That doesn't look good at all. I would pull off all the leaves with rot. The stem is probably infected, and the only way to salvage the plant is to cut the stem above all rot, callous, then root.

Remove all the leaves with rot, and try to get a good look at the stem. Your problem may be a mealy bug infestation in the lower leaves. If so, treat with a systemic insecticide. If the stem looks healthy, dust with garden sulfur, cinnamon, etc, and hope for the best. I can't tell from your small picture, but it looks like the top leaves are also turning dark. If that is the case, it will probably be impossible to save the plant.

Pull it up from the soil. Inspect the roots. If they are OK, and then you might be able to grow a new plant from the beheaded stem, but I'm not certain that would work.

Are you growing this one inside? Where do you live?

Brad

Probably soon to be completely rotten, when you see rot all the way into the central stem, you didn't act soon enough to save it. I bet you let too much water accumulate within the leaves, which can be fatal this time of year. If you are growing this in a pot, tip it over on its side when it is raining, it works like a charm

I agree with bahia, that looks like crown rot probably the result of stagnant moisture at the growth point.

I would pull out all the infected leaves, drench with a systemic fungicide and let the plant rest somewhere warm, bright and dry with fresh air. I know that's tough to do this time of year but you have to try.

If you're lucky, you will get some new growth buds from the base of the stem. Take extra special care the entire coming growing season to prevent excess moisture, like stated previously, tip the pot to the side and do not stress the plant with hot days and nights.

x

Thank you for responding.

I bet that's exactly what happened. It was out there in the rain (I had it on one pot riser - slightly sloped- but not enough I guess).

I got mine at DryGarden in Berkeley where they all had them nicely lined up flat in the rain. Do you think they know that they need to tilt them on their sides to prevent excess accumulation of moisture???? or even advise customers to do so??

Zac

They probably do not know. That would be something one does not find out about until you experience the consequences.

If you look at habitat photos you will see they predominately grow on pretty steep slopes. Fantastic plants, I must say.

Live and learn.

x

Do you know of any other aloes/agaves susceptible to crown rot if left flat under the same circumstances?

Zac

As one wanting to own an A. polyphylla, curious about the photo. Even though have never owned one, wonder if it is correctly id'ed; it should have 5 rows of spirally arranged leaves. Yale

The spirals are not apparent until the plant has about 60 leaves +/-

x

Yes Richard and Jinpa at The Dry Garden Nursery know how to care for Aloe polyphylla, and would have given you advice on how to care for it is asked. They don't usually need to worry about rotting out this species at the nursery, because they dry out quickly with all that gravel and asphalt pavement. Typical rain on a flat facing A. polyphylla in our local Berkeley conditions is usually no problem, but if the plant can't dry out quickly, or is in less than full sun, or the roots of the container plant are also getting heat stressed, or simply continual rains for days at a time with no chance to dry out, can all lead to problems.

I've planted plenty of Aloe polyphylla's locally over the years, many on slopes so that they aren't flat to the sky, some in flat locations but in full sun with sandy loam soils and good air circulation so that I didn't think it would be a problem. If you are going to keep it as a container plant long term, it is very important to keep the roots from ever getting baked, and to tip the pot over during heavy rain events. One day of rain followed by sun or breezes usually isn't going to be a problem.

Watering the plant from above in hot weather is probably even more likely to lead to rotting, I'd avoid overhead watering as much as possible outside of the winter rains.

Thanks, xerophyte nyc, for the information. Makes the plant that much more interesting; would be great to have the opportunity to watch the gradual transformation. Yale