Aloe Vera juice or chunks

MsBooty

Does anyone know where I can buy aloe Vera juice (pure not juice drink/squash) or even chunks. Been reading up on the health benefits & want to get some so I can add to my smoothies

ms_night_ryder

If you head to a market, you can buy a whole big leaf for a few quid.

surfsister

Holland and barret do it

sarah1972

buy a plant and grow it yourself, it grows like mad!

I have to chop my plant in half to thin it out every 6 months.

VfM4meplse

sarah1972 wrote: »

buy a plant and grow it yourself, it grows like mad!

I have to agree with this, even my sister has one (she is no nurturer) and it is thriving.

ms_night_ryder

I disagree, I have a plant and it's just bot growing, I have had it for 3 years, it's not dead, but not growing, not sure what I'm doing wrong.

MsBooty

Thanks all, think i will buy a plant
Now for the dumb side of me, do you just peel and use?

sarah1972

MsBooty wrote: »

Thanks all, think i will buy a plant
Now for the dumb side of me, do you just peel and use?

You can either cut a leaf off and squeeze the juice out or split the leaf and inside is the gel. You cant really peel it.

I use it for burns and insect bites

sarah1972

ms_night_ryder wrote: »

I disagree, I have a plant and it's just bot growing, I have had it for 3 years, it's not dead, but not growing, not sure what I'm doing wrong.

They should be potted in cactus compost or make your own by mixing equal quantities of multi-purpose compost, John Innes No1
and potting grit which is vital for drainage, and stand them on a sunny windowsill indoors.

Water very very sparingly in the dormant season which is now and I only water mine every 2 weeks in growing season aswell to be honest.

meer53

Don't buy loads. Aloe Vera tastes disgusting.

Mojisola

sarah1972 wrote: »

You can either cut a leaf off and squeeze the juice out or split the leaf and inside is the gel. You cant really peel it.

As Sarah says - only use the clear stuff inside the leaf. The green skin contains a pretty effective laxative and can also interact with prescribed medicines. It's also very bitter.

Unless you have a heated greenhouse, I can't see that you would get plants growing well enough to keep up a supply for eating.