The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

Dear Fellow Rec.Garden People,

First, I would like to personally thank each one of you who responded
to my post entitled, "About 20 Years Ago.." --your input is much
appreciated, and it was a nice welcome for someone who is new to your
group...Thanks

But now I have another matter I'm sure you will be able to address:
the main player in this scene is an Aloe plant with a long history of
many owners...This plant came to me through a friend of a friend,
whose wife had a friend who had given the plant to her. She had given
up on the Aloe because she said no matter what she did, she simply
could not get it to look good...No amount/lack of light, water, soils
or transplanting would help the thing--When she received the forlorn
plant, it was in sad shape. She figured the problem was a result of
overwatering/lack of space in the pot. She transplanted it, placed it
among her other plants on a sunny windowsill, and prayed...Sure
enough, within weeks, the plant began to flourish: color returned to
its leaves, and it seemed quite happy. Since space was limited, she
began to give plants away to her friends, and her husband, a friend of
my friend, brought the Aloe to him. He, in turn, gave the plant to
me, and when I got it, it was a picture of health. It's been with me
now since Xmas...At first I thought nothing of the fact that it
required so little maintenance: it was almost like a cactus: water
it once in a blue moon, and otherwise just talk to it once in a
while...But now the Aloe is starting to droop, the previously rich
green stalks now seem to be fading in color, and it just doesn't look
happy. I'm not sure what to do. Can I salvage this plant once again?
Any help would be appreciated.

Jeremy "greenthumb" Z. Maine, USA

The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

On 3 Apr 2003 11:33:31 -0800, (Motordome) wrote:

Dear Fellow Rec.Garden People,

First, I would like to personally thank each one of you who responded
to my post entitled, "About 20 Years Ago.." --your input is much
appreciated, and it was a nice welcome for someone who is new to your
group...Thanks

But now I have another matter I'm sure you will be able to address:
the main player in this scene is an Aloe plant with a long history of
many owners...This plant came to me through a friend of a friend,
whose wife had a friend who had given the plant to her. She had given
up on the Aloe because she said no matter what she did, she simply
could not get it to look good...No amount/lack of light, water, soils
or transplanting would help the thing--When she received the forlorn
plant, it was in sad shape. She figured the problem was a result of
overwatering/lack of space in the pot. She transplanted it, placed it
among her other plants on a sunny windowsill, and prayed...Sure
enough, within weeks, the plant began to flourish: color returned to
its leaves, and it seemed quite happy. Since space was limited, she
began to give plants away to her friends, and her husband, a friend of
my friend, brought the Aloe to him. He, in turn, gave the plant to
me, and when I got it, it was a picture of health. It's been with me
now since Xmas...At first I thought nothing of the fact that it
required so little maintenance: it was almost like a cactus: water
it once in a blue moon, and otherwise just talk to it once in a
while...But now the Aloe is starting to droop, the previously rich
green stalks now seem to be fading in color, and it just doesn't look
happy. I'm not sure what to do. Can I salvage this plant once again?
Any help would be appreciated.

Jeremy "greenthumb" Z. Maine, USA


There are lots of causes for this, too much sun being one. But this
time of year I don't suppose that is it. Another is cold. Do you
have it to close to a window where the temperature may be too low?

Zhan

The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

zhanataya wrote in message . ..
On 3 Apr 2003 11:33:31 -0800, (Motordome) wrote:

Dear Fellow Rec.Garden People,

First, I would like to personally thank each one of you who responded
to my post entitled, "About 20 Years Ago.." --your input is much
appreciated, and it was a nice welcome for someone who is new to your
group...Thanks

But now I have another matter I'm sure you will be able to address:
the main player in this scene is an Aloe plant with a long history of
many owners...This plant came to me through a friend of a friend,
whose wife had a friend who had given the plant to her. She had given
up on the Aloe because she said no matter what she did, she simply
could not get it to look good...No amount/lack of light, water, soils
or transplanting would help the thing--When she received the forlorn
plant, it was in sad shape. She figured the problem was a result of
overwatering/lack of space in the pot. She transplanted it, placed it
among her other plants on a sunny windowsill, and prayed...Sure
enough, within weeks, the plant began to flourish: color returned to
its leaves, and it seemed quite happy. Since space was limited, she
began to give plants away to her friends, and her husband, a friend of
my friend, brought the Aloe to him. He, in turn, gave the plant to
me, and when I got it, it was a picture of health. It's been with me
now since Xmas...At first I thought nothing of the fact that it
required so little maintenance: it was almost like a cactus: water
it once in a blue moon, and otherwise just talk to it once in a
while...But now the Aloe is starting to droop, the previously rich
green stalks now seem to be fading in color, and it just doesn't look
happy. I'm not sure what to do. Can I salvage this plant once again?
Any help would be appreciated.

Jeremy "greenthumb" Z. Maine, USA


There are lots of causes for this, too much sun being one. But this
time of year I don't suppose that is it. Another is cold. Do you
have it to close to a window where the temperature may be too low?

Zhan

As a matter of fact, yes, it is close to an open window...But I
thought nothing of the plant getting too much of a chill because the
heater boards are along the floor under the window: I thought the
temperature would remain pretty much constant...Perhaps the Aloe IS
getting a chill after all...Thanks!

Jeremy

The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

Tsu Dho Nimh wrote in message . ..
(Motordome) wrote:


now since Xmas...At first I thought nothing of the fact that it
required so little maintenance: it was almost like a cactus: water
it once in a blue moon, and otherwise just talk to it once in a
while...But now the Aloe is starting to droop, the previously rich
green stalks now seem to be fading in color, and it just doesn't look
happy.

It's either too much or too little water.

What readiog does a moisture meter give you?



Tsu


Tsu,

The soil is dry to the touch, however, a friend of mine says that
that's the way it should be: like that of a cactus...apparently, they
don't need much water?

Jeremy 'greenthumb' Z.

The Aloe Plant Mystery...
 

When the ancient war dogs did battle on 3 Apr 2003 11:33:31 -0800,
(Motordome) did speak the following bit of wisdom:

But now the Aloe is starting to droop, the previously rich
green stalks now seem to be fading in color, and it just doesn't look
happy.

What do you mean by droop? Are the leaves just changing color? Or are
they actually opening up (drooping) and sort of laying open and flat?
Because if the latter, I'd guess your problem is lack of light.

Aloe is a desert plant and they react to the length and strength of
sunlight by the way they hold their leaves. My aloe plants are stored
in the garage for the winter. It's relatively dark in there and the
plants will completely open up their leaves by laying them down as
flat as possible (they look like rosettes) in order to soak up every
bit of available light. After they've been hardened off and moved
outdoors in full sunlight for the summer, those leaves will tighten
right up and stand firmly in very upright, tight clumps, like little
soldiers. This is the plants' way of regulating the amount of sunlight
they are exposed to in their harsh natural environments.
* * * * *
Karen C.
Southern CT / USDA Zone 6
Spammers be damned! I can't be emailed from this account...

"Gardeners know all the best dirt!"

The Aloe Plant Mystery...