Can Aloe Vera Grow Without Sunlight? – (How Much Sun Does It Need)

How Much Sun Does Aloe Need?

People who live in homes that are close to trees or other structures, or who are positioned backward so that their windows don’t receive direct sunshine, can buy artificial lighting to prevent their aloe plants from growing languidly.

Aloe vera plants prefer partial sunlight and grow best in a few hours of direct sunlight, so giving them the best light possible would enhance their positive growth. You can see dark green leaves with the ideal thickness because aloe vera plants store water on their leaves, but once they are fully grown, they contain a gel that can be used to treat sunburns and may hasten the healing process for burned skin. According to Webmd, aloe leaf juice also contains antioxidants that can lower the danger of chronic development in the body.

Another issue we see here is that if you grow more indoor plants, you can’t put every one of them in the south-facing window because it can only hold 1-2 plants. But what about the other plants? Maybe you can use the balcony, or if you really can’t find anywhere, then the only choice is artificial lighting.

You can provide your plant with more than 10 to 14 hours of artificial lighting for these lights to function, which may provide some strength to combat the droopy aloe vera issue. If your indoor plants are having low light problems, you should use a 4′ x 2′ Full Spectrum LED Grow light.

Purchase a full spectrum grow light from Amazon

Shop Amazon’s Indoor Plant Collection to make purchases.

Purchase an Aloe Vera plant at Amazon.com

Sunlight is a crucial component in giving aloe plants their green pigmentation or color. Every plant needs light to grow, with the exception of some succulents that don’t require sunlight, hence this is crucial for all plants.

kinds of aloe vera

I’m only identifying the more well-known of the 400 or so species of aloe vera.

Regarding aloe vera

Can Aloe vera grow without sunlight?

Aloe vera can’t develop without sunlight because the plant presumably needs it to produce robust, new leaves in the future. Aloe vera can grow or thrive in indirect light, but it can also have issues, such as leggy aloe vera, which could kill the plant or stunt its growth. Aloe vera typically grows in strong light, but a few hours of sun can increase brightness, fortify leaves, and hasten growth. Aloe plants can’t thrive without sunshine since they will develop slowly, but a full spectrum bulb can help them grow in dimly lit settings.

Aloe vera leaves may become weakened and droop or bend sideways if they don’t receive enough sunshine. You could encounter these issues when growing aloe vera in low light.

If you don’t have access to natural light, consider investing in some fluorescent artificial lights that are ideal for aloe plants or any other indoor plant that needs little to no direct sunlight.

Last but not least, I’m not suggesting that aloe won’t grow in diffused light. While growing, it won’t be very healthy. It undoubtedly requires sunlight to enter through your windows to flourish. With aloe vera that receives 4-5 hours of direct sunshine per day, there is a more noticeable difference.

Additionally, if you have a location that receives some sunshine, you will need to water the soil more frequently because light conditions increase the likelihood of the soil drying out. Therefore, be sure to water anytime the soil becomes dry or check the soil’s dryness by inserting your index finger. If the soil is dry, water the plant; otherwise, avoid doing so.

Since aloe plants are succulents and require little light to develop, they are grown without exposure to sunshine. It must have sunlight if you really want them to develop to their maximum potential.

Can aloe vera grow in low light?

Yes, you can grow aloe vera in low light. It will grow slowly, but if the plant doesn’t receive enough light to thrive, it could become lanky. Insufficient light sources cause the plants’ leaves to become brittle in this low light. I would strongly advise placing your aloe vera near a south-facing window so that it can receive some sunshine for a few hours.

If you don’t want the leaves to get bigger, low light conditions can be helpful, and you can easily grow them indoors. They use far less water in low light conditions and require little maintenance in indirect sunlight, so you don’t need to water them as frequently when they develop more slowly.

Aloe vera will grow much more quickly and healthily if you place it near a window where it receives some form of 3-5 hours of sunshine. As they can perform photosynthesis and prepare food that would lead to optimal health for your aloe plant, even light can safeguard its leaf color and general health.

Can I put my aloe plant outside?

Yes, you can place aloe plants outside in a spot with some shade, under a tree, or away from direct sunlight after 12 a.m., which could burn the leaves and harm the plants. Aloe vera needs a minimum temperature of 50°F and a maximum temperature of 65°F when grown outdoors for spring and summer growth.

