Easy Succulent Toxic to pets

Short-leaved Aloe

Aloe brevifolia

A clumping aloe with short, chunky, triangular leaves that form dense rosettes.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 14 days
Light

Full sun
Humidity

30–50 %
Temperature

7–27 °C

How to care for your Short-leaved Aloe

Everything you need to keep your Short-leaved Aloe healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Aloe brevifolia, known as Short-leaved Aloe, is a robust, clumping succulent forming attractive mounds of dense, triangular rosettes. Its thick, blue-green leaves have small white teeth along the margins and often develop charming reddish-orange tips when grown in full sun. This aloe is an excellent choice for rockeries, drought-tolerant landscapes, or as a potted specimen, rapidly filling its container with numerous offsets. It produces vibrant orange-red flower spikes in spring.

Watering your Short-leaved Aloe

Every 14 days

Water deeply only when the soil has thoroughly dried out.

How to know it needs water

Soil is completely dry to the touch
Leaves may show slight puckering

How much light a Short-leaved Aloe needs

Full sun

Full sun to bright indirect light.

Direct sun tolerated: 4 to 8 h a day
Orientations that suit it: South, South-east, South-west, East, West, North-east, North-west

Humidity and misting

30–50 %

Low (30-50%) Misting is not beneficial and can lead to rot in the tight rosettes.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 90 days

Fertilize sparingly during spring and summer; avoid during dormancy.

Recommended feed: Balanced, diluted succulent fertilizer. · 2-7-7

Repotting your Short-leaved Aloe

Every 24 months

Divide crowded clumps, repot in fresh, fast-draining succulent mix.

When: Spring
Potting mix: Cactus and succulent mix
Mix in: perlite, pumice, coarse sand

The tell-tale signs

Roots emerging from drainage
Overcrowding of pups
Slow growth

Pruning your Short-leaved Aloe

Remove any dead or damaged lower leaves, and spent flower stalks. Cut cleanly at the base with a sharp, sterile knife.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 25 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 11 in the growing season.

25 J
21 F
14 M
13 A
11 M
11 J
11 J
13 A
14 S
17 O
21 N
25 D

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Mildly toxic to pets if ingested, causing gastrointestinal distress. Keep away from curious animals.

Good to know

Forms dense, mounding clumps through prolific offsetting.
Leaf tips can turn red or orange in bright sunlight.

Frequently asked questions about the Short-leaved Aloe

How do you care for a Short-leaved Aloe?

Water it every 14 days. Give it full sun. Ideal humidity: 30–50 %. Ideal temperature: 7–27 °C. Water deeply only when the soil has thoroughly dried out.

How often should you water a Short-leaved Aloe?

Every 14 days Water deeply only when the soil has thoroughly dried out. How to know it needs water : Soil is completely dry to the touch ; Leaves may show slight puckering.

How much light does a Short-leaved Aloe need?

Full sun Full sun to bright indirect light. 4 to 8 h a day

Is the Short-leaved Aloe toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Mildly toxic to pets if ingested, causing gastrointestinal distress. Keep away from curious animals. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Short-leaved Aloe leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Short-leaved Aloe?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Divide crowded clumps, repot in fresh, fast-draining succulent mix.