Aloe Vera Light Requirements [Best Proven Tips]

Aloe Veras are sun-lovers with juicy leaves that stay fresh even under intense sunlight but suffer burn-outs in time and refrain from showing compact peculiar growth in dim lights.

Aloe Vera needs sunlight to thrive, though specific light needs may vary on location, soil type, and plant age. So, let’s dive deep to learn about the Aloe Vera light requirements.

Overview of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is among the common houseplants with many medical benefits.

Although beneficial to humans (but mildly toxic), the juice of this plant can prove extremely harmful to pets.

However, the same latex is applied on the skin to block harmful reactions caused by the sun’s UV rays!

Want to know more interesting features about Aloe? Have a look at the table below.

How Much Light Does Aloe Vera Need?

Many of us prefer Aloe Vera in our homes because of its aesthetic appeal and advantages.

These plants do well outsides in warmer zones. In colder USDA zones, people prefer to grow it inside.

The life span of Aloe Vera depends on the amount and period of light the plant gets.

Aloe Vera can survive for 4 to 20 days before succumbing to the light deficit. So, you must offer at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the plant to thrive.

Although the plant’s natural habitat is a desert, it does well in indirect light when grown indoors.

The key is to keep a bright environment, but you can also grow Aloes by locating them under artificial lights for 14-16 hours daily.

How to Offer Aloe Vera Light Requirements?

Being a tropical succulent plant, Aloe Vera has distinct light needs.

In their natural habitat, i.e., the desert, they almost spend the entirety of their life in the bright sun.

So, you must provide them with light according to their needs when indoors. Let’s look below to find out their needs.

1. Light Intensity

Light intensity is the measure of lumens falling on a surface, measured in lux.

Moreover, Aloe Vera needs light intensity of 800 Foot Candles (FC) (~8600 lux) for good growth and at least 400 FC (~4300 lux) light intensity to survive.

But, some varieties of Aloe Vera can also flourish in the intensity of 200 FC (~2200 lux).

If you plan to grow it in a greenhouse commercially, provide it with a light intensity of at least 5000 FC (~53800 lux).

According to a research, under high light intensity, the photosynthesis process in Aloe Vera increases, but prolonged light can ultimatly affect its ability to prepare food and sustain growth. 

The same research also stipulated that Aloe Vera can survive in 50% of the total intensity of bright direct sunlight, but watering must be done frequently.

Although Aloes can survive in full sun, you must hydrate them more often.

So, you can use a light meter to measure the light intensity and act accordingly.

2. Light Duration

Taking care of the light duration is essential for Aloe Vera care.

Furthermore, a plant can withstand intense sunlight for an extended period increases with age.

For instance, freshly propagated Aloe Vera won’t be able to tolerate the same intense light duration as older plants.

So, exposing Aloe Vera to too much sunlight may burn its leaf tips.

3. Light Quality

Light quality is the spectral composition of light particles at different wavelengths.

It is a critical factor that ensures how the plant grows under different lights and what light color they prefer.

The light quality also affects the physiological process of Aloe Vera plants.

Studies have shown that red light reduces the proteins, carbohydrates, and pigments in leaves.

Additionally, the pigment content of Aloe Vera inclines if you grow the plant in blue light.

So, the stems and leaves of plants that receive a lot of blue light will be strong and healthy.

The development of green leaves and stems in Aloe Vera is best supported by blue light with a wavelength range of 400–500 nm.

But, equal red and blue light durations will bring proper stability to the plant’s growth.

4. Location for the Plant

The indoor and outdoor location of the plant also plays a crucial role in determining its growth.

For succulents like Aloe Vera, you must place them in indirect sunlight.

Although Aloes can perform better in high-intensity light, extensive exposure can harm their leaves.

But, during summer, fix the plant 3-5 feet away from a south or west-facing window for 6-8 hours to protect it from sun scorches.

However, you can also keep the plant beside a free and wide east-facing facing window at all times.

If you want to grow them outdoors, gradually acclimate Aloes by exposing it to sunlight for extended periods each day for 1-2.

Signs Your Aloe Vera Requires More or Less Sunlight

Aloe vera may survive in low light conditions without its signature, bushy and tight growth.

Similarly, you can keep it in a bright sunny spot but hydrate it more frequently to cope with the water loss.

So, let’s look at the effect of excess and less light.

Signs of Light-Deprived Aloe Vera

If your Aloe Vera is not getting enough sunlight, it will show the following signs.

• The fleshy leaves of Aloe Vera will lose their composure and droop down.
• Leaves of the Aloe vera plant will turn pale.
• The plant will grow leggy and appear elongated as it searches for more light and stretches toward the light source.

• There is a significant reduction in the size of the leaves without adequate energizing light.
• Aloe Vera spreads out and grows downward instead of flaring skywards.

Light and other factors also come into play when Aloe leaves turn droopy. Get to know about them and save your plant from upshots!

Signs of Light-Saturated Aloe Vera

In stressful situations of intense light, Aloes will show the following symptoms.

• The leaf tips of the Aloe Vera will turn brown.
• Leaves will lose their natural color and fade to a pale green.
• Visible brown ‘sunspots’ on the leaves.
• The leaves start to wrinkle.
• Flowers of the plant begin to fall.

Solution and Preventive Measures

Look below for the solutions and preventive measures to maintain optimum lighting and temperature for the plant.

• If your plant exhibits signs of lack of sunlight, move them to a location where it will get bright or indirect sunlight.
• Move the sunburnt Aloe Vera to a cooler place with enough shade. Stick to a watering schedule to revive it.
• Place Aloe Vera near the south, east, or west-facing window with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
• Calibrate the light needs of your plant with other care factors like the amount of water, temperature, humidity, soil, etc.

Does Aloe Vera Grow in Artificial Light?

Remember, artificial lights are not effective as natural lights in intensity and quality.

So, keep Aloe Vera 6-12 inches under artificial red and blue lights for positive growth for 14 to 16 hours daily.

It would also be best to provide your plant with a few hours of morning and evening direct sun and keep them in artificial lights for the rest of the day.

Keep the following things in mind for choosing artificial lights for your Aloe Vera.

• Light Output: About 2,000 lumens per square meter.
• Color: Red and Blue spectrum.
• Color Temperature: Between 3000-6000 K.

FAQs About Aloe Vera Light Requirements

Can You Meet Aloe Vera Light Requirements With Low Light?

Aloe Vera is a desert succulent, and these plants are well-adapted to grow and flourish under direct intense sunlight for most of the day.

So, low light can stop their growth rate and open up many issues related to meager sunlight.

What is the Best Place to Keep Aloe Vera Indoors?

Keep the plant a few feet away from a bright window that receives 6-8 hours of open direct sunlight in summer or near an east-facing window in spring, fall, and winter.

Can I Keep My Aloe Vera Inside the Bathrooms?

Aloe Vera is probably among the best indoor plants that easily lodge inside a bathroom with wide, open windows, welcoming natural sunlight.