Tamasine, Often what I write here is complete balderdash, so it's good to doubt. Really, I didn't think so, but I wanted to let other posters know that this had already been answered. Plant panic - we know it all too well, don't we? BTW, your Aloe vera chinensis (?) will likely have orange flowers - the real Aloe vera has yellow ones. Oddly enough, no one knows where Aloe vera originated (there hasn't been a native habitat found) but it's suspected that the Arabian peninsula (home to a whole slew of wonderful, lovely succulent plants) or the Horn of Africa (ditto) is the origin. Here's some Arabian Peninsula flower power comin' at ya:

Cathie, Yes, it is a gigantic pot. There are things you can do to lighten the whole arrangement while still making your aesthetic point. Let's start from the beginning - scoop out a lot of the soil, then gently turn it on its side so that the plant has the least amount of contact with the deck, and gently pull out. Take a picture of what you have and we'll proceed from there. I have a picture in my mind of what you have, but like Kim Il Sung, his son and grandson, I want to give perfect on-the-spot guidance and counseling for your particular Aloe. It's likely not a big deal, but (1) I think you have it overpotted (but there are ways around that while still using your current pot) and it's in not-good soil. That's in addition to the stem issue. While I am trying to make more work for you, the end result will be a cup of lovely when we're done. As to the goal, I can show you what I'm hoping for a second year - this. I'm pretty sure your plant (if it's the real Aloe vera, but even if it is the poser) is ready to do this this summer. This post was edited by cactusmcharris on Mon, May 20, 13 at 11:26

Yep, Dan you are right. I just flipped the light on out on my balcony and sure enough I saw a HUGE mouse or rat run across it. It ran into my storage unit that is connected to my balcony. I'm too freaked out to open that door and see what kind of damage it's done. Yikes! Not sure how to get rid of it/them but hoping maintenance can! Thanks so much as I was on the lookout for those big wood roaches and even put out boric acid. This would explain why I was still seeing the droppings.

I think it's all just mechanical damage, possibly rough handling at the grower, or damage during shipping. The little dark marks appear to be from where the spines on one leaf dug into the flesh of an adjacent leaf during shipping. I just have this tiny screen on which to view it, but I'm pretty confident. The scars will be permanent, or at least until it eventually loses those leaves as it grows. If that bothers you, you might return it, but it's very difficult to keep Aloe vera scar-free. It's skin isn't as tough as some other Aloe species, and I suspect a replacement would also have some marks. In any case, I don't think anything there indicates a health issue. Watch the larger areas of damage, and be sure nothing gets soft or mushy which could mean rot (sometimes starts in damaged areas), but i think it's fine. Best of luck with it!