That is a lovely and useful selection! You are receiving a duo of Aloe Vera plants—two specimens, each standing at a significant 40cm tall in its 12cm pot. This well-known succulent is celebrated globally not only for its striking, architectural look but also for the soothing gel contained within its leaves.

🌿 Foliage, Form, and Appearance

The Aloe Vera is a classic evergreen succulent, maintaining its structure and colour throughout the year. Its large, fleshy leaves grow in an upright, striking rosette pattern. The leaves are typically a muted green, sometimes mottled, and are characterized by their firm, thick texture. The plant is famous for its gel, which is used for cosmetics, drinks, and creams. The margins of the leaves have soft, toothy edges, but the plant does not have the hard, dangerous spines of a cactus.

📏 Size and Growth

At 40cm, both of your Aloe Vera plants are already substantial and make an excellent visual impact. These plants have a moderate growth rate, and with good care, they will mature further and eventually produce offsets (small baby plants) around the base, allowing your collection to multiply over time. Their clean, architectural form is perfect for any bright interior space.

🌸 Flowering and Fragrance

The Aloe Vera is typically grown for its foliage and practical benefits. While mature, outdoor specimens are known to flower, this is a rare event for indoor plants. If a bloom does occur, the plant will send up a tall spike bearing clusters of yellow or orange-red, cylindrical flowers. These blooms are usually not notably fragrant.

💧 Care and Environment

This succulent is very easy to care for, reflecting its natural adaptation to the warm and dry areas of the world.

• Placement: Place the Aloe Vera in a bright spot in your home. The plant can tolerate direct sunlight and is used to dry air. A south-facing window is often the best spot.

• Watering: The Aloe Vera does not need much water because it efficiently stores moisture in its leaves.

  • General Rule: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. If you place the plant in a spot that receives a lot of sunlight, you may need to give it some extra water slightly more often than usual to prevent dehydration.

  • Visual Cue: A helpful visual cue is that if the tips of the leaves have turned red or brown, the plant is asking for a drink. After watering, the tips will usually turn green again.

  • Winter: In winter, the plant can go without water for several weeks as its growth slows significantly. Overwatering is the single greatest threat to your Aloe.

Note: While the clear inner gel is widely used, the outer green rind and the yellow latex layer beneath it (aloin) can be irritating or a strong laxative. It is best to treat the plant as ornamental or cosmetic, and it is toxic if ingested by pets. Keep both plants out of reach of animals.