Aloe Vera

Place on a bright, south-facing windowsill where it receives several hours of direct sunlight. Aloe vera tolerates partial shade but becomes leggy and pale without enough light. Water sparingly, soaking the compost thoroughly then allowing it to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, water once a month or even less. Use a free-draining cactus and succulent compost, or mix standard compost with equal parts perlite and coarse grit. Feed once a month from April to September with a cactus fertiliser at half strength. Repot when offsets crowd the parent plant, usually every two to three years. Use a heavy terracotta pot to prevent tall plants from toppling. Keep above 10 degrees Celsius and protect from cold windowsills in winter by moving the pot back from the glass at night.

No regular pruning needed. Remove any dead or brown outer leaves by cutting them cleanly at the base. Harvest individual leaves for gel by slicing the lowest, thickest leaf close to the stem.