Question
QUESTION: I keep getting white crystals on my Aloe Vera plant, what is it?

ANSWER: Billie,

Are you watering it with very hard water? Or is a pet (a kitten or puppy) damaging the plant so the sap is crystalizing on the plant? The sap is white. Email me a picture of the problem.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, I have hard water with lots of calcium. Will that do it?? But if
I put it outside it seems better, no crystals. But I live in Alaska and it has to live inside. When I brought it back inside it got the crystals very quickly. Billie

Answer
Billie,

OK, after more research at the sites below it seems that some aloes just do this. It is the sap from the aloe that forms the crystals and for some reason it is coming out through the surface and drying to form the crystals. Of course an insect or animal attack could cause it as I said earlier. My own speculation would also be that temperature changes could cause it although I keep aloes on an enclosed back porch in northern Indiana and there are fairly wide temperature fluctuations 45 degrees to 75 degrees depending on whether the sun is shining or it is below zero outside and I have never noticed the crystals on my aloe.  I also suspect it could be a signal from the plant that it is mature enough to have the juice harvested (reference the 3rd site below). I do not think it indicates any problem with the plant and I suspect it will disappear eventually if you ignore it. Read the sites below and see what you think. By the way I have a son and grandchildren living in Anchorage. He is in the Air Force. Good luck with your aloe.

Darlene

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9798

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aloes027.html

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/aloe.html