Hi,

Could you possibly post a pic? Kind of hard to follow the description. Leaves thinning as in becoming fewer in number or becoming thinner as in less plump btwn your fingers?

I could suggest you go next door (see the top here) to the Cactus & Succulent forum, maybe get good answers there, but I grow some different Aloes myself & am trying to, but can't quite get what you're describing.

Personally, I don't EVER Plant things without drainage; it's almost always a problem, especially w/ succulents.

You could turn the plants out of the pot to check the roots, that's likely to tell something.

Could the browning leaves be sunburn? Was the change in light strong & sudden?

I've never heard of Aloe leaves curling, sorry.

I've had aloe leaves get thinner and curl inward when over dry. Does your soil feel dry? The good news is that if that's all it is, one good watering will plump it back up. Not immediately, but it will happen. I've also had aloe leaves get reddish brown in the sun. If it is not a crispy brown, I think that it's probably just reddening up from the extra sunlight. It may have been moved into much brighter light a little too quickly, but if it doesn't start going crispy, you might be ok leaving it in that spot, and it will adjust.

I would definitely repot it into a pot with drainage. My aloes tend to need a good solid watering now and again, and you cannot do that without drainage. I tend to water my aloes when they start feeling slightly squishy instead of firm, on good days. On bad days, they start curling inwards. Whoops. I've had the original one since 2005 when my friend left it with me when she moved out of state. It has since pupped numerous times. I've given some away and I still have a few too many!

I've had sunburn on my average little spotted aloe; it makes the leaves reddish-brown, but not drier & the effect will go away in time. I've also had leaf tips dry & curl on occasion. The lower leaves do die, getting papery, but that shouldn't be happening near the center or random places on the plant.

As to temperature, heating with wood, I've subjected my house plants to 40's & 50's temps while away in winter, but not seen leaf discoloration/drying from that.

So, about repotting aloe in October: would you go for it? Would you do a "just get it into another pot without much disturbance" kind of repot or get more aggressive?

I ask because just yesterday I inherited some kind of monster aloe in a gallon pot with roots coming out the bottom. I realize it's (quite) a bit different than having no drainage, but I'm not sure how urgent a situation it might be... & you two seem to know what's what about aloes :) The plant has no visible signs of stress.

Except for the previously-mentioned little aloe, I don't have any succulents, so, not sure the likelyhood that the monster will be OK pot-bound for the winter.

Thanks for your thoughts.

CarlosIvan, if you search "soil" on this forum, there is lots of info for when you get ready to put your aloe in a new pot... I also saw an aloe-soil discussion, although it was older (which is why I barged in here).

I repeat my earlier suggestion about the Cactus & Succulent Forum (C&S), next door as it were. I just heard talk that the FAQs are still there & I believe there's one on Aloes you may find helpful.

Gravyb,

Gallon pots & Aloes that large are beyond my experience. I don't know the answer & suggest you do ask just this next door, there are Aloe growers who taught me a bunch over there.

That said, part of me thinks it's still pretty early Fall, if it were mine I'd probably try potting it up now. This assumes good & fast draining mix as a must. But if the plant is not stressed ... I really don't know which would be better. You did say these are your first Aloes right? I'd check next door to be safest.

Thank you all for the replies. I will check out the next forum on cacti and succulents. I posted pictures in the link below.

I re-potted as carefully as possible with pots that have drainage holes. The first 4 pics are of the plant I'm concerned about. The 5th pic is the 2nd aloe starting to show browning and thinning. The last 2 pics are of the lighting in the afternoon.

I have also given them a good watering hoping that will help them plump up.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Aloes

Hi Carlos,

I'm confused now, are the pix you're showing the Aloes in old mix or in new mix? I ask because the mix looks too dark & rich for Aloes, I'd be concerned it'll stay wet too long.

I really don't see what the problem is w/ the leaves, negligible at best (sorry, these pix seem a bit dark to show what your saying). I can't see the browning in these, pix sorry.

It sounds like you don't know this, but Aloes are VERY tough & rugged plants, can withstand a lot. They don't need gentle care, especially on repotting. I've known Aloes to stand upright in terra cotta pots w/ no mix for months & then develop roots & grow just fine.

Pls. try not to worry, they'll be fine (unless that's the new mix & you just watered them in).

The only trouble sign I'd caution you to look for is soft or mushy stems/leaves, that will be bad & a sign of too much watering.