Aloe may grow and thrive in your garden or yard if it has a designated location that receives at least 5 hours of sunlight and some shade. Aloe vera needs to be watered carefully when grown outside since heat swiftly dries up the soil. Always check the potting soil for dryness before watering.

Where do Aloe vera plants live indoor or outdoor?

Aloe vera plants can thrive inside or outdoors, but it’s preferable to choose a spot with the ideal light source and at least 5 to 6 hours each day of direct sunlight. Many people cultivate them in gardens outside because they believe aloe vera can grow more quickly and have strong, thick leaves.

People who live in USDA zones 9 to 12 experience a warmer climate, making aloe vera grow there more robustly and possibly more quickly. Indirect light combined with a few hours of direct sun is the ideal growing environment for aloe plants.

However, make sure the plant gets water on time, and don’t keep it out in the sun for too long because that could damage the aloe vera leaves. Be careful about the light needs because this leaf damage may not only make your plant appear bad but it may also cause it to develop more serious symptoms and turn brown.

Best to grow light for aloe vera?

Aloe vera thrives best in partial to full sun, and the ideal light for growing it inside is a full spectrum LED. This is because many people don’t have access to natural light sources, so they utilize artificial lighting to keep all of their indoor plants alive.

Since we usually place our best plants in the bedroom or hallway, I would advise using these lights there. Some indoor plants can even produce oxygen at night, while others have a lovely aesthetic that is quite beneficial. The finest grow light for aloe vera plants is linked below:

Purchase a full spectrum grow light from Amazon

How often do you water an aloe plant?

If you reside in a warmer climate and have placed your aloe plant somewhere that receives two hours of morning sunshine, you should water it every five to nine days. Additionally, water is added whenever the aloe plant starts to feel parched and its top 2 inches of soil have dried. If my aloe plant is just receiving indirect sun and shadow, I water it every 10 to 14 days.

Due to the limited light and cool temperatures, aloe plants require more time to dry in the winter than they do in the summer. You should water the aloe plant in 19 to 22 days, or possibly in the third week. Additionally, the condition of the soil affects how fast or slowly it dries. The soil dries out considerably more slowly. If obtained at a low price, that soil is of poor quality and is sold in the market. But in terms of soil, I’ve found that you generally get what you pay for; it doesn’t happen very often to receive terrible soil.

Every time you water aloe vera, make sure the soil is still wet before adding more water. Aloe plants that are growing in direct sunlight for six hours may require more frequent watering, such as every two to three days.

Can aloe vera survive in shade?

Yes, aloe vera can survive in the dark, but it thrives when exposed to 4-6 hours of direct sunshine. Aloe vera grows best in partial sunlight, although a few hours of sun exposure can have a significant impact on the plant’s development. In comparison to aloe vera grown in partial to full sun, aloe growing in shadow can experience slower development.

Aloe vera may easily survive in the shadow for days or even weeks, but you must expose it to the sun for a few hours to improve its length, color, and development. I would advise you to cultivate aloe plants where there is some shade because this will prevent sunburns from arising from direct sunlight.

Plants may develop more slowly when exposed to filtered sun or shadow light. Regarding your inquiry, it is effective and aloe was not designed to withstand intense heat that would scorch the leaves and cause them to turn brown.

In an article titled “Sunburnt Aloe Vera,” I discussed what caused it, how to prevent it, and how to get it.

Can aloe grow with artificial light?

Yes, aloe vera flourishes in artificial light sources. However, for optimum development, try giving aloe vera a few days of direct sunlight for three to four hours per week. These artificial lights must be placed relatively close together indoors and kept on for 12 to 14 hours per day. If you believe that your home doesn’t receive enough sunlight, then read this article. These lights are different. A broad spectrum bulb that is designed specifically for indoor plants has been suggested by me.

You can read my other article, “Do String of Hearts Like Grow Lights,” which I wrote about some other succulent plants and which answers the question of how long to leave these artificial lights on for, how long to wait after watering the aloe vera, and how long it takes for the aloe vera to grow under grow lights.

You can see that it will undoubtedly obtain the greatest outcomes in a month.

Final Words

Aloe—is it a cactus? No, but why (if both are succulent, know the difference!)

Aloe: Succulent or not? Similar plants that resemble cacti

How to Fix Aloe Vera Turning Purple (6 Causes with Solution)

Leggy Aloe Vera: Fixing a Too-Long Stem and Repotting the Plant