The aloe vera plant, a popular and expensive herb revered in ancient Indian culture and called Gwarpatha, Ghrit Kumari, or Kwargandal, is an essential and valuable botanical species. This expensive herb is famous for its medicinal benefits, and thus, it has also become a symbol of good health and wealth for many houses.

This piece focuses on the symbolic meaning, the multi-faceted advantages, and the subtle steps of planning and arranging the aloe vera plant in the home using the philosophy of Vastu Shastra, the ancient traditional Indian layout and design system.

The aloe vera plant, considered the most auspicious and beneficial flora in Vastu Shastra, offers more than just medicinal benefits. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the energetic system and creating a tranquil atmosphere in our homes, making us feel more at peace and in harmony with our surroundings.

The aloe vera plant, highly recommended by Vastu principles for the interior, has been proven efficient in raising the oxygen level and bringing about the freshness of the home's air quality. This natural air-cleaning feature is precious during the current era in which different deteriorating factors generally degrade indoor air quality.

Not only that, but Vastu Shastra assigns the aloe vera plant a marvelous and particular attribute—the ability to eliminate negativity that may linger around the house. In this instance, the aloe vera plant will be visibly affected, showing signs of stress such as yellow, pale, or dry leaves, indicating it absorbed harmful elements.

Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian architecture science, prescribes keeping an aloe vera plant inside the house and mentions the numerous benefits of such a practice. The succulent is said to be the incarnation of a happy family life, bringing luck, well-being, and prosperity into its owners' houses.

According to Vastu's principle, the plant is a beneficial negative wave absorber against the house's misfortunes and adversities. It creates an atmosphere conducive to everything positive, such as romance and abundance. The auspicious nature of this plant makes it a highly respected addition to any home, working as a caress of joy and good fortune.

As per Vedic science, the Vastu Shastra, the position of the plant aloe vera inside the house, holds a unique value. Among all directions of the place of residence, the most benevolent ones for this plant are the east and the north, as they attract happiness and abundance, which are considered the main advantages.

The southeast direction is also considered very lucky. On the other hand, danger may arise when planting the aloe vera in the northwest direction of the home, to the extent that it may worsen and even attract bad luck.

Additionally, Feng Shui proposes that keeping aloe vera in the corner of the west room will bring the inhabitants peace and happiness and be a constant source of luck. Thus, strictly obeying Vastu’s instructions is an easy way to augment the advantages of this fantastic plant.

As per Vastu Shastra, aloe vera is a potted plant that enlightens all aspects of health. A most precious "wonder plant," aloe vera is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, providing anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. 

• Soothes Skin: Aloe vera can calm itching, hydrate and soothe the skin, moisturise and promote healing, and provide antioxidants to fight damage. Its anti-inflammatory potential may also help control acne outbreaks and minimise redness.
• Improves Digestion: Aloe vera's ability to soothe digestive conditions like acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and ulcers is admirable.
• Provides Antioxidants: Aloe vera juice has antioxidants, including Vitamins C and E, which help lower oxidative stress and blood sugar levels. Thus, it has a positive effect on blood sugar control.
• Cures Constipation: Aloe vera's anti-inflammatory properties and vitamin content can soothe heartburn, and the anthraquinone compound in its yellow latex (which stimulates bowel movements) acts as a laxative, battling constipation.

Here are the steps to quickly grow an aloe vera plant:

• Terra Cotta Pots and Draining Mix: Select a good quality and well-draining potting mix and a terracotta pot. Use a 50/50 combination of sand and potting soil, or get professional succulent soil. Terracotta evaporates faster than a plastic or a glazed container, providing a suitable environment for aloe vera.
  
• Repotting: Of course, if the plant's weight makes the pot fall down, you should re-pot your aloe vera, but otherwise, don't worry about it and leave it alone.
  
• Lighting: Place the aloe vera in the brightest, sunny room. Lack of light will cause the plant to enter a dormant state and stop sprouting.
  
• Water: Water the plant heavily every two weeks, leaving the soil to dry out between watering sessions. Due to its desert nature, excess moisture leads to root rot. Droopy or brown leaves reflect overwatering.
  
• Plant Outdoors: You can move your aloe vera into the garden for the summer, but give it a few days to adapt to stronger light without overexposing.
  

Although aloe vera flourishes in warm and dry atmospheres, it can grow in cooler temperatures. The best temperature range in which the plant grows is 55-80°F (13-27°C), while humidity should be low. This plant will not survive extreme winter cold or freezing conditions.

