The Lace Aloe, or Aloe aristata (recently reclassed as Aristaloe aristata) plant is a low-growing hardy succulent, which is mostly found in South Africa. It has fleshy, soft-spined dark green leaves, which have white bumps. As the weather changes, the leaves tend to change color and orange-red flowers grow on the long stems.
Even though this plant is different from other aloes and looks more like a haworthia, it’s still an amazing houseplant and can even be grown in a greenhouse. It’s the perfect plant to add to your xeriscape garden.
Read more to find all about the Aloe aristata plant and what you need to do to take care of it.
Quick Care Guide
| Common Name(s) | Lace aloe, guinea-fowl aloe, torch plant |
| Scientific Name | Aristaloe aristata (formerly Aloe aristata) |
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Height & Spread | 6-9″ tall and 1-2′ wide |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Dry, well-draining |
| Water | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Mealybugs, scale, root rot |
All About Aloe Aristata
Lace Aloe (also known as torch plant) may be small in size, but it is one of the strongest aloe plants. Also known as torch plant, this plant is resilient and easy to grow in almost all types of weather and growing conditions. It used to be classed in the Aloe genus, but has since been reclassed into Aristaloe.
The leaves of this plant are triangular and are covered with white spikes and fine cilia, which are a common identifier of the Asphodelaceae plant family. The torch plant can grow up to 16-18″ inches (40-45cm). Its branches are covered with peach-colored flowers in the summer, which helps attract bees.
The Lace Aloe plant is hardier than other plants in its genus, but it cannot survive in extremely cold weather. It is best to remove this plant from your garden and keep it inside during the winter season. However, keep it near a window so it can get the sunlight it needs to thrive. During the summer, it is vital to expose it to a lot of sunlight since this plant loves warmth. It will grow flowers in autumn and summer, not spring.
Aristaloe Aristata Care
Aloe aristata, torch plant is easy to grow but if you want it to thrive, it’s vital to give it attention. These plants are ideal indoor succulents.
Light & Temperature
Torch plant thrives under bright light. Even if you don’t expose it to full sun at all times of the day, make sure to keep it in a lit room, potentially under grow lights. It will ultimately stop growing if it is not kept near a south facing window for long periods of time.
Since this is a houseplant, it can easily grow at room temperature and can even survive in dry weather. If you want the tips of this plant to grow flowers, it is best to keep it above 50°F (10°C) at all times.
Water & Humidity
When this plant is growing, watering it is necessary or it will dry out. It’s best to keep watering the soil in the pot regularly if you want the roots to remain moist. When the plant is fully grown, you should water it less often but make sure the soil doesn’t lose moisture completely.
It doesn’t need to be watered regularly as it matures, as the fleshy succulent stems and leaves store water. Try the “soak and dry” method, but make sure water doesn’t collect in the rosette of this plant.
Soil
The soil of a Lace Aloe plant shouldn’t hold too much water. Dry soil or cactus mix is more suitable and will keep the plant upright and healthy for long. To improve soil drainage, you can always add perlite, vermiculite, or pumice.
Aristaloe Aristata Fertilizer
When your Aristaloe aristata lace aloe is growing to its mature size, fertilize at least one a month throughout the growing season. Taper off in fall and winter, as well as once it becomes a mature size.
Repotting Lace Aloe
It is best to repot this plant during the spring season. Make sure the pots are shallow and one size bigger than the older pot. If you repot your plant and it starts rotting, change the mixture and make sure the leaves aren’t buried too deep. A good idea is to sprinkle sand, which can prevent leaves from touching the soil. If the roots are too small, make sure not to remove them from the plant, or they will stop growing.
Lace Aloe Propagation
When your torch plant gets mature enough, it will produce pups, which you can unearth, and plant as a separate plant. To remove these pups, wait for spring, and using a butter knife, gently pry the pup out. Then plant it in new media, and wait a few days to water.
Pruning Lace Aloe
You shouldn’t have to prune your lace aloe plant unless you see dead or diseased leaves. You may decide to prune away older leaves to promote healthier growth on the rest of the plant. Plants with singed or cold-damaged leaves can be pruned.
Troubleshooting
Lace Aloe, a dwarf version of the aloe genus, is pretty easy to grow, but you might run into some problems if you water it incorrectly.
Growing Problems
If you don’t water a fully grown Lace Aloe plant in the summer, it may wilt. Besides wilting, lack of moisture can also result in yellowing leaves. An unhealthy Lace Aloe plant can also have a rotting base, which will mostly happen in winter due to over watering.
Pests
Aloe aristata plants can easily attract pests like mealy bugs. These scale insects hide under the leaves and then bury themselves in the roots, which can destroy the whole plant. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to get rid of mealy bugs.
Another pest that can infect the Lace Aloe are other scale insects — they can infect the stem and flowers during the winter season. These pests appear as brown or white spots on the leaves.
To get rid of these insects, you can buy bug sprays or use a damp cloth to remove them manually from the stem and the leaves. You can also blast the plant with a high pressure hose, which will cause all the insects to die or scurry away in no time. Neem oil and insecticidal soap work too.
Diseases
Root rot is a risk if you overwater your aloe. If you notice a base that is brown and mushy, remove the plant from its pot or planting area and plant it in dry, fresh media. Wait a few days and check the base of the plant. If the problem persists you may need to remove the entire plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Aloe aristata the same as Aloe vera?
A: The Aloe aristata plant is not the same as the Aloe vera plant. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family and has more in common with haworthia plants than the Aloe vera plant.
Q: Is lace aloe edible?
A: Unlike Aloe vera plants that you can eat, Aloe aristata plant has poisonous leaves and can do serious damage if consumed.
Q: How big does Aloe aristata grow?
A: An Aristaloe aristata plant grows from 8 to 12 inches tall.
Q: How often do you water Aloe aristata?
A: When the top few inches of soil are completely dry, water your Aristaloe aristata plant.
Q: Is lace aloe toxic to dogs?
A: It is. Therefore, keep it well away from curious pets and children.
Q: Do aloe plants like bigger pots?
A: Some do, but this dwarf plant doesn’t need a large pot.
Q: Can you propagate a lace aloe from a leaf?
A: You can but separating offsets, or pups from the mother plant is much easier.
Q: How much sun does lace aloe need?
A: This aloe prefers full sun. Partial sun to partial shade works too.
