I'd like to get this thread started again--have an A. plicatilis that was in the ground growing pretty well for 7-8 years, though it has been looking a bit scraggly the past six months or so. I thought it was mealybug infestation, which is a constant problem here with aloes, and have been trying to control those (and the ants that herd them around). Plant was about 2 feet tall with four main stems, each of them divided into two or three smaller stems (10 fans of leaves altogether). My gardener knocked it over when trying to remove old leaves, which was actually a lucky thing because then I was able to see that the roots are black and soft and the whole plant was loose in the ground. So I have cut off the branches, which seem very firm and free of rot, and am just leaving them outside on a table in the shade to root. My question is, should I cut each individual branch with its fan of leaves into a separate cutting, or is it okay to root a bigger branch that includes 2-3 smaller branches? And one more question--should I not water this aloe at all in the summer (once it's rooted and in a pot or the ground again)? Is summer watering always a bad idea for this species? I have tended to water it deeply once a month or so when the weather is dry. It was planted in rather heavy soil. Other areas of the garden have much better draining soil. Thanks a lot for any guidance! Loolie

It's fine to repot soon, just wait until the plant is due for watering, and replant in dry soil. Then keep it in bright shade for a couple of weeks before resuming normal sun and water. Enjoy your new pot! Brad

After reading this thread, I realized I have a chinesis aloe. Lol. What brought me here though was because my whole aloe turned a light to medium brown. I recently (about 2 weeks or so ago) re.potted the thing into a bigger pot. He was in the small 4 inch plastic container that I bought him in over a year ago. So I did that. I fertilized him right away, which was the first time I’ve fertilized him this season.... it is spring here going into summer now. (I’m in zone 5b-6a (Western New York) depending on the map) anyways, I used potting soil and LOTS of perilite. The thing is, the soil feels very compacted. I even have poked a bamboo skewer into the soil to try to U.N. pack it some. Not sure if this is normal at first? The plant seemed to be doing okay, until I put him outside for about 4 days in direct sun (he was previously sitting in a south facing window sill in the house and did really well) I was told he needed more sun light by an avid Gardner so I put him outside. It’s rained on and off here for the past few days, so now that it’s brown, I’m not really sure what caused it because I did so many possible things that could have caused it. I mean, he was bone dry the other day before I watered him..... I was trying to let him dry out completely as I was worried about root rot. So I watered him thoroughly, but then it rained the very next day lol so was it under watered or overwatered? It was it because of too much sun? I’m so confused! Lol I don’t want the little bugger to die on me. I’ve grown quite fond of him! He’s a smaller guy, hasn’t grown much over the past year I’ve had him, and after reading this thread, I now know why..... these ornamental ones grow slowly. Can anyone help me? I’ve since brought him inside and out of any source of sunlight. I should add that it’s very hot and humid here during summer, as I’m right on the shores of Lake Erie

I do not have a ton of experience with succulents. I bought an aloe vera awhile ago and then repotted into a painted terracotta pot. It was more of a decorative pot than a useful one as it didn't have any drainage holes. Fast forward a bit and the aloe was infested with scale, so I moved it outside. Good news, the scale disappeared but I left it out in the rain and the pot flooded and probably stayed that way for weeks. The aloe turned brown and some of the lower leaves rotted away. I drained the pot and left it under a patio table where it sat in partial shade for a year, mostly brown, but where it wouldn't get drenched again. To my surprise, the plant did recover and has regained a nice green appearance. So plant miracles can happen. Fix what was wrong and give it time.