Native to southern Africa, this plant thrives in hot, dry climates.
It can be grown indoors as a houseplant in temperate regions.
Like othertypes of aloe, aloe ferox prefers full sun, sandy loam soil, and infrequent watering.
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This plant is considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
As a houseplant, it grows best in a bright, south-facing or west-facing window.
Soil
Plant aloe ferox in a well-drained, sandy loam soil.
Water
Drought-tolerant aloe ferox grows best in arid conditions.
Wait until the potting mix has completely dried out before watering deeply.
Infrequent watering is preferred to overwatering, as soggy, wet soil will lead to root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Aloe ferox prefers warm, temperate growing conditions.
The plant can’t tolerate freezes below 25 degrees or extreme heat above 115F.
Fertilizer
Aloe ferox needs minimal fertilizer to thrive, whether grown outdoors or as a houseplant.
Feed indoor plants with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength in early spring.
Pruning
Aloe ferox doesn’t require regular pruning.
However, plants grown from seed can take several years to flower.
Only go up one or two inches in container diameter when repotting.
Overwatered plants are susceptible to root rot or crown rot due to fungus in the soil.
Note that young plants or seedlings can take several years to bloom.
Plants in warmer climates tend to bloom earlier, while those in colder climates bloom later.
What Do Aloe Ferox Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Yellow or orange stamens extend slightly from each flower after it opens.
Cut away affected leaves and repot the plant in a gritty, fast-draining succulent mix.
Allow plants to dry out completely before watering in the future.
Cut away diseased portions of the plant.
Treat the plant with organic fungicide.
In severe cases, repotting may be required to save the plant.
Aloe ferox looks similar to aloe vera, and both plants are part of the aloe genus.
However, they’re distinct species.
Aloe ferox plants grown outdoors can grow up to 12 feet tall and 5 feet wide at maturity.
Like many other succulents, aloe ferox is evergreen.
This means it maintains its green leaves throughout the year rather than dropping and regrowing them.
Campus Arboretum: Aloe ferox.University of Arizona.
