Andershay wrote:HELP....my aloe may have sunburn?? Is this a thing? How do you know if it is? How do I reverse the damage? I'm new to growing plants. I don't know what kind of light my plant needs or what to do about the damage I have done. I know they are top heavy and need drainage. I water once every two weeks and about 2 cups is this too much? The pic is 2 days after watering. I move my plants from inside to outside since I live in an apartment that doesn't get direct sun. Should I not move them? I don't know what I'm doing so I'm inconsistent in how long my plants are outside. Help is very appreciated.
Yes, Aloe Vera plants can indeed sunburn. When I accidentally gave my Aloe Vera plant a less severe sunburn, it turned a light brown on the top of nearly all of the leaves. When I moved it a few inches to where no direct sunlight hit it, it eventually recovered back to it's green color again. They can handle a small amount of direct sunlight, or can survive on completely indirect sunlight, such as besides a northern-facing window. I simply kept mine indoors all of the time.
It is normal for them to be 'top-heavy'. If it bothers you when it leans, you can prop it up with a rock or something. As long as they have intact roots, they will be ok. Based on your 'baby aloe plants' and my limited experience, I would suggest keeping your watering about the same, and move it into more shade. I had to adjust my watering frequency and amount based on a few factors, since aloe plants don't like 'wet feet'. Factors include the container size,
water drainage, and the 'soil mixture' used (mainly how well it dries out again). I eventually learned to water only when the soil surface was dry to the touch, but mine was planted in a small container. If it helps you, think of watering an aloe plant as though a slightly thirstier cactus.