have just been given an Aloe Vera plant by a friend at work. Does anybody know what to do with it? - do they like dry/wet conditions etc - have put it on my kitchen window sill for the moment so hopefully it will be ok there.
I've been told you can just snap off a leaf and rub it on your skin to use the aloe vera - does anyone know anything else I can do with it?

Vicki - aloe vera is termed a miracle plant because of the amount of healing it can do! Brilliant for bites, stings, and all sorts of other things. I think if you google it you will be surprised!

It comes from a dry climate (South Africa actually, same as me!) so does not like to be overwatered. Treat as you would any tender succulent. Nice bright warm conditions and it will be happy as larry! Don't break off too many leaves though, as you will have no plant left! Enjoy

I have about 30 of them in the greenhouse generally you can as stated treat them like a succluent but heres a tip or two, if you want to propagate them (make more) then water them more frequently as this induces vegetative growth you will get lots of offsets at the base which can be potted up as new plants use either a cactus compost or mix some sharp sand with normal compost if you want it to flower then you need to induce it a little by holding back on the water (would only recommend this on a large mature plant) i starved mine of water for about 4 months and then it burst into flower (your tricking it into thinking its dying so it sends up the flowers to breed and preserve the genes).

Hope that helps but give it plenty of light they are very easy to look after i am inundated with them since i keep propagating them and for some reason i can never let myself chuck one on the compost pile...

Where can i buy aloe vera from near county durham

I've just got 10 aloe plants how do i look after them

I'm not too sure myself Soobeth as I've never grown them, but I expect they need sandy soil and kept frost free. I'm sure another grape will be along who knows more soon

Soobeth - I have sent you a Pm and copied into it, what Nick the Grief told me to do with mine.

i bought mine in habitat......

Got one some years ago in IKEA, it was quite small then but have had to repot it several times and each time I've done that it's had a huge growth spurt. It seems to thrive on neglect, I've potted it in cactus compost and it spends the winter in the corner of our lounge with very little water but plenty of light. Come summer it's outside and a bit more water and a touch of feed. If they have babies (smaller plantlets at the base of the main plant) you can pot them up separately. If you put them in a pretty pot they make a great (and cheap!) pressie!

i now have 20 aloe plants thanks gcroft i watered it a lot, what are good pots??