# Aloe plants

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 30, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259 "2003-06-30T01:16:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RaginAzn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@RaginAzn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaginAzn)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/1 "2003-06-30T01:16:39Z")

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I was wondering, is there a way to tell how well I’m treating my aloe plant? I’ve turned up a good number of pages telling me that it’s good for burns, doesn’t take a lot of water, and needs sunlight.

I’ve been looking at it, though, and the leaves have darkened a bit, and they’re not as “full” as they used to be. Is this what wilting is? I think the window I leave it in gets a decent amount of sunlight.

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/2 "2003-06-30T02:13:49Z")

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It sounds like you might be over watering it. Aloe is a type of cactus and therefore needs very little water.

Feel the leaves - if they’re squishy, it’s too much water. If they’re dry and flakey, it’s not enough.

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**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/3 "2003-06-30T03:05:03Z")

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Aloes are not a type of cactus.

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**Author:** ![siberia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/siberia/32/9129_2.png) [@siberia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/siberia)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/4 "2003-06-30T13:12:34Z")

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With Aloe Vera, you definitely want to let it dry out completely before watering. Is the plant located outside? Is it in direct sun? What kind of potting mix is it in?

Aloe are not cactus although they are very cactus-like in the care and culture. They are actually a part of the lily family.

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**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/5 "2003-06-30T13:38:30Z")

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The best way to treat an aloe plant is with complete and utter disdain. Ignore it, or swear at it while you take swipes with the machete/rake, and let it know that you intend to let it rot in eternal damnation.

THEN it will thrive…😃

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**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aloe-plants/185259/6 "2003-06-30T13:40:44Z")

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When my aloe plants get dark and thin, I water them and they come back. Just don’t over water.

I also have to filter my water, because the tap water is so bad where I am. You might want to give that a try. Nasty water produced the same symptoms in my plants.