Posted by Cesy on February 22, 2015 at 11:59 and edited at February 23, 2015 at 13:31
Permalinkaloe vera is rapidly becoming my favourite unkillable plant, taking over from spider-plants because not only does it seed everywhere, survive me forgetting to water it for weeks, survive me over-watering in guilt when I remember, and not appear to care whether it has sun, shade, accidentally left on top of a radiator or shoved in a utility room with no heating, but unlike the spider plant, it also does something useful other than providing greenery in your house. Top spas keep advertising aloe vera beauty products, but I have the pure stuff whenever I want, just by breaking off half a leaf. It's very soothing on burns, which was useful after I dropped half a saucepan of boiling water on my foot the other week.
2 comments
You're so right! My aloe vera unkillability story:
When I moved house I had a small aloe vera plant growing in a semi-shady spot near the front door. I pulled it up and stuck it in a plastic bag, and brought it here. When I got here, I forgot to do anything with it for a week or so. Eventually I found it looking rather sad in the plastic bag. I tipped it out into a corner of the garden – semi-shady, again – where I'd also tossed some pea straw (I think it had fallen there, I don't remember there being any particular plan). I was just too exhausted to try to bring it back to life and didn't like my chances.
About 9 months later I found it there, still surviving. It had grown a longish curly root, tucked the tip of said root into the mulch, and was getting some moisture somehow. Its leaves were sad-looking and insect-chewed but obviously alive. Surprised, I picked it up and stuck it in a pot with some potting mix, and put it on a windowsill. It's now doing very well and looks healthy again.
Previously I've always joked about my houseplant tending abilities that "I kill cactus". Apparently not this one.
Also, psst, if you use a quick crop link (see syntax below) in your post, it will show up on the aloe vera page :)