Uses of Aloe Vera in Gardening | Benefits of Aloe Vera in Garden

Know how to use aloe vera in your garden to take full advantage of its magical benefits on plants. You can use aloe vera in your garden to make a natural fertilizer at home, as pest repellent and rooting hormone for plant propagation.

Aloe vera is a powerhouse of nutrients. It is rich in antioxidants, nutrients and enzymes, that offer numerous benefits to not only the human body but also to your plants and garden. Aloe vera can benefit your plants and your garden in many ways. Aloe vera can enhance plant health and contribute to a flourishing garden.

Aloe Vera Plant

One of the greatest benefits of using aloe vera in your garden is that it is completely natural and environmentally friendly. Unlike chemical fertilizers and pesticides, aloe vera is safe for beneficial insects, pets, and children. It provides a sustainable alternative to synthetic products, promoting a healthier and more eco-conscious gardening practice.

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It contains all the essential and non-essential amino acids, mono polysaccharides, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, boron, copper, and vitamins B1, B2, B6 [1]. These nutrients in aloe vera plant can enhance the health of your garden in various ways, from pest control to soil enrichment. Here is a look at how many ways aloe vera can benefit your plants and garden.

1. Aloe Vera as a Natural Fertilizer

As mentioned above, aloe vera is rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that can be beneficial for plant growth. Besides these nutrients, aloe vera also contains natural hormones, indoleacetic acetic, and abscisic acid, gibberellins and salicylic acid [2]. So, the application of aloe vera gel in water act as a bio-stimulant on plants. Research on aloe vera as a fertilizer has shown that aloe vera leaf extract at high concentration can help improve soil health and be useful as natural plant growth regulator, and can significantly increase the plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, yield and enhancement the leaf anatomical structure [3].

You can make aloe vera fertilizer at home very easily. To use aloe vera as a natural fertilizer, simply mix a small amount of aloe vera gel with water and

use it to water your plants. This homemade fertilizer can enhance soil fertility and stimulate healthy growth.

You can either make either a foliar spray or a soil drench. It is pointed out that fresh aloe vera solution is more effective, aloe vera quickly begins to oxidise if exposed to air.

To make aloe vera foliar spray, simply scoop our some aloe gel and mix in water and spray on the of the foliar of your plants.

To make a soil drench, take some fresh aloe vera leaves, cut them into pieces and blend in a mixer. Add some water. You could also add some seaweed extract to make the solution more nutrition rich.

Use about 2 tablespoons per liter of water and water your plants with this solution every month, within half an hour of its making,

Use aloe vera fertilizer once a month to keep your garden plants thriving and producing more flowers and fruits.

It is better to use fresh aloe vera leaves for making aloe fertilizer, but if you do not have fresh aloe vera leaves, then you may use aloe vera powder instead.

2. Pest Repellent

Aloe vera has saponins and other compounds having natural insecticidal properties and act as deterrents to common garden pests such as aphids, mites, and whiteflies.

To create a natural pest repellent, blend aloe vera gel with water and a few drops of dishwashing soap. The soap helps the solution adhere to plants. Spray this mixture on affected plants to help control and prevent pest infestations.

3. Plant Propagation

As already mentioned, the natural hormone compounds in aloe vera like indoleacetic acetic, abscisic acid, gibberellins and salicylic acid make aloe vera excellent to stimulate root growth and development (Homemade rooting hormone). So aloe vera is an excellent choice for propagating plants. These plant's growth-promoting compounds encourage stronger and healthier and robust root systems.

To use aloe vera for rooting plant cuttings, apply a small amount of aloe vera gel to the cut ends of the cuttings before planting them. This natural aloe vera rooting hormone can improve the success rate of plant propagation.

Aloe Vera for Seed Germination

Aloe vera is also good for seed germination, itcan boost seedling growth and enhance germination success rates.

For this, soak the seeds in a solution of aloe vera gel with water for some time before planting.

You can feed this solution to seedlings, once the seeds have germinated.

4. Soil Conditioner

Due to high water content and some compounds in aloe vera can help water retention in the soil and improve soil texture, thus making it an effective soil conditioner. This is particularly beneficial in dry or sandy soils. This leads to healthier root systems and better overall plant growth.

You can directly apply aloe vera gel to the soil or mix with mulch around your plants to enhance soil structure and moisture retention.

5. Disease Prevention

Aloe vera contains antimicrobial compounds that can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi responsible for many plant diseases. Therefore, it is valuable in preventing and managing plant diseases. Apply a dilute aloe vera solution to your plants to help strengthen their defenses against infections, thus improving resistance or immunity against harmful microbes, fungi, yeast, mold, blight and so on.

6. Stress Relief for Plants

Aloe Vera's soothing properties can help plants recover from environmental stress such as extreme temperatures, drought, or transplant shock by providing essential nutrients and promoting cell repair. Using aloe vera juice or gel as a foliar spray or soil additive can help plants better cope with adverse conditions and recover more quickly.

Aloe vera gel can help heal your plants if they suffer from cuts or wounds. Apply fresh aloe vera gel directly on the damaged areas of your plants. The antimicrobial properties in aloe gel can help prevent infection and promote faster healing.

Aloe vera is a powerhouse of benefits for your garden. Incorporating aloe vera into your gardening routine can offer numerous benefits. You can use it as a fertilizer, pest repellent, healing agent or for plant propagation, etc.

Videos on Aloe Vera Plant

How to propagate aloe Vera from cutting youtube video
How to propagate aloe Vera from cutting in water youtube video
How to grow aloe Vera from cuttings youtube
How to split an overgrown aloe Vera plant