Yes Richard and Jinpa at The Dry Garden Nursery know how to care for Aloe polyphylla, and would have given you advice on how to care for it is asked. They don't usually need to worry about rotting out this species at the nursery, because they dry out quickly with all that gravel and asphalt pavement. Typical rain on a flat facing A. polyphylla in our local Berkeley conditions is usually no problem, but if the plant can't dry out quickly, or is in less than full sun, or the roots of the container plant are also getting heat stressed, or simply continual rains for days at a time with no chance to dry out, can all lead to problems. I've planted plenty of Aloe polyphylla's locally over the years, many on slopes so that they aren't flat to the sky, some in flat locations but in full sun with sandy loam soils and good air circulation so that I didn't think it would be a problem. If you are going to keep it as a container plant long term, it is very important to keep the roots from ever getting baked, and to tip the pot over during heavy rain events. One day of rain followed by sun or breezes usually isn't going to be a problem. Watering the plant from above in hot weather is probably even more likely to lead to rotting, I'd avoid overhead watering as much as possible outside of the winter rains.

They seem to love our SF Bay Area conditions, and I've planted out dozens of them in client's gardens and have yet to lose one. They do get big with time, between 2.5 to 3 feet across. There are some nice big examples of them at the University of California at Berkeley Botanic Garden on African hill, and also at San Francisco Botanic Garden. The one in my photo is in a front garden in the Oakland hills, there are more photos of them elsewhere in this same garden with lots more succulents. I've had friends who are experienced growers with other succulents who tried growing them just the other side of the bay in Atherton, where they didn't appreciate the extra summer heat at all, and fried their roots, even though they were in the ground. I haven't had issues with them rotting from too much water collecting on the foliage, but I do try to plant them at a slight angle or on slopes in general. Here is a link that might be useful: Aloe polyphylla

Hi,I new here,but I wanted to share my Experience and I got seeds from same seller at ebay.Andrea*seeds,It makes sense use the stratification process,because Aloe Poly live in High elevation were cold and snow are present,They get this naturally in the wild, lying on the ground, being half buried by fallen leaves, the digging of animals, and frost heave. Without this period of cold and wet, certain seeds, won't germinate at all. Instead, they continue to wait inside their shells, asleep. I have try several forms to germinate this seeds stratification (usually just called stratification or cold stratification)is this was the only one that work for me I have pictures of my seedling with a high germination from this seller. There are six methods of cold moist stratification to choose from: cold water soaking, refrigeration, fall planting, winter/solstice sowing, outdoor treatment, and snow planting. The one that I use was the refriration,I've gotten so reliant on this method that I've forgotten that previously everyone simply planted seeds that need cold stratification outside once it got cold in the fall,For the cedar chips included at the pack,Its well know the ability to repel insects,and a lot of people like me use them as and insecticide for the young seedling since chinosol or other insecticides are not safe for the young ones,in my personal opinion,I don't mix with the soil,just sprinkle over once seeds germinate and are out of the germination box,is safer,when seedling are a litlle stronger regular insecticide will be ok. A bonus to using cedar is that it breaks down over time, and adds some nutrients to your soil. It doesn't hurt to use it,Hope this help,and happy growing!!!

They are readily available here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they thrive as landscape plants in our cool, maritime mediterranean climate. The plants can take winter cold, but should be tipped on their side in winter if left out unprotected, as they do not get lots of precipitation in winter in habitat, as Lesotho is a summer rainfall climate. The other key growing concern is that as a container plant, the roots do not like to get hot or dry, and black plastic nursery pots can cook the roots in summer. It is probably best to grow them in glazed ceramic or wood containers, to keep the roots cooler. A fantastically beautiful Aloe species that can certainly handle the cold of a Seattle winter, but will need careful management to avoid rotting out from too much winter rains. Also remember that this grows at altitude, with summer thundershowers, and will not like it hot and dry in summer. I'd suggest that growing it as a container plant with a cactus mix soil and time release fertilizer in an acidic mix, and keeping it cool and out of the rain in winter is best. The roots on this are extensive, so I would also suggest not trying to keep it in too small a pot as it gets bigger, especially when it can get almost 2.5 feet across when mature. If you are down here in the San Francisco Bay Area, this plant is regularly available as one or five gallon sized plants at either The Dry Garden Nursery in Oakland on Shattuck Ave, or at Flora Grub Nursery in San Francisco in the Bayview District. There is also a grower in Santa Cruz who first made this locally available in California, as he was the first to have local seed, and does ship mail order if I am not mistaken. In any case, this Aloe is still abit pricey, and 1 gallon sized plants will be $25 to $45 retail, but good sized and filling the pot. A 5 gallon plant can cost about $100. Still, these local prices will be cheaper than buying a small 2"/4" from Plant Delights Nursery and shipping to Washington state, especially if you will be coming to the SF Bay Area anyway...