Lace Aloe – Aristaloe aristata Growing Tips & Tricks!

After searching through the Internet, we have noticed that a lot of questions about the Lace Aloe are hard to find answers to.

So, we have gathered the best growing tips and tricks to help you grow your Lace Aloe successfully in a detailed list down below.

Enjoy!

What Is Lace Aloe?

Aristaloe aristate, or the Lace Aloe or Guinea-Fowl Aloe, is the sole species of the Aristaloe genus of the Asphodelaceae family. The evergreen flowering plant comes from Southern Africa and can be used a medicinal plant but is most commonly used as an outdoor garden plant or an indoor houseplant.

What Are The Common Names Of Aristaloe Aristata?

The common names of the Aristaloe Aristata are “Lace Aloe”, “Guinea-Fowl Aloe” and “Torch Aloe”.

“Lace Aloe” refers to the lacy edges of the succulent’s leaves.

The “Guinea-Fowl Aloe” common name refers to the plant sharing a resemblance to the white dotted feather patterns of the Guinea fowl bird.

“Torch Aloe” refers to the plant’s extended erect leaves resembling a torch’s flame.

What Is The History Of Lace Aloe?

The Lace aloe is indigenous to South Africa and Lesotho (a small country landlocked and completely surrounded by South Africa but that is not a part of it. The country was annexed as a British protectorate in 1871 then known as Basutoland.

It separated itself as a Crown Colony in 1884 and was able to remain sovereign when South Africa formed in 1910.

Yes, we know that may have been a bit too much information on that little country, but we found it interesting and had never heard its story before, so we thought you might like too as well.

Because of this succulent being grown in such a wide range, it is adaptable to different environments, from the dry and sandy coasts to cold mountain slopes.

The Lace aloe has been given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, The United Kingdom’s leading gardening charity.

How To Care For Lace Aloe?

To properly take care of a Lace Aloe. You’ll need to first know what soil is best for the succulent.
Cactus mix, or potting soil mixed 50 percent with sand, so that it works well for not holding too much water. This will help guarantee that your succulent will grow up right and remain healthy for a long time. If water isn’t draining well in the soil, you could add an extra 20% perlite, vermiculite, or pumice.

If grown indoors, you should grow your Lace Aloe in bright indirect light and if your succulent is grown outdoors, place your plant in light to medium shade.

The Lace Aloe doesn’t need to be regularly fertilized but using some organic fertilizer will help the plant get extra nutrients and grow all the better.

It responds well to a fish fertilizer dilution that is made from natural ingredients. If you do fertilizer your plant do so right before its summer growing season and not during the winter as that’s when the plant goes dormant.

Because the Lace Aloe needs to be regularly watered but is tolerant to droughts for small periods of time, water your succulent 2 to 4 times a month or water when the soil feels dry but NOT bone dry.

During the winter, cut back on watering by half the amount you usually give it. Please keep from watering the leaves directly to prevent them from rotting. The water collects and pools on the leaves and can cause rot and make them susceptible to pest infestations.

The Lace aloe is semi-hardy and can withstand cold temperatures as low as 10 °F (-12.2 °C) but it is suggested to keep the temperatures above 50°F (10°C) for the best growth. This succulent can grow in dry climates and conditions and doesn’t seem to care at all about humidity levels.

For best results, keep your plant in a pot and move it indoors when the weather gets too cold for it. We would really suggest that even though it’s semi cold hardy that you don’t leave it out in freezing temperatures.

No sense in taking chances that have no benefit to them.

What Is The Best Soil For Lace Aloe?

The best soil for this succulent will have to be a regular cactus mix or a dry soil that doesn’t hold water heavily. It is important for the soil to be well-drained to prevent from rotting or over watering.

You can create your own soil by mixing well broken down compost or potting soil in a fifty – fifty ratio with coarse sand.

Get a pot that has holes in the very bottom so that it doesn’t allow standing water. Place a layer of gravel or pea gravel in the bottom. Then place your soil mixture in and plant the plant.

What Is The Best Fertilizer For Lace Aloe?

The Lace Aloe doesn’t need to be regularly fertilized. However, if you want to give your succulent extra nutrients, you can use organic fertilizer during the spring and summer.

It does respond well to an all natural fertilizer made from a fish dilution. These are pretty common at most nurseries and are typically pretty cost effective as well.

What Is The Suggested Amount Of Water For Lace Aloe?

Water your Lace Aloe 2 to 4 times a month or when the soil feels dry but not bone dry as this succulent is not as drought adverse ass many other so. Make sure to have the soil dry out completely between watering.

What Is The Suggested Amount Of Sunlight For Lace Aloe?

The Lace Aloe grows best in indirect light. If grown indoors, place your plant in bright indirect light, and if grown outdoors, put your succulent in bright to medium shade.

If you notice brown spots on your succulent then reduce it’s sun exposure by placing it in a little deeper shade that it had been in.

What Is The Suggested Humidity For Lace Aloe?

