Aloe is a beautiful succulent plant that is also a great natural medicine to have around the house. It’s usually grown inside, but in some areas, you can grow it outside all year. Some varieties have a cold tolerance below 32 F. (0 C. ) with a bit of protection.
Aloe vera is a popular houseplant known for its healing gel and succulent leaves. This moisture-rich plant thrives outdoors year-round only in the very warmest regions like zones 9-10. In cooler climates, aloe can be grown outdoors in the summer but needs special care to survive the winter indoors.
Is Aloe an Outdoor Plant?
Aloe vera is native to tropical and subtropical regions where temperatures stay warm. In its natural habitat, aloe enjoys hot sun and dry conditions. However few climates in North America provide the right environment for aloe to live outdoors year-round.
In zones 9-10, gardeners can successfully grow aloe plants outside all year. These warm zones have average lows above 30°F in winter, allowing aloe to survive the coolest months. In zone 8 and below, aloe vera should be grown as a summertime patio plant or houseplant.
Acclimating Indoor Aloe for Outdoors
Aloe houseplants need careful acclimation before moving them outdoors for the summer. An abrupt transition to full sun can scorch the leaves. Follow these tips:
- Start by placing the aloe plant in bright shade outdoors for 3-4 days. Slowly increase sun exposure over a week or two.
- Check for sunburn on the leaves, which will appear brown or red. If leaves show damage, provide more shade.
- Bring aloe plants back indoors if night temperatures drop below 50°F.
- Water aloe more frequently outdoors, but allow soil to dry between waterings. Good drainage prevents rot.
Growing Aloe Outdoors
If you live in zones 8 or below, aloe can beautify patios and decks throughout the summer months. Follow these guidelines for success:
- Choose a site with full sun to partial shade. Aloe enjoys at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
- Use well-draining soil or mix in sand or perlite to improve drainage.
- Water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Allow pots to drain fully after watering.
- Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
- Bring aloe plants indoors before nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F.
Monitor for common aloe pests like mealybugs and scale. Remove any diseased leaves promptly. Rotate pots occasionally so all sides get sunlight. Stake tall varieties if needed.
Overwintering Aloe Indoors
The key to overwintering aloe is providing enough light. A south or west window works best. Acclimate plants to lower light levels gradually. Avoid direct sun which can scorch leaves when plants aren’t used to it.
Water aloe sparingly in winter, waiting until soil is completely dry. The cooler air reduces the need for frequent watering. Stop fertilizing and limit repotting stress. Maintain temperatures above 50°F for best results overwintering aloe plants.
In spring, start acclimation to sun and warmer temperatures about a month before moving aloe outdoors. This helps avoid shock and sunburned leaves. Aloe vera can be a delightful outdoor plant for zones 8 and below during the warm season when given proper care.
Tips for Outdoor Aloe Success
- Acclimate plants slowly to sun when moving outside.
- Choose a site with full sun to partial shade.
- Use fast-draining soil and pots with drainage holes.
- Water thoroughly when soil dries out but avoid constant moisture.
- Bring plants indoors before temps dip below 50°F.
- Provide bright light indoors in winter.
- Limit water and hold off fertilizing in winter.
- Acclimate to sun again before placing outdoors next summer.
With attention to its preferences for warm, sunny conditions and drier winters, aloe vera can grace patios and gardens each summer in cooler climates. Protect it from harsh winter conditions indoors, and your aloe will flourish season after season.
Growing Conditions for Aloes
Aloe plants are native to Africa and grow in many climates. There are over 400 species of aloe, with Aloe vera one of the best known. Although frost and cold temperatures are not good for aloe vera, some alpine varieties can handle temperatures as low as almost freezing. Aloe grows in USDA zones 8 to 11 outdoors. Outside of these zones, can you grow aloe? You can in a pot in the summer, but in the winter you should bring it inside. Aloes grow in poor soil with good drainage. For the best growth, they need at least eight hours of bright light a day. They need full sun for at least six hours a day. The growing conditions for aloes vary in their native habitat. A type of aloe called polyphylla grows in the mountains of Lesotho. Other types do better near the coast or in grasslands. The plants store water in their leaves, which means they can go long periods without water. They do need regular watering but are very tolerant of drought conditions for short periods.
Aloe Plants in the Garden
In general, you can’t grow an Aloe vera plant outside of its native range. The only way to do that is to put it in a container in the summer and move it inside to a sunny spot for the winter. In areas that have milder climates, you can grow wide variety of aloe plants in the garden. Try Aloe arborescens and Aloe ferox. Both are quite hardy specimens that will do well outside even in moist temperate zones. If you put aloes in a container with other succulents, they look beautiful together or on their own. When you grow aloe outside, use a container that lets you bring it inside if it gets too cold.
Quick Guide To Growing Or Moving Aloe Outside
FAQ
When can I put my aloe plant outside?
Can aloe vera grow in full sun?
Can you plant aloe vera in potting soil?
Can aloe vera survive outside in winter?
Can you bring Aloe plants outside?
Aloe houseplants can be brought outside in the summer months in areas where temperatures do not fall below 40°F. Even in areas that have cold nights an aloe plant can usually be brought outside during warm summer days as long as it is brought indoors at nightfall. Aloe plants also need to be protected from regular or heavy rainfall when outdoors.
Is drinking raw aloe plant beneficial or harmful?
Aloe vera has numerous benefits when used in the correct dosage, benefits that include its antioxidant, healing, laxative and anti-inflammatory action. However, if consumed in excess, it can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, hypoglycemia.
Can aloe vera grow outside?
Aloe vera can grow outside in the summer in most states. Yard-grown aloe vera is subject to the same rules that apply to growing any of the other 500 aloe plant species. As a desert succulent the plant requires warm dry weather. An outdoor aloe vera plant must be protected against low temperatures and heavy rainfall.
Can you move Aloe plants outside?
Aloe plants also need to be protected from regular or heavy rainfall when outdoors. Although the outside temperature is an important consideration when moving an aloe plants outside, it is not the only one. Water will probably be your biggest concern. Aloe plants can live on very little water.