I guess this depends on where your boundaries of "botany" are. To me, genetics are naturally part of botany and I don't see how to separate the two. Botany incorporates all sorts of biological fields, and isn't limited to "traditional" "old school" botany, including nomenclature, identification, discovery, and taxonomy. Some of the greatest botanists I know are geneticists, horticulturalists, agriculturalists, microbiologists, and biochemists ;o)

If you were getting your normal winter rains, you'd be as right as rain without additional watering, but you're not.... I'd water once every two weeks, on a sunny morning if you can, so the plants have all day to absorb and not get (potentially) cold, wet feet at night. That raised pot will likely need more water than those in the ground. You could use some diluted general fertilizer for these plants, say 1/4 ratio of Miracle-Gro regular formula or the like. I'd use the fert when it's a little warmer, but some folks do it year-around. Aloes, like many other plants, will shed leaves as they grow new ones. It's Agave vilmoriniana, btw (btw#2 - Genus name is capitalized, species name isn't). You've got some fine-looking plants - great to get a dragon tree in the ground. If you're really wanting to fill your yard with succulents (and who wouldn't, considering the canvas you have available) there are a number of cactus and succulent societies in your area that will help you with that deligtful endeavour.

Hi Trevisan, You might want to repost your message to the Australian Gardening forum...

I've seen photos of Dragon tree's that only grew wide,not tall AT ALL...I mean 30' wide and half that height..a man could barely walk under them. THEM, because the park in the post had a few of those. I would guess- just a guess- they they were grown from side cuttings..and just have a urge to grow sideways more than up. Shax, I have serious question. Do you find perhaps any wiley coyotes chasing Aussie roadrunners around those granite boulders? I feel I should warn you to be alert for falling anvils. Take care.