Have you seen Aloe Vera bloom in Seychelles? |10 September 2013

A young lady from Bel Air posted on Facebook a photo of an Aloe Vera plant in bloom at her home, a copy of which she forwarded to www.nation.sc.

She says she has never seen Aloe Vera flowers and is asking around who has ever seen one. And it seems that many Seychellois have never seen Aloe Vera blooms. Have you? We would like to get your comment.

We have posted Lyn’s Aloe Vera flowering plant accompanied by a brief description of the plant’s characteristics.

Aloe Vera is a desert succulent plant prized both for its beauty and for its medicinal properties. Aloe will not bloom until it is fully mature, which happens at about four years of age. When Aloe does bloom, it produces bright, yellow flowers on long, protruding stems.

Aloe Vera plants kept indoors are not likely to bloom at all. Occasionally these house plants may produce flowers if they receive a great deal of sunlight, but most will not.

Aloe Vera is a native of Africa and thrives in hot desert climates. A mature plant will bloom outdoors under proper conditions. Blooms typically appear annually in early spring.

A high-bloom fertiliser as well as plenty of sunlight may encourage older (four years or more) Aloe Vera to bloom.

Anybody else has a blooming Aloe Vera at home? On the right is Lyn's flowering aloe vera at Bel Air.