Question
HI, hoping you can help. I have a habit of buying half dead houseplants from stores that really should not carry them. yesterday i bought 3 small aloe vera plants that desperately need tlc. what kind of dirt, pot , drainage? also i got a money tree, again never had this one its soil looks different, bark and other stuff added.  but it somehow has very tiny buds on the side and top, . the rest of my rescues are doing really well. let me know what to do with the newbies please..

Answer
Hi Letisa,

The first thing you should do is to resist the temptation to repot them and replace the soil. Although the soil may look strange to you, the chances are it is the nursery-supplied  soil that is suited for those particular plants. For example, bark is often added to potting mixes to add porosity. It is possible that the soil has become bone dry, in which case you may need to really soak the soil to get it re-wetted.

Aloe veras do best in small pots with a porous potting mix that includes bark chips or perlite in abundance. Keep them on your sunniest windowsill. Allow the soil to dry out completely in between thorough waterings. Fertilize sparingly at half strength.

Money trees also do best in very small pots. They don't want quite as much direct sun as Aloes. A north or east windowsill would be best. Allow the top half inch of soil to dry out in between through waterings. Fertilize as above.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.