• Outdoor Positioning: From the beginning of May until the end of September, plants can be placed outside during the day but should be moved back inside at night in case the temperature drops.
  
• Agriculture Businesses: Regions between 25ºC and 40ºC are suitable for commercial cropping, planting, and growing aloe vera plants.
  
• Soil Requirement: Aloe vera is not prejudiced, as it can grow in different soil conditions, such as sandy and well-draining soils, enabling it to be compatible with different climatic zones.

Here are some essential care tips to ensure the healthy growth of aloe vera plants:

1. Watering Schedule

• Give the soil a chance to almost completely dry out between watering.
  
• Water thoroughly, allowing the water to drain away entirely, and no standing water.
  
• In the summer, water every 7-14 days, once a month indoors, and every 1-2 months in winter.
  

2. Sunlight Requirement

• Aloe vera in the garden will benefit from at least 2 hours of direct sun daily. However, it must be shaded from the blazing afternoon sun.
  
• It should receive as much light as possible from the south or west-facing window when placed indoors. However, it should be kept from the hot glass surface to avoid burning.
  
• Yellow and limp leaves show that the plant is not receiving proper lighting.
  

3. Soil Condition

• Use a container of soil with at least 50% fine gravel for potted plants.
  
• Add suitable mixtures such as sand and gravel into garden soil to improve drainage.
  

4. Feretisation Requirement

• Minimal fertilisation is required.
  
• Put a one-inch layer of vermicast on top. Apply in spring or use houseplant fertiliser.
  
• Do not apply fertilisers in colder and darker months.
  

5. Propagation

• Proliferate by separating baby "pups" growing on the mother plant's base.
  
• Stem or leaf cuttings are not the right choices for the growth of aloe vera.
  

6. Aesthetics

• Snip off the wilting flower stems and old/unhealthy leaves as required.

The use of aloe vera plants are as follows:

• Food and Beverages: The gel from aloe vera leaves can pair with just about anything on this list to provide a thirst-quenching and nutritious boost to any meal. The gel can also be emulsified with water or other drinks to prepare aloe juice.
  
• Natural Fertiliser: Aloe vera juice or extract contains most nutrients crops need. When sprayed on plants, it repels pests, promotes growth, and promotes plant immunity by delivering all the critical nutrients to them.
  
• Cosmetic Items: The sap and other derivates of aloe vera are usually used in cosmetic products such as makeup, moisturisers, soap, sunscreens, shaving creams, and shampoos because they are soothing and nourishing for the skin.
  
• An Aesthetically Pleasing Specie: These plants are visually striking and serve as perennial decorative plant species suitable for gardens and indoors. Their tall and elegant flowering structures, weird shapes, and succulent leaves, which have characteristics of green coverage, flourish in many places.
  

Here are some do’s and don'ts for aloe vera plants, according to Vastu Shastra:

Do’s for Aloe Vera Plants as per Vastu

• Use a well-draining soil mix, like a cactus or succulent mix; this will help the roots dry out and ensure the plant has enough air in the soil.
  
• Offer suitable light. Ideally 6-8 hours of direct or bright indirect sunlight, to allow for the production of solid plants and to avoid stretchy growth.
  
• Ensure the soil is not saturated during watering. Aloe vera is very sensitive and vulnerable to overwatering and root rots.
  
• Cut off dead or weak leaves by trimming them for the plant's health and stimulating new growth.
  
• Use a well-draining soil mix, like a cactus or succulent mix; this will help the roots dry out and ensure the plant has enough air in the soil.
  

Don’ts for Aloe Vera Plants as per Vastu

• Do not place your aloe vera plant in the direction of the northwest; otherwise, its benefits may be canceled, or negative energy may be induced due to Vastu.
  
• Do not overwater your aloe vera plant because excess water can cause root rot and other problems.
  
• Don't place your aloe vera where it is exposed to freezing temperatures, as this species is not frost-tolerant and cannot withstand the frost.
  
• Don't spoil your aloe vera with too much fertiliser; it loves low nutrients. Fertilise only if necessary.
  
• Ensure enough drainage for the aloe vera so it doesn't sit in standing water, which could lead to root rot and other issues. Choose a pot with drainage holes.
  

The aloe vera plant, known in Vastu Shastra for many years, is a herb with diverse medicinal properties and an element that brings many other benefits. Be it used for decorative purposes, cosmetic applications, or health enhancement, the aloe vera plant is perfectly adequate evidence of the combination of age-old wisdom and modern usefulness.

The above Vastu principles for placement, soil requirements, and care guidelines can help you utilise the positive energy this fantastic little succulent can bring to your home.