growing aloe vera - root system?

[zeebs]

I inherited a small aloe plant from a friend a couple of months ago. Not knowing anything about aloe, I put one of those Aqua-Globes in the soil with it. Now, the leaves seem really limp, and the ends are starting to shrivel a bit. The plant doesn't have any roots IN the soil but there are some dry-looking roots ON the soil. Should I re-pot, take out the Aqua-Globe? I have been trying to read about aloe online but mostly I'm confused. Can anybody help?

[Xarata]

I don't know a whole lot about aloe but we did have one in my metals lab in college (it was our emergency first aid kid- we did work with red hot metal and aloe is better than bandaids). Basically we just left it on a windowsill and watered it when it was looking sad (maybe once a week- more likely once a month). It was a pretty low maintenance plant and pretty hard to kill. I think it may be one of those plants where overwatering can rot the root system but i could be wrong about that. We just kept ours on the windowsill- is yours getting enough sunlight? it is almost winter....


edit: i also googled for you. http://www.ehow.com/how_2082706_care-aloe-plant.html

apparently, as a desert plant, aloe likes lots of sunlight, very little water, and tiny pots with fertilized soil. Pruning (breaking off new growths to encourage growth of the larger existing plant) is also encouraged.

[clivia]

Your Aloe does not need that aqua-globe, so save it for a thirstier plant. I don't think I fully understand the root thing you described. When you got it was it already potted or did you get a cutting? Aloes prefers a lighter soil, some sand mixed in regular plant soil is ok but you can also buy a special cactus soil that would work. Since Aloes are really hard to assassinate I'm thinking that maybe some root eating bug got to your plant.

[zeebs]

I'm pretty sure I'm rotting it with the Aqua Globe. I will remove that. I left it just how it was when I got it except for that - same pot, same soil, etc, and it was in good health (but it was also getting a little more sun).

[sewwies]

I think I overwatered my aloe plant, I decided to start tasking better care of my plants (oops!), then it went all limp and a bit sickly smelling. I went away for a week and came back to find it had dropped out of its pot, off its shelf and on to my desk. Poor thing! Maybe just add a little more soil to keep it in place so it doesn't suffer the same fate, pop it on a windowsil and ignore!

[zeebs]

Okay. Commence ignoring. Got it.

[JenW]

This thread has me wanting an aloe vera plant.....must go the the plant store this week........