Of Special Note - Aloe vera is used widely as a skin ointment. Its soothing properties appear to help wounds heal and relieve the pain from burns. Aloe vera extract can be purchased in pure form, but is more often used as a component in dermatological products, such as skin moisturizer.

Aloe vera plants are popular and easy to care for. Aloe vera fares best in a well-drained soil (sandy composition), but it grows just fine in regular potting soil. Since it naturally occurs in a dry environment, it stores a large amount of water inside of itself, thus it is pretty hard to accidentally kill. The aloe vera's root system does not go very deep, so a shallow tray may be more suitable than a deep pot.

Aloe vera plants need only moderate amounts of light and water so you should allow the soil to mostly dry before watering. If any of the blades die, you can safely break them off without killing the plant. If you must harvest any of the blades, try to pick the lowest ones (closest to the soil).

Since aloe vera plants are composed of about 95% water, you should not allow them to be outside when a frost comes. A frost can freeze the water inside of the plant and will most likely cause it to die. Therefore, if you are growing in a temperate climate, it is best to replant the aloe vera indoors for the winter.

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