Aloe vera problem
Alex Pl
Posts: 3
Hello, i was hoping someone might suggest what could be the problem with my plant. I have rescued an abandoned aloe vera plant a year ago, it was in a very poor condition probably a few years old but all the leaves (apart from a few small crown leaves) had to go. Not knowing much about the plant i have planted in in pure home made compost i borrowed from a friend and surprisingly it did well over the year growing 6 leaves that are over a foot in length. In spring i decided to separate the pups (6 of them). I did that and replanted all of the plants in compost again. The mother plant picked up the growth and did well over the summer. Having read up a bit about these plants i have decided to plant in in a soil that they normally live in and made a mixture of 33% compost - 33% perlite - 33% sand. Once replanted i have watered them and left them for 3 weeks while i went abroad. When i came back i have watered them again and in about a week's time i stated to notice that mother plant started using up the moisture from one of its leaves. 3 weeks after that 2 more leaves are affected. I have tried to water it every several days in the last week but that didn't make a difference. It is still using stored water and damaged areas become bigger. Pups have suffered as well, some leaves became thinner and curled. I'm really worried about my plant(s). What shall i do? shall i try and put it back in compost? It is supposed to be dormant now, so perhaps repotting it again might not be such a good idea? When i watered the plants in compost i could pour a pint of water into the pot and it all stayed in. Now everything i pour in comes out due to the nature of the soil. I'd appreciate any advice, perhaps someone experienced similar problems? Thanks. Alex
Posts
Aloe barbadensis as the name suggests grows in Barbados. It grows in the sands along the beaches and roads where it gets a good soaking and steaming during certain months of the year and blistering heat the rest of the time. The important bit is the sand. It never sits in any water. Keep it dry and it will thank you. Ignore it and it'll love you for it.
Now where are me flop flops?
Thank you everyone. Putting it back into compost might be a good idea. There is no danger for it to be overheated, in fact it was standing on a very drafty window sill, that might have taxed it a bit. That said, it did fine throughout last winter being placed where it is. While i read that overwatering is dangerous i don't think it is the case here as i only started watering a lot after this problem appeared. Anyway i'll see how it behaves over the next few days and i guess i'll have to make a decision then. Thanks again for the advice.
it may well have heart rot due to too much water, they're a semi-desert plant (growing in REALLY well draining soil) so they like no water at all between October and March and then a totally soak and leave to dry out totally regime over the summer when they grow.
If it has got heart rot then you'll have to chop all the leaves of and hope it regrows from the stem.
Aloes in general thrive on neglect, keep them frost free and they'll do fine.
Thanks Philippa, that is reassuring. This is my only plant (plus pups) so i'm worried, especially that it did so well before.