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 true treasure for health. Its medicinal effects have been widely proven. But behind all its advantages, there is a big drawback: its growth is very slow, its leaves can take three to four years to mature in order to extract its miraculous gel. But by the way, how could banana be useful to your Aloe Vera? The association may seem unlikely 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”. That’s all ! Suffice it to say that since the beginning of time, this medicinal plant has offered multiple health benefits. It is used to treat wounds, skin conditions, asthma, epilepsy… not to mention that it relieves 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 enhance 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 flower pot. We tell you more.

How to extract Aloe Vera gel?

To take advantage of its multiple medicinal effects, it is important to know how to harvest this succulent plant to extract the liquid gel found inside the leaves.

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You should know that this gel has notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is reputed to relieve sunburn, insect bites and all types of burns. Of course, it is easily found in herbalists or hypermarkets. The 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. Therefore it will not have the really expected effect!

In the meantime, 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, you need to cut the ends of the fully mature leaves. You can’t miss them, they are quite large (about 20 cm) and very thick since they contain a high concentration of gel. Cut them very carefully.
• You will immediately notice that a yellowish substance begins to flow from the leaf. This is the sap, not the gel. More specifically, we are talking about aloin, a liquid with a formidable laxative effect. It is hardly used today in the health field because this product is considered toxic and irritating, with many side effects.
• Therefore, we recommend that you 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 soak the sheet in water or under the sink for a while. The time the sap completely disappears. Feel free to rub it manually to make cleaning easier.
• Now that the sheet is completely clean, all you have to do is remove the sharp thorns from the edges, being careful not to hurt yourself!
• This is the most sensitive moment of the operation: you have to remove the skin to extract the Aloe Vera gel. Help yourself with a cutting board. Lay the blade flat and use a sharp knife. Go very slowly, don’t rush. On both sides of the blade, you should remove the skin finely to avoid wasting gel.
• Once this step is completed, you now have in your hands this famous gel with a viscous but nevertheless thick consistency. Make sure there are no more small green residues left on the leaf and check 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 on bananas?

Now that you know how to extract the gel from the plant. You will understand why the idea of ​​putting Aloe Vera in bananas is particularly successful. And this, even if it seems a little absurd to you!

In fact, what you need to know is that the Aloe Vera plant cannot grow new leaves. That is why it is very important to learn how to cut them correctly.

However, the banana is precisely the ideal fruit to grow a new plant. Specifically, it will act as a pot to give life to the roots. Hold the banana with its skin, then make a small circle in the middle. This is where you will insert a piece of aloe vera. Leave it for at least a day.

The fruit will then turn brown. But, when you remove 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 sanded potting soil and compost. This will save you a lot of time: you will notice your new aloe vera plant growing day by day!

Some natural ingredients to nourish 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 its multiple 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 may think, coconut oil has no nutritional benefits for your succulent. It is especially applied to the leaves to suffocate any pests that hibernate on your plant during the winter. The latter cannot stand the smell, they quickly feel intoxicated and do not return.

Warning

If Aloe Vera is very rich in health virtues, it is not necessarily suitable for everyone! There are also some contraindications.

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These 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 to avoid certain irritations.
• Likewise, it is not recommended for people with diabetes, as it can cause hypoglycemia.
• It is better not to apply it to children under 12 years of age.

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