How to Grow Aloe Vera without Soil

It is common knowledge that some plants can grow and thrive in water instead of in soil. Is Aloe Vera one of them? Yes, Aloe Vera can grow in a soilless condition. How do you go about growing Aloe Vera without soil?

Check if your plant has grown enough, remove it from the pot. Then soak and give the roots a cold rinse. Set up your Hydroponic system, use an exterior shell, and install a water gauge. Lastly, transfer your Aloe Vera to its new home.

How to Grow Aloe Vera without Soil

Now you know you can grow Aloe Vera without soil. How does growing Aloe Vera without soil go?

1.Check If your Aloe Vera is Ready

The roots of your Aloe Vera plant should have grown to at least one foot in length. Your Aloe may be unable to settle well into its soilless environment if its roots are not longer enough.

This way, the plant has enough root structure to grow in a hydroponic system.

2. Remove your Aloe Vera from the Pot

When your Aloe Vera has grown large enough to withstand a hydroponic system, remove it from its pot.

Have someone hold the pot while you grip the Aloe Vera by its base. Be careful not to pull too hard so you don’t rip any of the plant’s leaves.

3. Soak the Roots

There’s no rush to immediately transition your Aloe Vera to a hydroponic container from the traditional pot. You need to allow its roots and the dirt surrounding them to soak overnight.

This means soaking for 8 to 12 hours and no longer. Your Aloe Vera will get stressed if you soak it in water for long periods.

Soaking the plant in water will also keep its root structure moist while removing the dirt around the roots for a shorter time of root exposure.

4. Give the Roots a Cold Water Rinse

When most of the dirt has already been removed from the roots, rinse them in cold water. This final rinse will do an excellent job of cleaning the roots.

It will also help your Aloe Vera transition better into a hydroponic structure. Don’t rinse the plant too long as too much dampness may damage your plant.

5. Set up your Hydroponic System

Get a glass or translucent plastic container and marble-sized pebbles. The pebbles should be of the right size so the roots of your Aloe Vera plant can get a good grip.

Larger pebbles, on the other hand, will not have enough space from one pebble to another and will limit the amount of oxygen that will reach your plant. Larger pebbles will also limit water drainage.

Place enough pebbles to cover the entire bottom of your container so the roots of the Aloe Vera can easily adapt to their new hydroponic home.

Ensure there is no space between pebbles because air pockets can limit the ability of the root structure to stabilize.

6. Use an Exterior Shell

Install a pot into an exterior shell. The shell should have sufficient drainage.

An exterior shell is needed to protect and provide structure to your Aloe Vera so it can continue to grow. It also allows the roots to get some air to prevent them from rotting.

7. Install a Water Gauge

Install a water gauge or a hydroponic gauge. This gauge will let you know how much water is in the container of your Aloe Vera plant.

The water gauge must be installed on the side of the pot where you can easily view the water level inside the pot.

Be certain the water gauge will make sure you don’t overwater your Aloe Vera plant. Overwatering is one of the major reasons that would cause your Aloe Vera to deteriorate and die.

8. Transfer your Aloe Vera 

Finally, transfer your Aloe Vera plant to its new home. Make sure to spread out the plant’s root structure amongst the pebbles. Also, make sure that it’s balanced evenly in the container.

Once you’ve settled the plant vertically in the base, add some more pebbles in the remaining space in the container.

Tips in Growing Aloe Vera without Soil

It is easy to grow Aloe Vera in water. Here are some tips to make it successful and even easier to accomplish:

Use distilled or filtered water in your vase or bottle.

Regularly change the water.

Allow the roots to breathe. Avoid completely submerging the bottom of the Aloe Vera plant in water

Leave room for some airspace- about an inch between the base of the stem where the roots are and the waterline.

Use less fertilizer. Plants grown in water are more indifferent to excess amounts of some nutrients contained in fertilizers.

Place your Aloe Vera in a spot where it can receive bright but indirect sun.

The light that is the too strong or direct sunlight will burn the leaves of your Aloe and affects its health.

Growing Aloe Vera without soil is fun. Follow these tips and be assured of the successful growth of your plant in water:

Benefits of Growing Aloe Vera without Soil

If you have only grown plants in soil, you will be surprised that growing plants, like Aloe Vera, in a soilless setup offers a lot of benefits:

Easier to Deal with Mold or Mildew

Mold and mildew can develop in the soil. They also can develop in a hydroponic system.

Getting rid of mold and mildew in a hydroponic system is as easy as emptying the container of water, cleaning the container, and refilling it.

That’s a lot easier than scooping the mold-infested soil.

Fewer Pest Invasion

The Aloe Vera plant hates aphids and mites because they drink the sap in its leaves.

That is the wonder sap that is used for therapeutic purposes as it contains the gel you want for its cooling and soothing effects.

Aphids and mites (except water mites) drown in water.

While your Aloe may not be 100% free from pests, growing Aloe Vera without soil is the closest you can get to your plant being pest-free.

Water-efficient

Aloe Vera requires less water than any of your houseplants. Growing it without soil means it even requires even less water compared to growing it in soil.

You are also assured your Aloe Vera gets healthy water because it can be recycled by allowing it to go through drainage holes of the container.

More Nutrients

When grown in soil, the roots of your Aloe Vera plant will have to seek out nutrients.

If grown hydroponically, your Aloe will require less energy for nutrient absorption because nutrients encircle the plant inside the water-filled container.

Aloe Vera Wondergel!

Aloe Vera is a practical, healthy, and inexpensive plant.

Its gel can treat bug bites, sunburns, and a great many other skin conditions due to its moisturizing and soothing composition.

Low Maintenance

Aloe Vera is a plant known to be low in maintenance. You only need to ensure that it isn’t exposed to continuous, direct sunlight because its roots will dry out.

This is the reason Aloe Vera needs to be watered frequently.

Similar to a Hydroponic System

Growing Aloe Vera without soil means submerging its roots and suspending the plant, similar to growing plants in a hydroponic system.

This method of growing Aloe Vera requires a growing medium that includes small pebbles, water, and full sunlight with partial shade.

Final Thoughts

Aloe Vera is an attractive plant to grow indoors.

Growing Aloe Vera without soil as a complete plant or ‘Aloe pups’ is a fun and exciting project. It’s a lot easier to grow Aloe Vera in water than in soil because it needs less attention.

Remember it just needs a sufficient amount of oxygen to the roots and the right amount of sunlight to the Aloe Vera plant to have the main eements it needs – sounds so easy, and it is!

Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer

Edited By
Patricia Godwin

Patricia Godwin

Patricia has many years of experience as a content writer on various subjects, but her first love is gardening. She’s never met a plant she didn’t like and, consequently, she writes about every type of plant you can think of. Once an avid gardener with a herb garden, a succulent rockery, and a rose garden – to mention a few. Nowadays, she’s constantly on the move searching for interesting plants to bring to your attention; and explain to you all the details you need to grow, care and maintain these plants.

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