Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi, I inherited an aloe plant (actually several in one pot) that had been doing fine as far as I could tell, just with some leaves turning dry and brown in the middle. I'd remove those, as the rest seemed OK, and new leaves were coming in. Then some of the smaller plants just seemed to die. So I took them all out to repot them and the roots are either mostly gone, or are there, but the thick part in the middle (the ball?) is mostly soft and brown. What do I do now?

So far, I cut away the soft part, but am not sure what to look for in terms of color, etc. to know if it's too rotted. I've been looking for pics on the web, and can't find any.

Can I just repot the parts that look OK and water in a few days? Or do I need to let these parts heal over?

Thanks--this plant is very important to me, and I really want to save it if I can!

Sarah
Answer -
Dear Sarah,

I'm not certain if I am understanding you correctly. However, if you are refering to the leaves in the center or "crown" of the plant, the plants may not survive. Generally rot like this is caused by water accumulation in the leaves that sits there and never evaporates. Extended periods of rain and cool temps can cause this type of rot.

If the stem is rotted at the roots, then the plant is gone. Only certain types of aloes can be rooted by stem cuttings, and those are generally tree type aloes (which are very large. If the stem on your plant is at least a foot long, you may be able to save it. Cut off all of the rotted stem and let it heal for a few weeks before replanting. Try dusting the cut area of the stem with "Rootone" immediately after you make the last cut. You should be able to get that product at a local nursery. Only water sparingly and only when the soil is dry. I hope this helps. If it roots, it will take a good 3 months or more to show signs of recovery.

Sincerely,

Greg
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Hi again, thanks for the answer.

The new, center part coming in has been fine.  My problem is understanding what "is rotted" means at the root.  This isn't a tree aloe, just a regular kitchen-type plant.  When I pull the plant up, there is a thick root, with some skinny little hair-type roots as well.  The thick root is soft or even disintegrated, but not all the way up.  When I cut away the soft part, there is a hard root left over, but on one or two of the plants, it's brown in the middle (cross-sectioned).  I'm wondering if this color is important, or if it's more about the 'consistency' of the root.  

Can Rootone work on these smaller plants?

Thanks again,

Sarah

Answer
Dear Sarah,

Roots on Aloe's are usually flexible but firm. If they feel hollow, then there is something wrong. Also, roots are generally light in color. If they are brown or black that usually indicates rot. If they have a very strong smell, that is also a sign of rot. Remove the affected roots. If it is the entire root ball below the main stem (which is what your description sounds like to me), you might be out of luck unfortunately.

Tree Aloe's can be propagated by stem cuttings, but the smaller Aloe's are much less likely to root. You can try, just use a new pot and potting soil (cactus mix). If when you cut off the "soft" part, if there is a dark center and it continues up the main stem, then it is time to buy a new plant. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg