Advice for putting Aloe Vera outdoors for the summer
Oakley
14 years ago
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bahia
14 years agoOakley
14 years agoRelated Discussions
My $6 Aloe Vera score..now I need advice
Comments (20)Hi OO, I'll make it simple. These are hardy, rugged plants, one needn't worry or look to be so precise & exact for them. I grow indoors only in NYC & my kitchen window is all Aloes on a West windowsill on top of a working radiator. Bottom line -- the maximum light you can give it (starting gradually of course); can be direct sun, but also fine w/ bright indirect. I tend to leave mine alone & pretty much ignore them. I'd suggest you do nothing to yours for at least a month, let them become accustomed to their new home, then maybe into a terra cotta pot, especially if you tend to overwater (don't know if you do or not, a general suggestion). FYI: in these plant circles of ours AV = African Violets, almost always; otherwise we just say Aloes or Aloe vera, but save AV for African Violet (see how long that is, that's why we say AV). Hi Jonas, FYI, your mix looks kind of peaty, if it were my plant, I'd change that mix to something much more gritty or if that's all you've got, I'd add at least 40% perlite or pumice to make it fast draining; that mix looks slow to drain, which increases chances of rot. Having explained above that I only grow indoors, in MY home, brown on Aloes would be a possible sign of rot, brown on Aloes is NOT a good thing, tho' you seem to think it is. Brown is not a winter color for Aloes (unless I misunderstand your post). They're supposed to be green like in the pix you've shown, not brown (at least when grown indoors). I wouldn't be in a hurry to remove the pups; I like to ensure they're old enough to move out on their own before I do that & also, aesthetically, I prefer the look of the crowded pot like yours....See MoreMy aloe Vera plant needs some help. Looking for advice.
Comments (15)I understand your being hesitant to repot the plants again so soon after the first repot. I was in the same situation. Folks here told me that I could leave my plant in the less than optimum soil and hope for the best or get them into soil where it will thrive asap. I went for the second repot and my plant is doing great. I'm currently in SW Florida, zone 10A, but I grew up in zone 6 in Portsmouth, OH. While regular potting soil works so-so in Ohio, and my mother still uses it, I think you may do better with at least a cactus and succulent soil. You still need to mix at least 50/50 perlite or pumice with the soil. Every succulent that I used potting soil on when I lived in Toledo died from rot. I didn't think I was overwatering, but the plants did. I think the soil was a big factor. Hopefully the sun will be shining for you soon! It will lift your spirits and help your plants thrive....See MoreMature aloe vera starting to look like two plants in one(?) dying?
Comments (93)Hi all, The cat litter is the approved Tesco low dust that is popular with Bonsai growers. It is not clumping. I have received the water soluable Miracle Gro. I will use it once per month during this dormant season rather than the usual two weeks, with one watering every week on the large plant and every two weeks on the pups. Size of the chick flint grit is about 3-5mm on average as is with the rest of the mix. Should the mix continue to stay wet more than expected, I will try some larger stuff I have. @ewwmayo No, though I prefer rain water to any tap water when possible. When it's not plentiful saving it seems ideal. I will stop reusing. Unfortunately two of the oldest leaves have started dying at the base and a few inches up the leaf itself. It's dark at the base and the leaf surface is brown and extremely dry, like a past harvest corn plant(or dead corn plant for that matter). I think more of the oldest leaves will fall away eventually. It may be a sign the plant is trying to get rid of the old and sick parts so it can continue growing....See MoreHelp aloe vera is dying??
Comments (5)Wioleta I agree with kwie, they will most likely be better outside. I am in Ontario, Canada, much colder than you. All my succulents go outdoors as soon as temps stay constantly about 10*C. Many can take even lower temps, but I do not want to bother bringing them in in case of frost. Even in less sun, light outdoors is always more intense than indoors. So it would be of benefit to any plant to be outside if you have any available outdoors space. If you use lots of perlite and some horticultural grit in potting mix, plant will be OK even on rainy days as excess water will drain out fast. If many days of non stop rain, it could be easily protected by using sun umbrella if available, or putting a sheet of plastic over the plants, or moving under some roof or inside. I never had to move plants indoors for that reason (but have used plastic sheet couple of times)....See Moregreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years agoOakley
14 years agocactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years agolordoyen
3 years agorina_Ontario,Canada 5a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
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