There seems to be some confusion again with common names - Aloe vera is Aloe vera :-) Although that term is sometimes used to refer to ANY kind of aloe, there are not two species of true or common, aka medicinal aloe. There ARE many species of aloe....as many as 400 have been registered but true aloe, Aloe vera (formerly Aloe barbadensis), is the one noted for medicinal purposes. There is some documentation that Aloe arborescens also has similar medicinal properties but as the species name suggests, this has a much more tree-like growth habit and develops a distinct stem or trunk. The difference in growth habits between the two plants shown in the pics is simply due to age and maturity. Aloe vera will form a full rosette if given sufficient time and proper growing conditions. Check the Wiki photo linked below. The smaller ones that appear to only grow laterally rather than in a round rosette of leaves are just young, immature plants (offsets or pups) and hampered from full development by lack of time and indoor growing conditions. Here is a link that might be useful:

Certainly not here to dispute the name of the Lowes plant. I bought a couple of the same plants, chuckling to myself that ALL of the aloes were labeled Aloe vera. Mine are PIG, growing well and curiously have lost their spots. You can see some of the spots remain on the bottom, oldest leaves. So I'm pondering the label again. Of course it hasn't flowered yet (about 3 years old), which will add to the info. I guess I wonder if Aloe vera pups start with spots. I have no pups to compare. My plant does not look like the OP's first plants. This post was edited by Crenda on Thu, Aug 7, 14 at 10:23

transplant shock..interrupting the roots ability to move water.. and then you put it in the sun and heat ... put it in full shade outdoors.. or back in the house.. and let it settle down and the roots recover ... what will be.. will be.. as to long term damage ... when you make changes ... you need to let the plant adjust to each individual cultural change .... outdoor gardeners call it hardening off .... [the cultural variables of a plant would include sun, heat, water, wind, humidity.. etc ...] ken

I forgot about these two. They have been in this pot in ZERO soil for at least 2 weeks. They are still plump. One has a bent leaf. When the leaves of Aloe vera are bend too much, which doesn't take much, they stay bent. They are essentially broken. They will stay green, because enough water is getting to them to keep them alive for now. Now they are more fragile and more easily further damaged to the point the water will be completely restricted. Leave them on until your plant grow at least one for each one that is broken. At that point you can cut the entire leaf off the plant. They have maybe been misted twice. I am not worried. When I do get back to potting them, I will use my spray bottle to give the soil a good mist to activate the roots to start to grow. The leaves are still plump, so it does not need to be drenched or given a full amount of water. I will moisten the roots just enough for the mycorrhizal fungi, I use to stick to the roots before I plant them. I will also add some to the planting medium of pumice, black lava rock, perlite and bark. I will add some organic food to the mix at this time. You can add a little of any kind of organic food at this time. If you have grow lights, you can add a little controlled release fertilizer to the mix at this time. Inorganic liquid fertilizer should not be given until the roots are growing, HYDRATED and in the SPRING.