When people have aloe vera plants, they often hear how difficult they are to maintain, just like everything else plants too. If you learn to keep aloe vera healthy, similar with all plants it is just about taking the right steps, and they don’t need much watering so there won’t be much work you need to do, lol.
Now it is also important to familiarize yourself with the actual watering of the plant, and by this I mean, do you water aloe vera plants from top or bottom?
The answer is simple.
When you water an aloe vera plant, always water the plant from the bottom. Aloe vera plants do not need to be watered very frequently, but when you need to water them, do it right. That means to water the plant until water starts to pour out of the drainage holes beneath the pot.
The reason why you water the aloe vera from the bottom is because you want them nice and damp, but not soaking wet, when you’re done.
By focusing on with deliberate intention the water focused at the bottom of the pot, you will get the roots first and that’s what you want.
Watering Aloe Plants: The Basics
One basic thing that you will want to do for aloe plants is to use rain or distilled water when possible.
You can use tap water for a while, but chlorine and fluoride are not good for aloe vera plants long term.
Using tap water every now and then will not kill the plants, but distilled or filtered water, or rainwater, is much healthier for the plant if you can use it.
Also, if you water slowly and try to only hit the bottom of the pot, you’ll also conserve more water and use it more efficiently.
Pouring Technique
When pouring the water, don’t pour it too fast but pour water in a steady, consistent manner.
Pour water until you see it draining from the bottom of the pot, then stop,
If you want, you can pour the water onto the outside walls of the pot, but try to aim for the bottom where the roots are instead of pouring water at the top part of the plant.
Pouring at a slow, consistent rate is very important because that is the only way you can be sure that you don’t use too much water in the end.
Stay Easy: Slow, consistent stream of water aimed low in the pot.
Why It’s Important to Water Aloe Vera Plants from the Bottom
Because like most other kind of plants, aloe vera plants need to get their roots watered well, which does not typically occur when you water from the top.
Specifically, watering from the top almost only provides moisture on the leaves and not the roots.
Some plants can transfer the water that they get from the leaves to the rest of the plant; though, this is not the case for most plants like the aloe vera plant.
It is easy to assume that the plant is getting enough water if it is nice and wet but having nice wet leaves does not guarantee enough water to the roots.
When you consider that aloe vera plants can grow 2, 3 and 4 feet high, this again demonstrates that simply getting the leaves wet is not going to give the plant enough water to survive.
This is just another reason why you should always water your aloe vera from the bottom up and not the top down.
When you water from the bottom up you can ensure you are getting the roots every time.
Here is a reminder: When you water from the top down, you may be getting the leaves and part of the soil damp, but that does not mean that the water is getting to the roots.
How Much Watering Does an Aloe Vera Need?
Since aloe vera is a succulent, its leaves retain water for a long time, so you won’t have to water it very often.
Every home and plant is unique, so there is no set schedule, but for the majority of people, watering aloe vera every two to three weeks will keep it healthy.
Instead of a time frame, it’s best to just test the soil. To test the soil, put your finger in the soil about two to three inches and if it feels wet or moist, you don’t have to add more water. However, if you dig two to three inches into the soil and if it is completely dry, you can add some water.
While the majority of people will water their aloe vera plants every two to three weeks, there are some who find that the plants require weekly waterings instead. However, your best bet is always to test the soil.
While most people will overwater an aloe vera plant before underwatering it, it’s still possible you won’t water it enough. However, if you look at your aloe vera plant one day and see that it isn’t tall, but that the leaves are starting to wilt or sag, that is a sign it needs water.
That said, you will want to make sure that you don’t water too much; stick with watering the correct amount and watering from the bottom up so that the plant gets what it needs, no more and no less.
Just to Note: If the plant has been overwatered, there are signs of being overwatered, such as edema (swelling), discolored leaves, leaves being too soft, mold in the soil, and sagging leaves.
Conclusion
Watering your aloe vera plant from the bottom up when it is in fact in need of watering, will keep your aloe vera plant with you for a long time.
Caring for an aloe vera plant is quite simple and requires little maintenance; however, in order for it to live long, you will have to make sure it gets proper care.