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Lately my aloe has taken on a bit of a weird shape (leaves curving… | Pests, diseases and problems | Comunidad de Planta

Holly

Lately my aloe has taken on a bit of a weird shape (leaves curving way down) and its leaves have gotten flat, especially toward the edges. In a couple places there are these really tough, round boluses in otherwise flat areas. The aloe has a baby that looks healthy though! It is about a metre (1.5?) from a huge south-facing window, but to keep it away from my cats it is positioned on a tall shelf (technically just above where the window is). Is it lack of sunlight? Overwatering? Underwatering? I just don’t want to take the wrong action and make the problem worse in the process. Thanks in advance!

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0 Me gusta 17 comentarios

17 comentarios

  1. Kay.T.

    Looks cold 🥶, is it near a vent ? Or in the way of cold air blowing on it?

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    • Holly

      Interesting… this is the hottest room in the house (my dad can’t even stand to be in here for long during the summer), and the air vents are on the floor! We have a smart thermostat system and it usually tells us it has to exclude this room from the average because it’s significantly warmer than all the others (sometimes like 25°C).

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    • Kay.T.

      Mine use to get that look in the fall when it was time to bring them in. They like to be really warm

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    • Holly

      Maybe being closer to the sunny window will help! 🤞 Can’t make it much hotter in here without it being unbearable for humans! 🤣 Thanks for your input!

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    • Kay.T.

      Yes lol you stay cool 😎, hope that works!

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    • Holly

      Following up - see my comment below if interested! :)

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  2. Hba

    It may be both lack of light and over watering. I have mine placed directly in front of a west window that gets several hours of direct sun. If I don’t rotate it regularly, it starts to reach. They love a lot of light so this may be an issue. Additionally, these need to dry out completely before watering. What’s your watering routine like?

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    • Holly

      I have a good moisture metre and I make sure the soil is dry for like 2/3 of the pot before I water it. It has drainage and I generally dump any water that collects in the outer pot after 10-20 minutes. Should I wait until it’s dry all the way to the bottom first?

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    • S.R

      I’ve always waited until it’s dry to the bottom, then I wait another day or two, and then I water. Mine is in an east facing window though and doesn’t get much direct sunlight so it may not need as much water as a plant in different conditions.

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    • Plant Father

      i typically recommend staying away from moisture meters since they don’t actually measure the moisture level in the soil but rather it’s conductivity, which depends on several other factors besides moisture level like mineral/metal content in the media and air pockets. a bamboo skewer or chopstick is more accurate, any wet media will stick, and if your plant is ready to be watered, the skewer should come out clean and dry. all succulents should only be watered when the soil is completely dry to avoid overwatering. aloe are particularly sensitive to this, i’ve had the healthiest growth on mine when i leave the soil dry for a few days or even weeks before watering. i find it helpful to use the plant’s leaves as a gauge— soft or floppy leaves means it’s thirsty. also since your plant is so far from the window, it is not getting enough light, and not enough light will contribute to overwatering symptoms. aloe don’t need as much light as other succulents, they can tolerate partial sun, but the location you have it in seems too shady.

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    • Holly

      Ooh okay I didn’t know this about moisture meters, thank you!

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    • Holly

      Following up - see my comment below if interested! :)

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  3. eatyacarbs

    This is lack of light & too much water. You should pop it out of that pot and check your roots: If they’re ok I would move this to a brighter location and put it in terra cotta instead of plastic

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    • Holly

      Thank you for the advice! I only just repotted a few weeks ago and everything did look good… but I’ve already moved to right in the window!

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    • Holly

      I thought I’d follow up in case anyone wants a learning opportunity - after going on vacation for a week with my aloe in a sunnier spot, these issues have actually just gotten worse. Looking into it more across various sources, I believe my problem to be underwatering rather than overwatering. The thin, curled leaves are what’s most convincing me! Thanks again for your input!

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