I recently got a few Aloe Vera plants. The first 3 aren't doing so well. I have a baby one that is in a small clay pot and two that are the same size(about medium sized). When I got them, they were almost on deaths door, and I haven't been able to "cheer" them up. They are all still limp and mushy. They are in my livingroom in front of a big 6-7ft window. When I brought them home, I put the soil(reg. house plant soil), and put about 2 cups of water in the larger plants and about 1 cup in the smaller one. I have had them about 4 weeks now, and no change yet. After I got the 3 news ones(which look healthier), I put about an inch to 2inches of rocks at the bottom of the pot before putting the soil in it. They are out on my back patio, which I hope they will do better than the ones in my living room. I was wanting to know if I am doing the right thing for them. This is my first time having Aloe Vera plants and just wanting some information. Thank you for you time!!!!!

Lydia, if you didn't have the source of light coming in from the window on the side, and only from the skylight, then your syngonium wouldn't be so lopsided. It wants more light, and will grow toward that light source. Most indoor plants (maybe all - mine anyway) need to be rotated a 1/4 turn with each watering, or once or twice a week, for balanced growth. And there isn't enough plant in that pot, in that the syngonium could be cut back, it's tips rooted and then replanted into that pot to make it fuller, or the whole plant placed into a smaller pot. Since it's a vining plant, it will eventually look thin near the base unless you keep adding new rooted tips, or if it's getting enough light it will put out new little ones from the base come the new spring sunshine (mine did). You are welcome to check out the houseplants forum, the people over there would be able to give you lots of ideas for low light plants for that spot. But I suspect all the plants would have to be rotated for that even growth. As for cat friendly, I think all plants can be poisonous to kitties, just depends if your kitty is a muncher or not. My cat initiates each new houseplant I bring into the house, but just once, he gives it a good chomp, licks his chops in distaste, and leaves it alone (well, except for the Parlour palm I've just brought home - I think because it resembles grass he seems to want to bother it more, so I've had to place it where he can't get to it!). Happy plant hunting (silk or real).

Thanks for your quick responses! I know parlor palms can get pretty big, but I've read they are slow growers too. I was thinking, or maybe just hoping, I could do a terrarium only for the next two years or so, but I don't have any long-term terrarium experience. I had already placed some cups of water near it for humidity and I am spraying it several times a day. Other than buying a humidifier and putting it directly next to the plant, I think I'm doing all I can to combat this Colorado dry air. Tiffany, I believe you're right about this little plant (actually these plants; yes it is a grouping). I'm afaird I have just let the soil dry out too much. I was watering it every 7-9 days, letting it dry out almost completely. I wonder if my neglect has done too much irreversible damage. Here's a picture: This is not where I currently have the plant, I just put it there for the picture. See how all the smaller lower fronds are crispy looking? In the photo it's harder to tell, but they have a distinct brownishness about them that makes me oh-so-sad. Also note how it isn't upright, it's sort of splayed out. It started doing that about ten days ago, maybe two weeks. I'm using that piece of string as an attempt to keep it upright like normal. Another unglamour shot: This is where it's currently living. It's on a shelf directly across from my westward window, so it gets wonderful indirect light and my other plants are always very happy on this shelf. During these shorter days I've been supplementing light with a normal daylight fluorescent bulb (not a grow light, but again, I'm newish to this hobby). Full disclosure: I've had two plants for two years and have enjoyed it so much I decided to expand my collection early 2016. I now have 30ish individual plants; and I've successfully propagated pothos from cuttings and an arrowhead plant (the one in the previous photo) from division. I was rewarded with lots of new growth throughout the year, but now that we've reached the shortest days and really just getting into the colder months, I'm struggling a bit. I can't seem to get my watering just right, but I can only assume this comes with practice. I know in theory what I should be doing (I've read A LOT), but actually getting it right is a whole other thing. I know one of my biggest problems right now is soil. I'm using traditional store bought, water retaining, oxygen depriving, root rotting potting mix for everything. I will certainly remedy that once it gets warmer and for now I'm just hoping I can maintain everyone (ahem, everything...plants are not people) until spring. Phew. That's a lot. But you lot seem like a friendly community and willing to help. And for that, I am most grateful.

All houseplants plants need drainage, at least one hole. The pot is also too big for the plant as I suspect the roots don't fill the pot entirely will a little free space for growth? Media is the soil mix its grown in when used in this context. Your 'soil' appears to be dark and fibrous which to us indicates a high peat content. Aloes, like most c/s plants need sharp drainage, so one with lots of grit or perlite. You need to add as a minimum 50% of something to a c/s mix to get that, for e.g. perlite, pumice, small horticultural grit or aquarium gravel, or search in the box at the top for a suitable gritty mix. Inspect all the roots for hollow, squishy, smelly bits and the collar of the plant where the leaves grow from, there could be a brown portion that I'm seeing, is that soft? Seems like the remains of another rotted leaf there? The leaf appears to have rotted and is done for probably because of the problem with your soil. Despite infrequent watering, this kind of soil can stay wet for ages if it's not being dried out by the plants uptake of water.