Is my aloe in sun shock?

16 years ago

Hi! Your message board has been very helpful! I just bought an aloe plant, and I think I have figured out what is wrong with it, but I don't know what to do about it. I think the plant is in shock from moving from low light (the nursery where I bought it) to my porch (very very sunny). Should I bring the plant inside to a medium amount of light, or leave it out in the sun?

The outside leaves are turning brown and beginning to curl at the tip. They are slightly soft, but not mushy and definitely not hollow or crispy.

I replanted the aloe is in a 10 inch terracotta pot, with no plate under it, in a mix of sand that I collected from the beach, potting soil, and soil that I collected from the ground where other succulents are growing wild, with gravel in the bottom. (I live in Big Sur, CA in a particularly sunny area where large cacti and succulents are all over the place- this is the soil I used.)

It has been around 80 during the day and 50 at night here. It has been very very sunny. I have watered the plant one time (3 days after replanting), with about a 1/4 cup of water.

From reading this and other sites, other than going from low light to very high sun, it seems like everything is right as far as the care, but I may be overlooking something. I generally have a green thumb, but have never grown succulents before. I started two other large pots of other succulents (fire sticks, elephant bush, etc.) and they seem very happy.

What should I do?

Thanks very much!

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Comments (7)

mr_subjunctive
16 years ago
A ten-inch pot? How big is this plant?

That's the first warning flag I see from the post. The other is the soil: beach sand is a big no-no unless it's really, really, really, really, really thoroughly washed to get rid of the salt. Plus all the other stuff that's potentially in beach sand. Also, the soil from outdoors might or might not be suitable: generally, it's too heavy for container plants, and retains water for too long, which eventually leads to rot.

Given the size of the pot, your plant is either way overpotted (in a pot too large for it, which leads to the aforementioned water-retention-and-rot problems), or it's a gigantic monster Aloe that is very likely to break you open and rub you on its own cuts and burns. You decide which is more likely.
nova12
16 years ago
I had to chuckle....lol.
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Hi David, I am in Tucson too! I have aloes outside as well, but they are in a bark/dirt mixture and never get too dry. i don't think yours is dying. It just needs a really good drink. Can you give it a good hosing? remember: monsoon season is upon us, so all things will get the watering they need soon! eta: you said it was doing well until recently-- the temps have shot up over the last two weeks, and all of my indoor plants have started to dry out very quickly. Perhaps you need to step up the watering because of the rise in temps? Aloes need a good thorough drink, and they will be fine for some time after that. The plant will store the water in this heat because it knows water isn't coming for a while again....mine get their big drinks during monsoon and occasional rains. I don't even use the drip irrigation on them.
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Maybe it is just 'beat up' from digging up from ground or being injured/poked in transit. But there is a chance it doesn't like the soil it is in. I would add lots of perlite to improve drainage; make sure there are drainage holes in the container (can't tell if there is any or not). Your other succulent is in a mug - does it have drainage holes? Those are quite important. It will be better to be potted up higher in the container - not sitting too low/deep inside. I prefer not to pile soil high up round plants leaves. Good air circulation is important. What kind of temps are they kept in? How often do you water? They also need good amount of light.
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Agree with what daxeek said... It is definitely etiolated. That color - from reddish to darker, almost brown - is desired by many. It happens in strong light. Acclimatizing any succulent to full sun is important for any plant, to avoid sunburn. Which is different from suntan :) Just MO, but it is overpotted - pot too large for plant. But you could leave it in it, since this plant should grow fast and will fill up that pot eventually. In the meantime, it is important to make sure it doesn't sit in soil that is wet for too long. Big pot = lots of soil/mix = takes longer to dry up. Easiest way to find out how dry it is would be using bamboo skewer (or chopstick, thin dowel or even pencil). That way you can insert it deep inside - more important to know how wet or dry it is deep in the pt. Top will dry up fast, but roots are deeper and will rot if in wet medium for long times. IF MY plant, I would cut it quite a bit. Something like this (just a suggestion): yellow line is where I would be trimming off long branches and leaving rest (with roots) in the pot; these should continue growing. Blue line suggest trimming long cuttings, they are just too long. But you could cut them into few pieces: Etiolated parts will stay as long as they are, so your plant will not look as neat as it could. That's why you need to trim/behead it. Any cuttings can be stuck in dry medium, and they will root fast and easy. Mine are still outside, and will be until it gets consistently cold overnight. Hoping for few weeks...In the meantime, they are exposed to any rain we get, and none is suffering. Crenda grows many outside (great weather in Fla!), bring them indoors for winter. But you have to assure good light, otherwise it will keep growing same. Above all: do not be terrified :) ETA: Crenda posted great post and photos...and, pls. indicate where you are (best to put that info next to your name as others do).
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they are stressed .. probably from handling.. shipping.. planting.. etc ... it sure doesnt sound like too much sun ... but if they were grown in a shade house.. or under shade cloth ... then they are stressed.. or in shock from the change of light levels ... the only way to get over stress or shock.. is to drink heavily ... and then you wont care about your hosta .. lol ... for them.. its just a matter of time ... the next set of leaves should come up accustomed to local light ... be patient ... the peeps who grow the mice.. tend to have most success in pots ... others will have to chime in on that ... yes.. if you can add temp shade.. all the better.. a lawn chair.. whatever ... just remember to remove them if the wind kicks up ... or storms ... ken
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mr_subjunctive
16 years ago
Thanks. I'll be here all week. Try the veal.
mr_subjunctive
16 years ago
Just to assure tarawings:

The fact that I used your post as the occasion for a somewhat bizarre joke isn't meant to imply anything about you or your plant. It's still an open question whether the soil or pot size or etc. is the problem. I just have to take these opportunities when I see them. You understand.

Do come back.
nova12
16 years ago
To put the pot thing into perspective, I have one that from pot bottom to plant top is about a foot and a half tall, with 14 spikes coming from it right now, and it is only in a six inch pot, and it gets water maybe every 2 or 3 weeks.

And please, do come back....*lol*
pirate_girl
16 years ago
I have to agree w/ the above posters. Sounds overpotted (too big a pot) & very underwatered.

As further example, my plain Aloe (likely A. vera), has abt 4 or 5 heads, they're 12" tall from soil level to leaf tips & they're all together in a 5" pot.

Beach sand is one of the worst things one can do. This needs Cactus & Succulent mix (preferably w/out any peat) w/ lots of perlite or pumice added for drainage (maybe 1/2 each soil & perlite). This ensures the mix will be fast draining.

You didn't say how tall the plant is, but 1/4 cup water sounds too little. I water mine every other wk, maybe 3x that amount of water & mine sits in full sun, west window.

Also, maybe you should have moved yours out to bright sun gradually, like a few hrs. a day, not all at once.

If it were mine, I'd change the mix & pot it down smaller, so that the pot is only 1 or 2 inches around larger than the rootball.
sasha_one56
16 years ago
mr. sub you haven't seen anything til you see my mom's aloe! it is a MONSTER!!! i kid you not it has to be the largest aloe in captivity! i'll have to post a picture of it when i get home (i'm at work...i'm so productive ;))

Is my aloe in sun shock?

Comments (7)

mr_subjunctive

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