OwenB said:Hi, I'm wondering if anybody may be able to offer any thoughts/information here regarding an indoor Aloe Vera. I've kept (house) plants for many years, so understand the fundamentals etc. I own various plants such as Yucca, Dragon Tree (Golden Coast), Dieffenbachia, ferns, and various cacti, and have them all in flourishing condition. This week, I decided to add an Aloe to my indoor jungle. It was purchased from my local garden centre, which is where 75% of my other's were obtained. I brought it home, let it sit (on a south facing window/United Kingdom) for a day or two before potting it out of it's cramped/root bound plastic growing container. It had been watered, probably a fortnight before, in the garden centre/store, so the soil was ever so slightly damp (knowing, like most cacti and succulents, that it's easy to over water these plants, I refrained from doing so myself). I potted up the plant shortly after it's purchase, in a (not over potted) terracotta pot, using cacti and succulent potting mix with added grit. I placed it on a south facing window in my house, where I have some other plants in said room, too. As stated, I haven't watered the Aloe myself yet, as it's received a watering not too long previous. The Aloe appears very healthy, with lovely thick green leaves and even a few pups, which I tenderly removed for propagation before potting the 'Mother'. After about three days, however, the tallest leaves of the Aloe itself have started to droop ever so slightly. When I purchased it, it was already carefully protected with a plastic loose wrapping, to save the leaves becoming bumped, so I'm not sure whether because of this, it now just needs to "spread out" so to speak. I'd be most grateful for any thoughts/information anybody could provide. Many thanks in advance, Owen. (The pics were taken at sunset, so apologies for the subdued lighting).
tarev said:It could be a combination of both, transplant shock and the need for still much more stronger light. These plants can grow outdoors in full direct sun, so it is understandable it is still adjusting.
For the most part, what you have already done is okay. Just wait a bit more. It takes awhile for some plants to adjust to its new growing environment. Monitor the base of your plant and the center core. As long as it is not going mushy there, then maybe it is just adjusting. It enjoys temps of 70F (21C) and higher. Ideally I would have removed carefully all the old media and planted it in a dry media to help it adjust gradually from any root disturbance.