Aloe Flower: Characteristics, Uses & Growing Guide

Just when we are done going gaga over the almost magical Aloe Vera gel, it surprises us with the beautiful red-to-yellow Aloe flower.

The Aloe blooms lack fragrance but contribute to purifying the air, and skin care and add to the aesthetics of your home.

How Often Does the Aloe Flower?

Being an arid desert species, Aloe might confuse you about the possibilities of producing blossoms.

But once the plant reaches four years, they are ready to flaunt the tubular bell-shaped flowers that will last for at least two to three months before they die.

However, the Aloe flower bud is particularly visible during the winter if you provide these succulents with their needs.

Overview of Aloe Flower

The tubular flowers of Aloe soar from the bottom up on the inflorescence, forming a beautiful cluster of blooms giving a feeling that it is rising above without looking below.

Moreover, the Aloe flower color depends on the species you plant, ranging from white, orange, yellow, and even red inflorescences.

Pollination of Aloe Flower

Anthers in the Aloe flower prepare pollens way before the Stigma is receptive, which makes them self-incompatible and a tricky plant for pollination.

Besides, the flowers produce nectar but lack fragrance, requiring pollinators with long beaks like hummingbirds and sunbirds.

In case the pollinators are not available, manually pollinate Aloe’s flowers.

• Try to pollinate Aloe within four days after it has shown blooms during the daytime.
• Get either a Q-tip or a small paintbrush.
• Pick a fresh flower with lots of pollen in it.
• Using the Q-tip, dab the pollen from a new/fresh flower and rub it onto the Stigma of another flower.

Once the flowers are pollinated, they eventually dry out. The dried remains become brown-green seed pods or capsules.

How to Make an Aloe Plant Flower?

Aloe plant blooms only when they age, so you need patience. They need to be at least four years old to blossom.

Further, Aloe plants are xerophytes and ask for their native desert-like climates to bloom to the fullest.

Here are the different caring requirements necessary for the Aloe to flower.

• Use succulents and cacti potting mix that drains effectively. Or, create a suitable potting mix incorporating perlite, lava rock, coarse sand, or any combination of the three.
• The ideal light requirement can be an indirect bright light for 6 hours daily.
• Maintain a warm temperature between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C) to induce blooming.
• Keep the humidity around 40-50% for optimum growth. 
• Allow the soil to dry between each watering to prevent rot. On average, water once every three weeks and less frequently in the winter.
• Feed the plant monthly only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at ½ strength.

Further, Aloe Plants include pups that develop off the main plant, so you need to remove these pups if you want to see the plant blooming.

Removing the extra bulbs or pups will give the main plant the additional energy needed to produce beautiful and tall spiky stems of Aloe flowers.

What Should You Do with Aloe Flower?

Aloe Vera continues growing even after the flower blooms. However, the flower stalks of Aloe absorb most of the nutrients from the soil, so it is better to prune them.

Pruning Aloe flowers divert the energy towards encouraging the production of thick fleshy leaves and plant growth.

But if you want seeds, allow the blossoms to dry naturally on the plant and then prune after the Aloe flower seeds have fallen.

Pruning Tips

Grab a pair of pruning shears and isopropyl alcohol to prune your flowering Aloe. If you have them, you are good to go with the instructions below!

• You should wait until the Aloe plant’s blooms die to prune them.
• Sterilize your shears to remove any debris from them.
• Disinfect them with isopropyl alcohol.
• Once the Aloe flowers are spent, cut them off close to the base of the plant.
• Make sure not to harm the surrounding leaves to avoid Aloe plant browning.

Meaning & Uses of Aloe Flower 

Aloe flowers do not look like they can add much value other than providing fresh air and a little decor element to your home.

But civilizations from different regions speak about the Aloe flowers as the spiritual symbol of beauty, fortune, and good health.

In the Arabic dialect, “Aloe” is derived from the word “Alloeh,” meaning “shining bitter substance,” while “Vera” in Latin translates to “true” due to the bitterness of the plant parts.

Besides, due to its lengthy flowering period and growth, the flowers symbolize patience and endurance.

Furthermore, the plant and its flowers are regarded as a sign of good luck and protection from evil energies in different parts of the world.

Moreover, these spunky succulents bring a funky vibe to the table and home. You can keep Aloe in the head planter or woven basket planter or arrange Aloe with other succulents.

Medicinal Use

Aloe Vera is predominantly famous for its almost magical gel that nourishes hair and skin. The Aloe flower uses are no different.

However, the Aloe flower benefits are underrated compared to the leaf.

Pollens in the Aloe flowers contain bioactive substances with potential uses in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food industries.

Further, Aloe Vera has made its spot on NASA’s list of air-purifying plants capable of eliminating harmful chemicals from the air.

Even if you cut the flowers of your Aloe, the plant can instill air-cleansing properties indoors.

Is Aloe Flower Poisonous? 

The only edible Aloe Vera is Aloe Vera barbadensis Miller, but you can easily mistake it for the non-edible Aloe Vera var. Chinensis.

The edible variety features upright, broad, thick, and silvery-green leaves.

However, that does not make the Aloe flowers edible. Consumption of the flowers may induce minor diarrhea in humans, while large amounts may cause allergic reactions due to the presence of latex.

Aloe ballyi, Aloe elata, and Aloe ruspoliana are the three poisonous species that produce leaf sap with smells rotten. 

Consuming any part of the Aloe plant may cause vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, tremors, and a change in urine color in your pets.

If your pets mistakenly consume Aloe and show these symptoms, use the following numbers to get help.

• Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661