Hi plant friends! I could use your help for a friend’s aloe plant. It was looking very flakey and dry, so I unpotted it and the roots are very dry looking and withered. Not sure if the green leaves are hope, or on their way to dying. I don’t see much hope for this plant, but someone please tell me I’m wrong! I want to give her good news
You can totally save them!! I would remove some leaves and repot them in some chunky soil. Ngl I’m currently struggling to keep my aloe pups alive but those have wayy more roots than mine. You have a great fighting chance
2 likesThis looks like the aftermath of root rot to me. I completely agree that the plant is savable, but the shriveled roots are almost certainly dead. I would recommend removing any shriveled tissue and cutting it where the plant is healthy and letting that valise over before repotting them. While this means you are losing a little healthy tissue, it will remove any tissue harboring fungus from root rot. I don’t think you need to trim the leaves necessarily though. When you do repot them, use the smallest pot possible and let the soil DRY COMPLETELY before watering again. This is absolutely essential because succulents cannot stop taking in water if the soil is wet, and they will suck in water until their cells swell to bursting and they die. Succulents like aloe are also very prone to root rot if the soil doesn’t dry regularly. It is far preferable to under water aloe than over water it! My rule of thumb for a long time was “if I can remember the last time I watered it, then it’s probably too soon”. Especially before the plant has roots throughout the soil, it does not benefit the plant to be wet soil
1 likeThank you for the hope and advice!
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