I'm seriously glad that Key brought up this subject on her blog, which let me to Velociman's take. This gives me a good opening to ask a question, and not look like the complete, clueless fool that I am. For the record, I did not want to ask my neighbor about it, because in my neighborhood, gossip travels, and they already think I’m strange enough.
My neighbor came by and gave me an aloe plant.
Ok. Thank you.
I think I stared at her blankly for about 5 minutes. I mean I really loved the fact that she brought me a plant. That was sweet. But they aren’t the best looking things, and the particular plant in question looked as though it may have taken one too many tokes in its formative years. By the way she was looking at me, I got the impression that she was waiting for me to drop down to my knees and bow to the almighty superiority of this prickly little medicinal houseplant.
She went on to tell me that the aloe plant was her savior and, and continued to sing rhapsody about all of its virtues. I nodded my head, and made appropriate noises (Amen sister!) and gave the impression that I knew just what she was talking about.
It seems like everyone else does. I come from Silicon Valley folks. The only aloe I know of comes in bottles, in the form of a lotion or gel. Or you plant it in your front yard with some cactuses in order to complete that dessert landscaping theme many Californians subscribe to.
My question to you? I've got the plant. How do I use it? What do I use it for? I’m really not being sarcastic here. I’d like to know. In the mean time, I need to work on that little guy and see if I can make him perk up a bit. I’ve got a windowsill with his name on it.
Educate me. Please?
Comments
Stick it in the window sill and forget about it. Every week or so water the hell out of it, then forget about it again.
If you or anyone in your family gets burned - by stove, flame, sun, whatever - cut some of it off, slice it longways, and apply the gel inside to the burn.
It will do what no bottled aloe can. (I bandaged it to my hand after burning myself with boiling water. By morning the burn was nothing more than a tender red spot, never blistered, and healed completely in just a couple of days.)
Posted by: Key at March 31, 2005 01:02 PM
I worry what your neighbor's NEXT plant will be.
Seriously, that was a nice gesture on her part. Neighbors can be so nice!
I found a couple of misc links that might be helpful:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/aloe~vera.html
http://www.youth.net/kitchen/hypermail/0067.html
Happy planting!
Posted by: Carmi at March 31, 2005 03:19 PM
Too bad, she did not bring you a Pot Plant, Cat.
Posted by: catfish at March 31, 2005 03:46 PM
Cat! honestly shame on you, Aloe hmm yup sounds like a good plan just water it once in a while and then forget about it, maybe a little feed now and then if it starts looking a little yellowy (might wanna fully look this up)
Posted by: Gopher at March 31, 2005 05:23 PM
Aloe - better than the bottle stuff, but it would take several large plants to treat a real sunburn once.
Very easy to care for, but can be killer to pets - which is why I have forsaken it.
Posted by: CursingMama at April 1, 2005 02:46 PM
I think you get the jest by this point. Basically, when it comes from the plant it's much much better than by the time it's processed and in a bottle. Great for burns of all kinds, and maybe even rashes?
Don't ask me how to take care of it though, because my specialty is Killing houseplants. Now if you need some advice there....i'm your man. (so to speak) I use silk now, because my cat won't eat them, and I can't kill them. win win.
Posted by: Suzanne at April 3, 2005 01:42 PM
Good plant, I want one myself actually. Great for burns, and I am imfamous for that! lol, enjoy!
Posted by: Lindsay K. at April 4, 2005 10:05 AM