Parhs
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Aloe vera is dying

Hello... I have a pot with aloe vera...

The pot had 5 of them but 3 felt off :(... that is because of overwatering as I didnt know how much water it needed....

I put paper inside the soil to dry it and let it outside not at direct sunlight... the soil is dry... I have a week to water it!
I know that I should every month but I used to water it daily!!!
I was stupid:(



So what shoud I do now? Replant it somewhere else???

I will put it again in a pot ... the soil should contain perlite,sand etc?
Please help!!
I don't want my aloe to die!
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Kisal
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Is there a store where you could buy a bag or two of a commercial cactus mix? If you just have a few plants to pot up, I think that would be your best bet. Just make sure the mix you buy has lots of perlite, sand and small gravel.

Your plant needs more water when it's actively growing, and less during the winter. I think I would water about every 2 weeks during the active growth period, and every 4 weeks during the dormant period.

Aloes are desert cacti. They're tough plants and do best with a little benign neglect. :)

Parhs
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The top of the leaves are starting to dry I don't know why :(
is it dead?
There several shops around I am going to buy a cactus mix!

Should I use a larger pot?thank you for helping!
Also how much water do you put?

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Kisal
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It looks like it might be mechanical damage. I'm not sure of that, but it isn't the typical look of a plant suffering root rot.

I water my cacti from the bottom. It might be scary for you to try that, since you've had a bad experience from over watering, but it works well. Just find a watertight container large and deep enough for you to put the potted cactus inside it. Then, fill the container with water, up to the rim of the pot. Let it sit there and soak until you don't see any more air bubbles breaking the surface. At that point, remove the pot and plant from the water and set it aside to drain. Allow it to drain thoroughly, before you return it to its saucer.

This method ensures that the entire root ball becomes moistened. When you water from the top, the water sometimes just runs down around the edges, between the soil and the pot. You see the water coming out the drainage holes, and think the plant has been well-watered, when in fact, the center of the root ball is still bone dry.

Heft the pot in your hand before and after you water the plant. That will help you to learn to determine just when your plant needs water. You'll be able just to pick up the pot and know by the weight whether or not it's time to water yet.

Be sure to use containers with plenty of drainage holes when you repot your Aloe. That will help prevent over watering. In addition, I like to use unglazed clay pots for my cacti ... just the ordinary terra cotta kind. I also use pots that are as broad as they are tall. They are sold under different names, such as cactus pots or azalea pots or bulb pans. The porous clay absorbs excess moisture from the soil and allows air to get into the soil. That's just as important to a plant's roots as water.

It looks like there are 2 separate plants in the container. Is that right? If so, you might want to put each of them in its own pot. If so, then use the same size pot they're in now. If you want to put them both in the same container, choose one just one size larger. In the U.S., we measure the pot across the center of the top to determine its size. We use inches, but I'm sure pots must be measured in centimeters where you live. Measure the pot your cactus is in now, then ask the owner of the shop where you buy the cactus mix to help you choose a pot one size larger. He/she will be familiar with how pots are sized where you live.

By the way, your plant isn't an Aloe vera, it's an Aloe maculata. :)

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you. It's nice to have you with us here at The Helpful Gardener. :)

Parhs
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First of all thank you for all the info and the welcoming!

What do you mean mechanical damage?

Well there were 5 diferent in this pot!!! but 3 felt of...

Today I found the other one felt off and I diged the soil and planted...
It was imposible for me to go to a shop today... So I have to wait till Monday..

I don't know whats happening... I will put them in different pots!

Please tell me what I can do now meanwhile.... or is it too late?

Thank you for your help
photos


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Kisal
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Alright. The one with the root definitely has root rot, and I would guess the other one does, as well. Fortunately, you can re-root them. :)

Use a clean, sharp knife to cut off the stem above the brown, mushy-looking area. All of the stem should be firm and white. Keep trimming off thin slices until there is no soft, mushy tissue left. Cut that shriveled up leaf off, too. Cut it close to the stem of the plant, but try not to cut into the stem, itself. Don't put the plant in soil just yet. Set it aside in a place where it isn't in the sun. Leave it there until the cut end dries over. This is called "callousing". It could take anywhere from 12 to 48 hours to dry, so just look at it once in awhile to see how it's doing. Once the end of the stem is dried, it's ready to be planted in some of your new cactus mix.

Just fill a pot with the mix, moisten it with water, and plant the dried end of the stem about an inch or so into the soil. It doesn't have to be exactly that deep, so don't get worried about it. I would plant it deep enough so the base of the leaves are touching, or very close to, the surface of the soil mix. Firm the soil around the stem and gently water it again. Without roots to hold it upright, you might have to place something around the to support it. I use small rocks, about 2 1/2 or 3 inches long, for this purpose, but anything you have around the house that's heavy enough to support the plant will work fine. (Even something like a shot glass might work.) Two items should be enough, but you might need three of whatever you use, in order to prop up the plant securely. Then you just wait for new roots to grow.

During this rooting period, you need to provide some water, but not too much. I would go ahead and water the plant from the top at this time, to avoid disturbing it too much. A good schedule might be to water it every 2 or 3 weeks, until the water just begins to run out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Then, allow the soil to dry somewhat before you water again.

Keep the newly potted plant out of direct sun for 3 to 4 weeks. Give it bright, indirect light by placing it near a sunny window, but off to the side ... not directly in front of the window glass. By the end of the 4th week, your aloe should have started to grow healthy new roots. :)

The Helpful Gardener
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That was almost certainly from overwatering; it is the usual death knell for aloes. As Kisak sez, a desert plant...

HG

Parhs
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Thank you a lot!!!
So I should remove them today (the other one today is falling also ) ,cut the rotten part and let them dry.
And tommorow plant them in a different soil!!
I will try and post you the images!
Thank you again :)

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Kisal
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Parhs wrote:So I should remove them today (the other one today is falling also ) ,cut the rotten part and let them dry. And tommorow plant them in a different soil!!
That's right. And please do let me know how the plants progress. :)

Parhs
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I did it... The one isnt hard at all.. They had too much water!!!
I should have done this earlier...

Also some questions...
-What type of pot should I buy?
-The soil that had was ok or not?

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The Helpful Gardener
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I like natural pots for succulents; they breath and absorb some moisture and help avoid these situations to a small degree...

Cactus mix like kisal said; more sand=less absorption...

Less watering; let it go dry between 'em...

HG



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