Aloe vera wonder plant!

Hi all,
Just wanted to share my recent discoveries. Got given an aloe vera plant and have found that it works on eye infections( stys , conjunctavitus ), is great for excema and fantastic for cold sores( which my poor hubby suffers with from time to time).
I would love to know if anyone else has found it useful.
By the way, for the eye infection I put the jelly right inside the eye , about 3 times a day , for 1 day!
Also interested if anyone can tell me how to look after the plant.
Thanks x

 

Keep it warm, the plant that is, and give it full light.
Reasonable amount of water in the summer and dryer in the winter.
Its a desert plant, so treat it accordingly.

 

They grow really well indoors. The homebase Aloe I bought about six months ago has grown another 50% already. Goodness knows what the summer growth rate will be.

 

Hi, LL. I obviously don't have to cosset mine here which came with me from the IoW.

But I will say they are brilliant for all sorts of ailments and if I get a nasty cut gardening (who doesn't from time to time?) I just break a bit off and rub it into the wound having washed the wound first and I have no scars to speak of.

Also, a piece broken off can be used and put in a plastic bag and put in the fridge for future use. I have a list somewhere of uses, which I'll try to find and send you.

I think they are wonderful plants and will always be grateful to the person who gave an offshoot to me to bring here.

 

Thanks everyone. I think I may have been overwatering them a bit. One of them has some baby plants in the same pot. Any advice as to how to transplant them without disturbing the larger plant?

 

Ooh, they don't like overwatering!

The one thing I notice is you don't say where it is planted, inaside / outside? They would survive outside happily in your part of the UK I would think in a sheltered position. As I said, mine came from the IoW but I meant outside.

 

Hi LOL,
They are sitting in a sunny kitchen. Could they go outside when Summer starts?

 

Sorry, LL, didn't say, just pull off the babies and plop them somewhere else .. they are not fussy!

I'm sure someone will come on here and dispute what I say!

 

Thanks for the advice on watering Pete!

 

where do you take the jelly from?

 

They used to grow Aloes in the glass-making studio at college. It's very hot in there and I don't think they watered them much at all - they always looked really dry but seemed to survive ok! They used to use them for burns which are a hazard of the job I guess.

 

LL, I've gotta say that although LOL may have been able to grow aloe vera outside on the Isle of Wight, I've never managed to get it through the winter in my garden.
It turns to mush at the first frost I find, but as you know you get plenty of off shoots to try in various places.
I tend to knock them out of the pot, divide up the small plants from the main one and pot them up into separate pots. The main one can then go back into a slightly larger pot, without much trouble.

 

I have to admit, pete, that although they were outside, they were on a verandah which did not get the frost ... just blasted by the sea gales!

miraflores, I just break off a bit of the leaf and the jelly is inside it. You can then put it in a plastic bag to keep fresh for a couple of days.

 

Hi Miraflora,
Yes they jelly is inside. I just cut a small section off with a sharp kitchen knife. You don't seem to need much.
Thanks Pete I will pot the babies on soon. Although my window ledge is getting crowded!

 

I bought a medium size Aloe Vera plant about 12 months ago and it has grown so much - had about 14 or 15 small plants in just a few months so repotted and potted the small ones which I gave away. Over winter it has grown (indoors) another 8 small plants and we have had to re-pot again, and now we are getting over-run with Aloe Vera plants! If all the plants multiply this fast I will need to have an Aloe Vera 'Giveaway sale'. :D



Googled this bit of info:
"A plant can live for 25 years. The first-aid effects are renowned. Hardy, aloes are survivors. Tolerate drought, shade, and rough handling. During times of stress, it will become dormant, awaiting favorable conditions to re-emerge. A plant can be uprooted thrown carelessly on compost heap, and thrive within a short time."