Lace Aloe often grows in dry places and doesn’t care about different humidity levels, so don’t worry about what humidity is best for your Lace Aloe.

Ok, placing it in a sauna may not be the best idea, but other than that, it’s nothing to worry about.

What Is The Best Temperature To Grow Lace Aloe?

Even though the Lace Aloe is semi-cold hardy, it shouldn’t be in temperatures lower than 10 °F (-12.2 °C). For the best growth, put your succulent in a place where temperatures don’t drop below 50°F (10°C).

If you live in a place where it freezes in the winter, you’ll do better by having your plant in a pot that you can bring inside if it looks like the temperatures are going to drop.

How Often Should I Re-pot My Lace Aloe?

You should re-pot your Lace Aloe in a larger pot each year at the start of spring for the best growth.

This does two things really well.

First, it allows the root systems to keep expanding and not become root bound.

Second, you’re giving it a whole new, fresh batch of soil to grow in with all new, fresh nutrients. The plant will love it and respond accordingly.

Are Lace Aloe Seasonal?

Yes, the Lace Aloe is seasonal. The succulent will bloom peach-colored oblong flowers on its branches during the summer.

Is Lace Aloe An Indoor Plant Or An Outdoor Plant?

The Lace Aloe is both an indoor and outdoor plant. It has been said that it grows better outdoors, but it is suggested to bring in the succulent during the winter if temperatures drop below 10 °F (-12.2 °C) for sure and you may wish to do so as soon as the temperatures hit freezing.

Is Lace Aloe Poisonous to Humans And Pets?

Although the Lace Aloe is labeled as a medicinal plant, its leaves are toxic and can deal some nasty side effects if ingested by animals. Some side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.

So, you should keep your succulent away from pets, if possible, because if they eat enough of it, they could get sick. It may not be life threatening, but who really wants a pet around the house leaving a trail of liquid poo.

Is Lace Aloe Edible?

The Lace Aloe is edible for humans to an extent. It is best used as a medicinal plant to treat skin conditions and heals wounds, but some people have also used Lace Aloe juice diluted as a tonic to wash their bodies.

It is not advised that you try this at home. Before the aloe can be ingested it has to be fileted properly to get rid of the super aggressive fiber that lays just under the skin of the pant which is the agent that causes all the issues.

Why Does My Lace Aloe Have Brown Tips?

Your Lace Aloe has brown tips from under watering. You can cut off these brown tips and water your succulent more often to prevent it from happened again.

Why Does My Lace Aloe Have Brown Spots?

If your Lace aloe has brown or black spots, it means your succulent is suffering from a root rot, fungal, or bacterial infections or it could be getting too much sun.

If the soil is too wet, and it doesn’t drain properly, make sure your succulent is in a pot and soil that drains well and water your plant only when the soil feels dry, don’t water it too often.

Remember, this plant comes from an arid land where drought is common and rain, not so much. It’s not the under watering that hurts this one, it’s the over watering.

Why Is My Lace Aloe Turning Yellow?

Your Lace Aloe is turning yellow from over watering. Don’t water your succulent too often and only when the soil feels dry.

If you don’t take heed of this, your plant will eventually die from over watering. These plants thrive on a little drought from time to time.

Does Lace Aloe Flower?

The Lace Aloe flowers in the summertime with oblong peach-colored flowers that bloom on the branches of the plant.

They are really quite nice to look at and have a pleasing, soft, fragrant aroma that most people tend to enjoy.

How Do You Propagate Lace Aloe?

You can propagate your Lace Aloe from offsets. Carefully remove an offset that looks like it has a rosette of leaves (a full circle of leaves that resemble a rose) and place it ¾ inch deep in the same cactus mix or dry soil that was used for the original plant.

Water regularly when the soil feels dry, and you’ll have yourself a new Lace Aloe in no time!

How Big Does Lace Aloe Grow?

The Lace Aloe regularly grows 6-9″ inches tall and 1-2′ inches wide and can grow up to 16-18″ inches (40-45cm).

What Is The Lifespan Of Lace Aloe?

The Lace Aloe can grow with lifespans ranging between from 50 to 100 years.

Why Is My Lace Aloe Falling Over?

If you notice your Lace Aloe’s leaves falling over or drooping, it means that it’s not getting enough water. Water your succulent 2 to 4 times a month or when the soil feels dry but NOT bone dry.

Although the Lace Aloe is drought tolerant for a short period, it doesn’t mean that it can be neglected for too long.

Why Is My Lace Aloe Turning White?

Your Lace Aloe Is Turning White From too much or too light or sun exposure. Remove your succulent from this area that’s getting too much direct light or sun and place it in an area that has a bit more shade.

Your plant should perk up in just a few days to a week or so and you’ll both be happy again.

What Are The Common Lace Aloe Pests?

The most common Lace Aloe pests are Mealybugs and scales. You can get rid of both pests by spraying insecticidal soap or using rubbing alcohol on the plant in a dilution of fifty – fifty water and acohol.

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