Growing aloe vera

Aloe vera gel is a dermatological panacea. It helps acne, general skin softness, burns, cuts, scrapes, rips, hair, and just about any other skin condition. I cannot remember where I read this, but I think it works by creating a coating over the skin that protects skin from oxygen in the air, similar to a bandage.

This past winter I was disappointed to find out that Trader Joe's only carries aloe vera gel seasonally (I have no idea why). So I went to Whole Foods to see if they carry it, but unfortunately, it is expensive at $10 for a 16 ounce bottles. I bought it reluctantly, but decided to grow my own when the weather was right so I would not have to pay so much in the winter.

About a week ago, I bought a small plant from Lowe's. Fortunately for someone like me with no gardening experience, all that aloe vera requires is to be brought inside during frost and watered if the soil gets very dry (but there is plenty of rain here). Better yet, it grows quickly. Moreover, it reproduces vegetatively by growing little "pups" which need to be given their own room to grow.


I would post a picture of my plant, but I lost my camera. :/