After Tulsi, what next?

In my previous post, ‘Which plant to grow first?’  I had chosen Tulsi. After Tulsi which should be the next choice?

It is mentioned before that there are many plants which can be grown but the choice can be dictated by what is readily available at a local nursery and what is easy to grow and rugged etc. Even with those constraints, the list can be long which can include flower plants, fruit plants, air cleansing plants, vegetables, herbs etc.

Now I suggest a plant with which almost all people are familiar, the plant which was considered a sacred plant even before 6000 years and in recent times has become talk of the town for health and beauty, the plant which has great utilitarian value. It is also called as lily of desert. In ancient India it was known as Ghritkumari  means a maiden girl. Hope by now you have guessed which is that wonder plant. It is our commonplace  Aloe vera.

The Egyptians called aloe vera, the ‘plant of immortality’  In India it is known by different names like ‘Ghritkumari’ in Hindi and Bengali,’Kuvar pathu’ in Gujarati, ‘Koraphada’ in Marathi ‘Kalabanda’ in Telugu, ‘Katralai’ in Tamil, ‘Kumari’ in Malayalam, ‘Lolisara’ in Kannada,  

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. The succulence enables the species to survive in areas of low rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low water-use gardens.

It is an evergreen perennial, but grows wild in tropical climates around the world. It is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. It is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant.  Aloe is about 99% water, the remaining 1% contains vitamins, minerals, sugars, enzymes, lignins, amino Acids, anthraquinones, saponins, fatty acids, salicylic Acid etc.

Unlike many plants which need processing for use, aloe vera can be directly used merely by cutting the leaves and extracting gel either by squeezing or scooping by a spoon. You can get fresh gel as and when required and thus you can save money  you spend on buying bottled gel or juice which is stale only.

It’s a perennial and very easy plant to care and therefore I have thought of including planting method in this post itself rather than a separate one. 
 

How to Grow and care Aloe Vera Plant:

Aloe Vera plant thrives in widely varying conditions like Full sun to dappled shade, humid weather like Mumbai to arid of Rajasthan, clumpy black soil to sandy earth.  

Aloe vera grows equally well indoors and outdoors with minimal care. The plant grows, fast witnessing multiple leaves and plantlets. When your plant becomes matured you can harvest aloe vera leaves for continuous benefits. Also you can transplant the offshoot plantlets in other pots / spots for higher yield.

8  Points for Grow and Care

 1. Location – Indoors or outdoors:

If direct sun is scorching, the plant will become brown. If there is less sunlight the growth will not be up to the mark Dappled light is a good situation.

2. Soil – Aloe vera grows best in dry soil. Cactus potting soil mix is ideal. You also should not use fertilizers on the soil the aloe vera plant grows in. Rather than helping the plant, it may hamper its growth.

3. Pot –Outdoor planting can be either in the ground or pot, but indoor plating will be obviously in pots only. Pot should be shifted from outdoor to indoor, where and when the freezing temperature occurs.   Look for a medium or large pot with drainage holes.

     4. Spacing –when planting in ground, keep some space between aloe vera    buds  for growth

 5. Watering –When watering, the soil should feel damp but not soaked. The best way to gauge watering is to feel the plant leaves every few days. As long as they are cool or moist, the plant has enough water. If the leaves are dry or brittle, first examine the sunlight conditions, then adjust water as needed. Before you water again, the top soil should be completely dry. During cold months, it will need less water. While it certainly needs water, too much of it can actually hamper its growth and cause it to rot. One of the signs that you are watering your plant too much is when the leaves turn yellow. This indicates that the leaves are saturated with water, so you should cease watering the plant for a while.

6. Harvest – Once your plant reaches maturity, you can begin to harvest aloe for its nutritional and health benefits. You can start this process once additional leaves or shoots have grown from the center of the plant. To harvest leaves from your aloe vera, start by selecting mature leaves from the outermost section of the plant. Cut them from as close to the base as possible, without damaging the roots.  It has a decoration use, I would suggest selecting plant leaves that will not reduce the plant’s aesthetics.

7. Aloe Offshoots –

The plantlets or “pups”, the aloe produces, can easily be uprooted detaching from the parent, and transplanting in new pots/spots. It’s common for aloe plants to populate exponentially.

8. Plant  care:

i)  Aloe vera can suffer from bugs, disease, and fungus on its stem or roots. Mealybugs and scale, which are small, flat tan or brown bugs that suck the sap from aloe, are the most common insect problems.

ii) Aloe does not need fertilizer but for better growth, can be given a phosphorus-heavy, water-based fertilizer at half-strength.

iii) If the leaves become thin and curled, it needs more water.

iv) Aloe vera leaves grow upward from the base. If the leaves droop or lie flat, it probably needs more sunlight.

