15 comments for “How to: Harvest Fresh Aloe Vera Gel

  1. January 26, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    Ok, quick question about aloe plants. I have tried to do exactly this and while I loved the feeling of fresh aloe….IT STUNK. Like not just a little funky, my aloe smelled like fried onions that had been left out on the counter for a few days and gotten really gross.

    I realize that aloe plants are natural and are not going to smell like the “bottled” version, but is there a way to take care of my plant so it doesn’t smell so bad? A certain brand that is less funky? Am I doing something wrong? (I’ve had this plant for 3 years.)

    • January 26, 2012 at 11:12 pm

      There are many varieties of aloe plants and some of them smell AWFUL, just like you said, like onions. You may have one of the varieties that looks similar to Aloe vera ‘barbadensis’ but is actually Aloe vera ‘chinensis’. This variety works just as well as the ‘barbadensis’ if you can get past the smell. I have heard that leaving a cut leaf out over night helps reduce the smell and using leaves closer to the center of the plant helps too.

      In the picture above, you can see that some of the yellow sap has dripped onto the counter, that’s the part that smells. I have the ‘barbadensis’ variety and it doesn’t smell oniony because there is very little yellow sap. I’ve heard that growing the plant in a pot and letting it slightly dry out between waterings can help, but if you have a variety that is prone to the strong smell, there isn’t much you can do. Sorry to say, you might need a new plant.

      I hope that helped offer some insight. Thanks for asking the question!

  2. September 13, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    This is so useful, thank you so much. I have been wondering why some people say the plant gel smells and others don’t. The plant in Jamaica (which is the only one I have come across) stinks! I bought a leaf from the shop that also smelled really bad. I couldn’t understand why some people couldn’t smell it and said it had a fresh smell!

    I’m going to buy the plant but at least I know which one to buy. I have seen that unless the plant is between a 1m-1.5m it won’t have the same medicinal properties, does that sound true to you?

    • October 1, 2012 at 4:23 pm

      Interesting, I hadn’t heard that about the smaller plants. I’ve asked around in my little herbal community and they hadn’t heard this either. I’m still investigating it…thanks so much for asking the question because I’d like to know too! 🙂

  3. February 22, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Do you know what plant food is good for Aloe Vera? I have a plant and it is doing fine, but have heard you should feed them occasionally – or did I hear wrong? Thanks!

  4. Amanda Luhr
    November 1, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    I pulled off a big fleshy leaf off the Aloe Vera plant growing out in the back yard. I have had a lot of Aloe Vera plants but they have never stunk. The one growing in the ground looks so healthy but it stinks the high heaven. I cut off a piece to use on a little dog, a Yorkie/carrion mix. He has chewed his skin raw on his back side. I just got this dog yesterday. Is there anything else I can do to help this little guy? Last night I reapplied the aloe but later he was at it again, so I put some “oil of oregano” on the areas that he keeps biting at. I checked him for fleas, no sign of them. So what is there left to do? It looks like the aloe is healing the areas, but I wonder should I give him beneydril too?

  5. Claudia
    December 2, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you for sharing this, very helpful with all those pictures.
    I read somewhere though, that the aloë Vera plant is also mildly toxic and that you have to be carefull which part you use from within the plant. I didnt quite get what part is toxic, maybe you can help?

    • Chelsea
      December 18, 2013 at 8:19 pm

      It isn’t that it is toxic, but the resin part (the juice that drains out) can cause diarreah when consumed, but it can also relieve constipation. So when you don’t need it. Just drain it out by elevating one end for a few minutes and discard.

  6. sara
    March 15, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    Hello
    I cut off an aloe vera today. When cutting it, there wasnt any gel within, it was some how white dry inside, i tried rubbing my face and hands with it … and OH MY GOD , IT STINKS LIKE HELL. I ran to water and wash my face and hands but it kept stinking for a while …my skin is still not looking well.

    Is this normal to happen ,??!

  7. sara
    March 15, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    Sorry not stinks it hurt, it was like my face was burning !!!! Is this normal

  8. Kurenn
    April 1, 2014 at 10:02 pm

    I cut into my Landlord’s mature aloe vera plant in order to collect a good amount for future use and the odor was atrocious. Whew! I still collected it thinking that as long as I did not collect the yellow sap that the aloe in the jar wouldn’t stink or at least not as much as the yellow stuff. I’ve used aloe from the plant before but from a younger smaller plant which must have also have been another variety — the non stinking kind. I did not expect that odor. I refrigerated the stinky aloe but unsure if I’ll be using it or not. Depends on whether or not the odor has subsided.

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