how can my aloe surive the harsh winter?

17 years ago

I am an incredibly new grower, and I just bought my first aloe five months ago. It was the tiniest thing back then and it has now grown at least six times its original size....

But now it is winter in saskatchewan. Winter here involves -50 degree celcius days and nights, and lasts for six months of the year. I live in a drafty old basement apartment, and I am scared where I used to let my aloe sit next to the window will be too cold. I moved the aloe to a dresser, but now I worry it isn't getting enough light from that angle. Since moving it away from the window parts of it have started to shrivle and turn a bit brown, and I wonder if it could be the lack of light, or if I am overwatering (which could be possible seeing as I used the wrong soil and its in a glazed pot, both apparently bad moves, and I try to water once every couple of weeks or a week adn a half... whenever it feels dry).

Basically, I wouldn't mind getting some tips so I can help my aloe survive the winter. which is the lesser of two evils, the cold or the lack of light? would it be worth it just to buy a growlight so it doesnt' completely suffer getting only five hours of low natural light a day for the next five months?

a lot of advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (5)

borrego
17 years ago
Several issues to discuss here. If I read your post correctly, you temps get down to (negative) 50 degrees outside? If your temps are (positive) 50 degrees, the aloe can stay in the windowsill. If your outside temps are 50 degrees, the aloe can stay outside, hopefully on a porch or up against the house, as long as it gets some shelter.
The lesser of two evils is dark, rather than cold. Aloe vera is mostly water. What happens to water when it gets very cold? It freezes. Cold will come in to play here if your soil stays wet for an extended period of time. Although your aloe will not freeze inside your apartment, in wet soil, it can definitely rot.
In order to avoid rot, allow me to suggest a few tips. Buy an appropriate sized unglazed clay pot with a drainage hole. Probably looking at $2-4 depending on size. Why clay? It will not hold as much moisture as a ceramic pot will. Clay pots are porous and will absorb some of the water, cutting down on the amount of moisture in the soil. Ceramic pots will not absorb moisture, allowing the soil to retain significant amounts in the soil. As discussed above, wet soil + cold = rot. Rot usually = aloe death.
If you have any unused soil remaining, please repot your aloe, remove it from it's wet soil. If you have any pumice or perlite, add it to the soil in an approximate 50/50 mix. Proper drainage is an essential aspect of proper aloe health. Poor drainage can lead to rot.
Sounds like you are currently watering too much. At this time of the year, with your temps, aloes only need to be watered every 3-4 weeks. Remeber, the plant is mostly water. If it needs any, it draws it from the tips of the leaves, which is why some of yours are turning brown and shriveling. This is 100% normal.
In terms of a grow light, let your conscience be your guide. It will not harm it and may evern warm the immediate area up just a bit.
mrbrownthumb
17 years ago
I too live in a drafty old house and I have to say that "sealing" the windows with those sheets of plastic do help some with the temps near a window. If I could I'd seal both sides of the window. I used to have a heating mat that was about 10 inches long and kept the temp in the pot about 10 degrees warmer than the surrounding area. It only cost a few cents a day to operate but my plant (I only had one at the time) loved it. I wish I could remember where I bought but it's been so long that I only remember I payed less than 20 bucks for it.
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savannahbanana
Original Author
17 years ago
About the temperature... that would be a minus fifty degrees celcius, which is roughly minus 58 fairenheit... which is unbearably cold. This leads to the building's heat being cranked way up (uncomfortably high sometimes) and it gets very dry in here.... whihc makes me wonder if 3-4 weeks will be too long for the aloe plant in these hot dry conditions.. its a conundrum. if I put him near the window he will freeze from the drafts, but if I have him away from it there is no light and its hot and dry.

I will definatley change the soil mixture though.. and possibly the pot...
borrego
17 years ago
Minus 50 degrees, that changes the equation just a bit, especially with the heat turned up......How warm does it get inside the apartment? I agree an increase in the frequency of the watering of the suggested 3-4 weeks is needed.
grandmascuttings
17 years ago
Aloe can handle the cold, maybe not out doors there but need a decent amount of sunlight. Desert nights ive heard get very cold, 0 to 20 degrees. I also live in a cold drafty house w/ plastic on the windows(wich cut down on the available sunlight as much as 25%) because of the plastic. I only water when the plants soil gets really dry, (ignore them alot) in my house they live between 60 and 70 degree temps. in front of a cold window just fine.We water every two weeks or so in clay pots. Hope this helps.

how can my aloe surive the harsh winter?

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borrego

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how can my aloe surive the harsh winter?

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borrego

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