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Cacti & Succulents

Can my aloe vera be saved?

6 years ago

This aloe vera has been with us for almost 2 years now, all well and healthy.I recently repotted it and found out that it has no roots!

So this is what happened. My aloe vera has been planted in a container indoor, healthy and well, my mom cutted some of the leaf edges of it and its still well and thriving. And I've never taken it out. Until one day I did. One of the leaves on the aloe vera became purple after I take the aloe vera out and soon some leaves begin to look yellow-ish and transparent. So I decided to repot it, in my sister's little fish tank, since it has cracks and holes beneath it after the fish tank fell from the drawer. The soil in the fish tank that my Aloe Vera is in now is Miracle Gro moisture control bought from Home Depot(can aloe vera live in it?)But when I repotted it I realized that it has no roots! :(

please help me find a way to save my poor aloe.

Ps. Do I need a smaller container or pot for my aloe vera? And can it live in the soil that its in now?

Thanks for your time reading my post :)

Comments (3)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
From the way you describe it, your aloe got burned - you took it outside from relatively low light into much stronger sunlight. All plants should be acclimatized to outdoors = introduce slowly to sunlight.

MG moisture control soil will retain more moisture, so it isn't really that great for succulents. Many ppl using soil for their mix buy Cactus & Succulent soil and mix it with lots of sifted perlite or pumice. By lots I mean minimum 50% of total and often even more.

The fish tank has holes for drainage, but glass doesn't breathe - I don't think that is 'awful' but terracotta pot may be better. I can't see the size of it, but container shouldn't be huge, especially for a plant without roots. Large container = lots of soil = higher chance of water retention (unless using mostly inorganic, gritty mix). Btw, glass lets light on the soil & roots and may encourage algae to grow - this will not kill your plant but doesn't look very good).

You didn't take a photo of the root are by any chance? It should be perhaps let to callus in fresh air - outside of any potting mix, for a day or few. Aloes will start growing roots even that way (many succulents will).

Edited to add:

here is a photo I borrowed from Crenda - she uses this kind of mix; it is MG Cacti & Citrus soil and lots of sifted/rinsed perlite:
NINA YANG thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
NINA YANG
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Rina! Thanks for your help, so based on what you said, I shall pull my Aloe Vera out of the soil, and wait until it has a callus? Or grown new roots? Like would it die off before it has a callus because it has sunburn? And yes, if so how many days shall I wait until it forms a callus? Do I place it in shades or indirect but bright sunlight? Is there any chance that my aloe vera is dehydrated? Sorry if theres too much questions...
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Well, I was going to tell you that you did fine and the plant looks pretty good. The lowest leaves will always be recycled into new growth as the plant ages, particularly so in times of drought and stress. The root system looks good, not too small at all. Rather typical in fact. However, you made a significant mistake: "I then watered it thoroughly, as the bagged mix was bone-dry." Oops! Never ever do that with any succulent. When you repot, there are very small mechanical injuries made to the roots. This leaves the external surface of the leaves open to fungal infection. So generally it is best to wait a few days after repotting before providing any water, giving time for the small nicks and cuts to callous over. This will significantly reduce the risk of fungal meltdown after repotting. Additionaly, that Black Gold succulent mix is far too water retentive. It should be further amended with pumice/lava rock and/or perlite or turface. Stones on top are just fine. I do that all the time to make plant more attractive, and to counter-balance heavy plants, What to do now that I have told you about watering and repotting? Do Nothing yet. Watch the plant carefully. Research gritty mixes. Don't water again soon. If you are not certain it's time to water again, Don't! These plants can go weeks, even months with the water they have already stored. Brad
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s g
6 years ago
You can try and get it to callus before trying to reroot it but by the looks of the damaged leaves, it may already be a goner... Leave in semishade to try to reroot it.
NINA YANG thanked s g

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