grow lights produce artificial lighting for your plant to thrive indoors. However, not all grow lights might provide enough light exposure for your plant.

The sun has a complete spectrum, which lights don’t. This spectrum is required for your aloe vera to maintain the color of their leaves and build up nutrients so they can blossom during the winter season. On the other hand, sunlight gives light as well as warmth to aloe vera plants, and both are imperative to keeping up with their wellbeing. Constant underexposure to light will bring about an absence of blossoming, just as stained development.

Aloe vera plants will likewise foster leggy development as they stretch toward any close by the light source, which will deform the plant and cause frail development. One more typical issue with aloe vera plants becoming under low light is root decay.

Proper exposure to the natural rays of the sun regulates dampness levels in the dirt by warming it up. Chilly, sodden soil improves the probability of root decay; make certain to screen the dampness level in the dirt, and water just when it feels dry in the best 1 to 2 inches if your aloe vera plant is filling in under ideal light levels.

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Does Aloe Vera Need A Lot Of Sun When They’ve Grown Up?

When in doubt, the more mature the aloe vera plant is, the better it can endure direct daylight. Youthful, newly spread plants won’t endure similar exceptional light levels as more seasoned, set up plants.

Keep newly pruned little guys or seedlings under brilliant, diffuse light, for example, close to the south-, west-or east-bound window with a sheer drapery, or outside under a shade fabric during the day.

Move them inside around evening time. Try not to open youthful plants to coordinate noontime sun until they are grounded, so, all in all, you can adapt them to coordinate sun gradually north of a week or something like that.

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