You’ll also want to give the plant a good soak every two to three weeks (i.e., water deeply but sparingly). The exact frequency will change with the seasons; you’ll need to water less frequently in the winter. Regardless, allow “the water to completely drain from the pot and [ensure] that the soil dries out completely before the next watering,” says Cutsumpas. This is key for preventing root rot, which is extra-harmful for moisture-sensitive plants like aloe. Specifically, it thrives outside year-round in Zones 8 to 11. (To determine what zone you live in, check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Map.) If you don’t live in an aloe-friendly area, “you can bring your aloe outside in the summer months to enjoy the heat,” says Cutsumpas. “However, if your environment is rainy, your aloe may get too much water if you’re not diligent about bringing it inside before storms,” he adds. Similarly, you’ll need to bring it inside on cooler summer nights. This back-and-forth can be risky, so keeping your aloe inside is generally the best choice. If you must move your aloe plant outside, avoid immediately placing it in direct light. Slowly move it closer to avoid stressing it out. On the other hand, if your plant is overexposed, it might develop dryness and brown spots on the leaves, explains Cutsumpas. “This can also be due to extreme heat if the plant is too close to a hot window, so pull the plant back a few feet and monitor your watering schedule carefully to ensure it is getting enough H2O,” he says. If your aloe is overwatered, it will develop droopy, mushy-looking leaves. This can also happen if it’s in the wrong soil, which brings us to our next point… If you’d like to eat the gel, you’ll have to take some extra precautions. “Consuming aloe without harvesting it properly can cause some nausea and digestive issues, due to the latex coating underneath the skin called aloin. “The chances of this will increase if your aloe is not thick and ripe with the nutritious gel, so be careful before you decide to eat it,” warns Cutsumpas. To avoid releasing the aloin, avoid squeezing out the gel with your hands. Instead, use a spoon to carefully scrape it out.