Your plant will grow towards the sun; if in a pot, rotate as needed to keep the plant leaves upright.

v) Be sure to protect yourself too. Young aloe vera plants have soft spikes on their leaves that won’t do much damage, but the spikes of older, more established plants can stick you if you’re not careful. These spikes are capable of tearing clothes and even puncturing the skin. Be mindful when re-potting or harvesting and wear gloves when handling.

Benefits of Aloe vera Plant:

The aloe vera plant isn’t all about adding beauty to your home. Many people enjoy the many uses of the aloe vera plant.

Aloe Vera External use

1. A Great hair Conditioner 
 Aloe vera is rich in proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes remove dead cells and help in cell regeneration, thus, repairing your hair. 

Aloe vera is moisturizing in nature. It nourishes and strengthens your hair and gives it a natural shine as well. You can use aloe vera gel as a conditioner after shampoo, or even as a leave in conditioner. 

Mix equal parts aloe vera  gel and water in a spray bottle. Spray this concoction at the ends of your hair. It’ll prevent  frizz  and make silky smooth hair.

2 Balances pH Balance Of The Scalp 

A large number of shampoos contain surfactants. Since these are alkaline in nature, they may alter the normal pH of your scalp.
To restore moisture and pH of your hair, aloe vera is a great ingredient. It gives your hair a smooth texture and helps in hair growth.

3. Helps get rid of dandruff

 
If you are suffering from dandruff and problems related to dandruff like flaky, itchy scalp, then aloe vera enriched shampoo can come to your rescue.. It is very effective in removing dead skin cells and unclogs your pores.

4. Reduces Acne And Helps Lighten Blemishes and prevents premature aging

Add the lemon juice to the aloe vera gel and combine them together.

Massage the gel on your face. This is best used as an overnight treatment that can help in the reduction of acne and acne scars blemishes

Fine line and wrinkles are first signs of premature skin ageing. Use aloe vera gel for face and let it work its magic. Aloe vera leaf is enriched with a host of antioxidants like beta-carotene, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. All these ingredients improve your skin’s texture and help keep the natural firmness intact. 

5. Helps With Sunburns

Aloe vera gel  is widely used as an after-sun treatment because it is soothing and reduces inflammation.

6. Heals External Wounds And Insect Bites

Aloe vera gel can be used as a topical treatment for small cuts, bruises, and insect bites. It can also be used as an aftershave lotion to soothe irritated skin.

7. Reduces Stretch Marks

 These marks are nothing but small tears on the skin layers, which can be healed with the regular use of aloe vera soap.

Peel off the outer layer. Make sure that you remove the aloe latex, which is the yellow sap that lies underneath the outer leaf.

Scoop out the gel, and carefully wash to remove any residual sap.

Place the gel in a blender. Add the water and the honey, and blend to combine all the ingredients.

Aloe latex has laxative properties and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

8. Eases Heartburn And Acid Reflux

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the stomach lining and the esophagus. It also helps fight against pathogens that cause gastrointestinal problems

9. Reduces Cholesterol And Regulates Blood Sugar

Aloe vera can help reduce cholesterol. It also helps in maintaining blood sugar, which is why it is often used as a supplement by diabetics.

10. Maintains Oral Health

Use  some fresh Aloe Vera gel. It is more potent, and has no additional chemicals in it. Proceed to extract the gel from the Aloe Vera plant.

Chop the mint leaves up finely. Alternatively, you can consider using some eucalyptus essential oil or peppermint essential oil.

Now add the baking soda, glycerin, mint or the eucalyptus essential oil to the glass jar and mix well.

Let the mixture settle down and store it in the glass jar, or a plastic container .

Your Aloe Vera toothpaste is ready to use.

11. Builds Immunity

The impact of aloe vera on the immune system is closely linked to its antitumor and anticancer properties.

The aloe gel should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women. It may aggravate any intestinal conditions and kidney problems. Aloe vera lowers blood sugar, so diabetics and people who are about to undergo surgery should monitor their blood sugar levels.

12 Treating Hemorrhoids

Break the leaf’s bottom part and apply the gel that you get from it directly on the affected area. Use your index finger to gently and evenly massage the gel on the affected area.

The gel can also be applied inside with the help of a syringe to treat and heal internal hemorrhoids. It helps in reducing pain as well as bleeding.

The gel can be applied as often as required. Do not to apply it after a bath, after bowel movements, or before going to bed.

Aloe Vera Side Effects 
Some people are generally allergic to aloe. This allergy is most common in people who are allergic to plants in the liliaceae family  like lilies, onion, garlic, hyacinths, and tulips.