Aloe Vera has become one of the most popular houseplants in the world. Apart from its aesthetic appearance, this plant is resistant and easy to maintain. Full of water, vitamins, enzymes, sugars and minerals, it is a veritable mine of treasures for health. Its medicinal effects have been widely proven. But behind all its advantages, there is a major disadvantage: its growth is very slow, its leaves can take three to four years to mature in order to extract its miraculous gel. But actually, how could banana be useful to your Aloe Vera? The association may seem improbable to you, but there is a very interesting explanation.
Discovered 6000 years ago by the Egyptians, Aloe Vera was then called “the plant of immortality”. Just that ! Suffice to say that since the dawn of time, this medicinal plant has offered multiple health benefits. It is used to treat wounds, skin conditions, asthma, epilepsy, without forgetting that it soothes burns and psoriasis. Moisturizing, relaxing and softening, it is also very popular for skin care and hair treatments. Precisely, to exploit all its virtues and to boost the growth process, gardening experts sometimes opt for original and unusual methods. One of them is to grow it inside a banana, as if it were a pot. We tell you more.
How to extract Aloe Vera gel?
To benefit from its many medicinal effects, it is important to know how to harvest this succulent plant to extract the liquid gel found inside the leaves.
You should know that this gel has remarkable antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is known to relieve sunburn, insect bites and all kinds of burns. Of course, it is easily found at herbalists or in hypermarkets. Only problem: a quality pot is quite expensive. And above all, be careful, because very often you can buy a gel mixed with additives or too diluted. It will therefore not have the effect really hoped for!
While we’re at it, if you’ve planted some at home and it’s time to harvest, we’ll walk you through the steps to extract the gel.
- First of all, you have to cut off the ends of the ripe leaves. You won’t be able to miss them, they are rather large (around 20 cm) and very thick since they contain a high concentration of gel. Cut them very delicately.
- You will immediately notice a yellowish substance starting to leak from the leaf. It is the sap and not the gel. More precisely, we are talking about aloin, a liquid with a formidable laxative effect. It is almost no longer used in the health sector today because this product is considered toxic and irritating, with numerous side effects.
- We therefore advise you to remove it completely so that it does not come into contact with the gel. To do this, install the sheet vertically in a glass or bowl. Then let the sheet soak in water or under the sink for a good while. By the time the sap disappears completely. Also, don’t hesitate to scrub it manually to make cleaning easier.
- Now that the leaf is all clean, all you have to do is remove the stinging thorns from the edges, taking care not to hurt yourself!
- This is the most sensitive moment of the operation: you must remove the skin in order to extract the Aloe Vera gel. Help yourself with a cutting board. Lay the sheet flat and use a sharp knife. Take it very slowly, don’t rush. On both sides of the sheet you need to remove the skin thinly to avoid wasting gel.
- Once this step is completed, you now hold in your hands this famous gel with a viscous but nevertheless thick consistency. Make sure that there are no more small green residues from the leaf and check carefully that it does not contain any traces of aloin.
- Once thoroughly cleaned, cut this transparent gel into small pieces and place them in a container that you can store in the refrigerator, well away from heat. You can even store the gel in the freezer for a whole year!
Why put Aloe Vera in the banana?
Now you know how to extract the gel from the plant. You will understand why the idea of putting Aloe Vera in the banana is particularly judicious. And this, even if it seems a bit absurd to you!
Actually, what you need to know is that the Aloe Vera plant cannot grow new leaves. This is why it is very important to learn how to cut them correctly.
However, the banana is precisely the ideal fruit for growing a new plant. Concretely, it will act as a pot to bring the roots to life. Keep the banana with its skin, then make a small circle in the middle. This is where you are going to insert a piece of aloe vera. Leave it for at least a day.
The fruit will then turn brown. But, by removing the piece of aloe vera from the banana, you will see that the plant reveals several new roots. You can then transplant it into a mixture of sandy soil and compost. You will have saved a lot of time: you will notice that your new aloe vera plant is growing day by day!
Some natural ingredients to feed your Aloe Vera plant
If you want to stimulate the growth of your Aloe Vera, there is no need to spend too much. Here are some natural tips that are very effective.
- Did you know that eggshells are great for plants? Instead of throwing them away, mash them with a fork and mix them into the potting soil. Thanks to their numerous nutrients (calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, silicon, etc.), they will help the plant to have healthy and strong growth.
- Black tea or any natural tea is also very suitable for nourishing Aloe Vera and providing it with all the nutrients and minerals it needs.
- Contrary to what you think, coconut oil has no nutritional benefits for your succulent. It is mainly applied to the leaves to suffocate all the parasites that hibernate in your plant during the winter. They can’t stand the smell, they quickly feel intoxicated and don’t come back around.
Warning
Although Aloe Vera is very rich in health benefits, it is not necessarily suitable for everyone! There are also certain contraindications.
Here are the recommendations to take into account:
- The Aloe Vera plant is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- People with fragile intestines should avoid it so as not to risk certain irritations.
- Likewise, it is not recommended for people with diabetes, as it can cause hypoglycemia.
- Better not to apply it to children under 12 years old.
