South window.
As long as you can give it.
I think it would survive but not thrive.

Looks like a pretty nice plant. Good luck.

Thanks Bunny. Why don't you think it would thrive? I did a lot of "research" on them online, and many sites said indirect bright light is better than direct sun. I have it right next to a south window which receives tiny bit of sunlight but mostly indirect light, but bright.

I noticed my tiny AV started getting brown tips in direct sun, so I scooted it over a bit and it's doing better.

All the info is so confusing. lol That's why I'm asking those who actually grow them in their homes.

Oakley,

An AV is a tropical whereas an Aloe is a succulent. Bunny's right - growing it indoors year-round will not result in an ideal plant. Can't you put it outside in the summer? If indoors year round is necessary, put it right against the glass in that south window. If you live in a more northern state like I do, a south window gets no direct sun in summer, so you'll probably want to give it against-the-glass west light in high-summer. If you can put it outisde in summer, then the south window full-sun in winter, that will give you your best chance for an ideal plant.

Denise in Omaha

P.S. That is Aloe vera chinensis, a very prolific variety!

OO,

I keep mine inside in the winter next to the sunniest side of the house - since we're on the side of a hill and in the lee of it, winter sunshine is hard to come by; however, what I get for it is enough. Yes, bright light is better than little light, and some direct sun would be best, but it isn't necessary. What you want to do is periodically give the pot a 1/4 turn. This will ensure that, though it won't get much direct sun, it will get enough. Also, don't water it much from November to February or so - this will also inhibit a large amount of growth.

However, from May to September, my plant is outside - Aloes as a rule like a lot of sun - the more the better, but you want to ensure that the change to full sun is gradual.

Omaha D has nailed the ID - Aloe vera has yellow flowers - your Aloe vera v. chinensis will have orange ones.

Denise, I'm confused when you say, "An AV is a tropical whereas an Aloe is a succulent"...AV is Aloe Vera, did you think I meant African Violet? So the AV is a succulent, right?

Also, from what I've been reading, an Aloe chinensis IS an Aloe Vera. What am I missing here? lol

I may put it on the porch some this summer, we'll see. Unfortunately my west window has a patio cover so it would only get direct sunlight for an hour or so in the evening.

I hate losing my south sunlight in the summer!

I do have an East window that gets morning sun for a few hours, but I don't think it would be bright enough the rest of the day. My Croton would get angry if I moved it from it's spot. :)

Perhaps your small Aloes tips were burning because it wasn't given enough time to acclimate to the light intensity. Honestly I thought you meant African Violet with the AV as well.

Ever thought about artificial light? I have my Aloes underneath these lights and they're doing well. The lights I have a slim so they don't take up much space, were only $30 for the bulb and fixture and they cost $7/yr in electricity costs, so they're super efficient.

Crotons are quite fussy aren't they? Although mine tolerates moving quite well with just a few brown tips to let me know it's unhappy. Mites a couple times but I think I must've really pissed it off.

Cactusmcharris, I opened my shutters and scooted the plant right next to the window, so I'm going to try your advice first.

If the plant starts to go downhill, I'll put it outside.

Bunny, you could be right about the tips, because the plants are relatively new & the window was getting a lot of sun when I set it there.

I do have an extra gro-light but nowhere to put it for now, it's on standby for my African Violets.

LOL about your Croton. I got mine last year and it started dropping leaves on me big time, so I moved it and now it's growing like crazy and the new leaves are starting to get colorful.

By the way, should I put the plant in a larger pot? I know I could separate the smaller one's and put those in their own pots, but I like them in the grouping.

OT: how much is that doggy in the window?

i got my aloe vera pup last year in may when it was just 4 inches tall, i have it standing in a south faced window and its thriving, the leaves are about a foot long and thick compared to its mothers leaves, this winter it actually turned brownish so i guess its doing very well, i separate the pups when i see them, leaving 3 main plants. the soil i got it growing in is some i found under some big rotted populus stems and its working fantastic.
heres a picture from the late winter when it didnt have any winter colors.
{{gwi:69301}}

"From what I've been reading, an Aloe chinensis IS an Aloe Vera. What am I missing here?"

Aloe vera is the species of plant and chinensis is the variety. Chinensis is not the correct name for your plant, scientifically, Aloe vera is. So, it is written Aloe vera v. chinensis.

People always get confused by this. :)

Nancy

Now I understand. I thought"v" meant "versus." lol.

Holy smoke jonas, that thing grew like crazy! How much sunlight is it getting in the south window now? I get full sun in my south windows for 7 months, then indirect sun for the other 5 months. Right now the sun is slowly starting to fade. :(

Deep, that's my sidekick, Grace, who's an English Pointer. She's in almost every picture I take because she never leaves my side. She's not allowed out front because there's no fencing in front, so she watches me out the front door. Great house dog!

Hi OO,

I'll make it simple. These are hardy, rugged plants, one needn't worry or look to be so precise & exact for them.

I grow indoors only in NYC & my kitchen window is all Aloes on a West windowsill on top of a working radiator.

Bottom line -- the maximum light you can give it (starting gradually of course); can be direct sun, but also fine w/ bright indirect. I tend to leave mine alone & pretty much ignore them.

I'd suggest you do nothing to yours for at least a month, let them become accustomed to their new home, then maybe into a terra cotta pot, especially if you tend to overwater (don't know if you do or not, a general suggestion).

FYI: in these plant circles of ours AV = African Violets, almost always; otherwise we just say Aloes or Aloe vera, but save AV for African Violet (see how long that is, that's why we say AV).

Hi Jonas,

FYI, your mix looks kind of peaty, if it were my plant, I'd change that mix to something much more gritty or if that's all you've got, I'd add at least 40% perlite or pumice to make it fast draining; that mix looks slow to drain, which increases chances of rot.

Having explained above that I only grow indoors, in MY home, brown on Aloes would be a possible sign of rot, brown on Aloes is NOT a good thing, tho' you seem to think it is. Brown is not a winter color for Aloes (unless I misunderstand your post). They're supposed to be green like in the pix you've shown, not brown (at least when grown indoors).

I wouldn't be in a hurry to remove the pups; I like to ensure they're old enough to move out on their own before I do that & also, aesthetically, I prefer the look of the crowded pot like yours.

I keep my aloe vera outdoors in the summer on the EAST side of the house in dappled shade. Otherwise it will burn in sun.

Aloe vera (the first pic) and its relative 'from' China are discussed.

I hadn't known that A.v. is thought to have originated in W. Africa/Canary & Cape Verde Islands.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe Wiki

to the people commenting my post:
actually the dirt is rather fast draining and dries up quickly for some reason and i only water it like 1 time every second week so i doubt its rotting, and the plant only had the brown colors during the days with full sunshine and when ever it had been cloudy for a few days it would turn all green, and at my school there was a few neglected a. vera's in one of the green houses that hadn't been watered for a very long time, they where brown too, so i dont think my plant is rotting :)

My Aloe 'California' (not vera) develop a brownish-pink tinge during the winter, too. Cool temps, and sunlight.

That said, we've hassled Jonas about his soil since he first showed us his Crassula ovata and arborescens...! ;)

Josh

Well then, if that's the case (about his mix) I'll say, never mind ;>)

(...we have to keep after him, until he goes soil-less) *wink*

Josh

Thank you pirate girl, I feel encouraged now! Good advice about putting it in a terra cotta pot, I may have one big enough but I'll wait another month or so. I sure would hate to mess it up by moving the smaller plants in it. I love the crowded look also.

It's just too pretty to put outside where I can't see it. :)