I agree the plant was overwatered and underlighted. My ...get it out of that wet soil immediately or the rot w/continue. If the center growing point is still firm and green, it may not be too late to save your plant. Immediately remove it from this wet soil. Gently shake out the dirt from the roots then rinse until you have a clear view of all the roots. Use a VERY sharp knife and heat to sterilize the blade. Cut the rotted leaves down as close to the base as possible (or until you hit good leaf tissue). Sterilize your knife again after each cut. Cut off all the unhealthy roots. Some folks sprinkle sulfur on the wounds. Leave your plant out of the pot for *at least* 2-3 days so it can scab over. Just set it aside on newspaper or something, preferably where there is nice air flow and indirect light. Toss the existing dirt. Mix 50% perlite (or non-clumping kitty litter) and 50% potting soil or some other version of a very fast draining soil when you repot. In an east facing window, aloes probably will not need water more than 1x or 2x per month in summer and 1x or less in winter. Turning your plant 1/4 turns each week will help to keep it from leaning into the window. Hope this helps! Jo Okay, i was gonna stop there but just gotta say one last thing. *IMHO*, whenever you repot a new plant you should always take it out of the dirt it came in, wash all of the soil off the roots, check them out, cut any mushy ones off. As a rule of thumb, I would never plop a plant into a new pot without breaking apart the root-ball, even a non-succulent one.

Thank you all for your help! I do have it in a window that gets alot of afternoon sun. I live in upstate NY area so it does stay indoors except for in the summer, I put it out on the deck when I'm home and the sun is shining. The root looked a little exposed so I set it in a little deeper in the pot and put more cactus soil in to help. I have had this plant for over two years and it hasn't grown at all but never looked brown, dried out and (dying looking) until I transplanted it. That's why I went to the experts for help!:) I hope it is just adjusting to it's new pot and will bounce back. As for the soil, shouldn't it be in a cactus potting soil? That is what I read online I thought?? I would definately switch out the soil if it will be happier in something else. Any more tips would be great and I thank you for all of your help!! Here are some pics of the way it looks today. There are three pics dating 5-12-12. Please let me know what you think. Thanks again!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/78125169@N08/7182786440/

Aloe are from dryer areas normally, so when the pot is too big, the roots are only filling a portion of the pot. The rest of the soil gets compacted and tends to stay too wet. Take the plant out of the pot and gently shake off any loose soil from the roots. Take a look at the size of the root mass (root ball as it's called). Choose a pot that will fit the roots with maybe an inch extra all around to give a little growing room. I'd also suggest getting cactus potting soil and mixing it half and half with regular potting soil. When you repot the plant, don't set it too deep in the pot. The soil level should be where the roots join the plant. Don't water for two days and keep it out of the direct sun. Then water it and slowly expose it to morning sun a little at a time. Then you can move it to get more and more sun. But I don't think you should ever have it where it gets all full sun all day, especially the hottest sun in the middle of the afternoon, since it's a pot plant and not growing in the ground the way they're grown in warm climates. It should be allowed to dry out between waterings, and if you're not sure if it needs water, with these desert type plants you're better off not to water and test again the next day. Underwatering generally will do little damage to a plant (unless it really is dried out for weeks or something!) but overwatering will kill most plants' roots, and that's something they usually don't survive. Good luck with it.

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.