Aloe Vera

**RoOsTeR** 2/10/2012, 6:58 pm

Does anyone grow Aloe Vera in Mel's Mix? I have an old piece that was forgotten about on a window sill in the laundry room for at least a couple of years. Plus a couple of other fresh offshoots from another plant. The old jerky piece is doing great Very Happy

The two nice pieces look bad Evil or Very Mad

It's not like they are dead, they just don't look good? Anyone have any advice?
Aloe Vera IMG_20120210_165516

minervalong 2/10/2012, 7:41 pm

maybe too much water? i know my sister in law just lets hers get almost dry as a bone and hers if fantabulous.

UnderTheBlackWalnut 2/10/2012, 9:12 pm

Is the purple side the side nearest to the sun? I googled and there were a couple of references to direct sunlight and purple color. :scratch:

**RoOsTeR** 2/10/2012, 10:04 pm

Is the purple side the side nearest to the sun? I googled and there were a couple of references to direct sunlight and purple color.

Interesting! Actually the purple side is nearest the window/sun. That could be it. I also talked to someone who told me that they always dry out the clipping they are going to transplant as well. I really don't think it's getting over watered. For one thing, I have been gauging the water on how the nice piece looks. I can tell pretty easily when it needs water. That being said, I think they are two different types of Aloe Vera so it could have something to do with the watering, but I have let the soil dry out and it hasn't seemed to help it any.
For now I took it out of direct sunlight and will see how it does. If it doesn't seem to improve, I might pull the clippings out and try drying them a bit to see if that actually does help. Cool

UnderTheBlackWalnut 2/10/2012, 11:55 pm

It'll be interesting to see if it improves....some sites say once leaves are brown, they won't return but new leaves will come up...not sure if purple is the same way or not. Smile

The sites said take it out of direct afternoon sun, but they were more "blog" type sites, so I wasn't sure how accurate the information was... Smile

**RoOsTeR** 3/18/2012, 11:12 am

So here is an update on my aloe vera:

I took your advice UTBW and took it out of direct sunlight and walla! It looks 100% better! Aloe Vera 3170584802

**donnainzone5** 3/18/2012, 2:09 pm

More than 12 years ago, when I purchased my condo, I brought along a small, potted aloe vera plant, which I kept in its original container for a couple of years. It didn't grow.

Finally, I plopped it into some poor soil in a mostly shady area of my garden. Voila, I now have four rather huge plants, most of which produce flower spikes each year, and many "baby" aloes. I'm told that the larger plants could fetch $30 - $40 each!

Although my formal knowledge of aloe plants is nil, in my garden at least, they seem to thrive with minimal sunlight, water, and nutrition. I'd be interested to learn how they might do in Mel's Mix.

**RoOsTeR** 3/18/2012, 2:37 pm

Mine seems to be doing just fine in MM, very little water and no direct sunlight Very Happy

elliephant 3/18/2012, 9:00 pm

Interesting! I know we had aloe vera in the backyard when I was growing up that thrived on being neglected, but I didn't know that about the lack of direct sunlight. I think I've got a good spot in mind now!

UnderTheBlackWalnut 3/19/2012, 12:55 am

Wow - that is a gorgeous aloe Rooster! I can't take credit for the advice though...all I did was google. Smile

But I'm sure glad it worked! Who'd'athunk? Smile

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