ALOE INFORMATION

CARING FOR ALOE
If the aloe has a bronze cast to the leaves, it is not happy about a condition it has been subjected to. More than two hours of bright hot sun turns Aloe a bronze color for few days. Water and cool shade for a day or two will take care of this issue, then back to filtered, morning sun if possible.

Aloe is a slow grower, so patience is important in raising these plants. You can enjoy the sunburn remedy from an Aloe plant that is more than a year old. Simply snap a leaf off and squeeze the gel that is there onto the burn. The leaf will form a “cap” at the break and you can use the gel for a couple of days until the burn heals. It's best to refrigerate to keep the leaf moist, but it can be left on the counter as well. I have used aloe on sun burns, burns in the kitchen and sun burns.!

Repotting Aloe requires patience! Aloe likes to establish a larger root system in a smaller pot before stepping up to a bigger pot. An aloe can live in the same pot quite happily for many years.

Water aloe when the soil is dry to touch. If repotting, again the plant could turn a bronze color, but treat them the same as if they had been in the sun too long. Offer water daily the first few days after repotting, then water when dry to touch.

Aloe vera requires very little fertilizing. Fertilize once per year in early spring. Use a cactus fertilizer or any house plant fertilizer. A slow-release fertilizer is best.

Aloe vera is sometimes affected by mealy bugs and root lice. Wash the leaves with lukewarm soapy water, castlle soap and spray with a diluted solution of neem oil. If infestation is severe, and I haven't found an organic solution that works when it is severe - spray with Malathion or Diazinon.

Aloe is also susceptible to crown rot from over watering or it is caused by freeze damage. Crown rot, which means the the very center leaves (the newest ones) are easily pulled out. If this is true the chances of the plant surviving are slim to none.

However, if the rot appears in the lower (and older) leaves and the trunk (stem) of the plant is still firm, then it may have a chance. If the trunk of the plant is soft, then there is no chance it will survive. I have rarely had this happen, just remember to water only when the soil is dry.