My aloe plant is 21 years old and has had many pups over the years. She is HEARTY. She had the ideal sun conditions at my old apartment for 20 years, but I had to move about a year ago. I've always loved that she resembles a tree and I just let her do her thing. She used to lean in the window frame, but when I moved, I had to prop her up, or she'd snap from her own weight.
I was gone for two months and my Subletter was watering my plants. I put in a water bulb to make things easier and I think she would continually fill the water bulb from the top. I have used bulbs when traveling all the time over the years, but I think the difference is that in the past, the water would run out and the dirt had a chance to dry out.
I think this time the Aloe Mamma has experienced some kind of rot, as I squeezed the base of the trunk the other day and it appears to be completely hollow. This hollow feeling goes up for about 6 inches. I'm not sure what to do to save her. Additionally, she has two baby arms/limbs close to the top that I would love to keep. If I could somehow remove 2/3 of her trunk and keep the baby arms, now have them be at the base, that would be ideal. With her being shorter, I'd have more options of getting her closer to more ideal light, as she now gets zero direct light (she used to get two hours/day) or at least she'd be closer to light and get better/more indirect light. I can see that her recent arms have that spidery vibe that show they are searching for light.
by Inquisitive-Resi84
7 Comments
I would suspect rot. Especially with how wet the soil it. It is not meant to be wet constantly, it needs time to dry out. I would chop and prop this before it spreads. <3
Stem rot?
It’s rot , it will slowly climb up the plant. Quickly chop it off and propagate it . I quickly found this …
Detailed Steps:
1. Select a Healthy Leaf or Stem:
Choose a mature, healthy leaf or stem from the base of the parent plant.
2. Cut the Leaf/Stem:
Use a sharp, clean knife to cut the leaf or stem cleanly, ensuring a flat cut.
3. Allow the Cut End to Callus:
Place the cut end in a dry, shaded area for 2-3 days to allow a callus to form. This helps prevent rotting when planting.
4. Plant the Cutting:
Use well-draining potting mix (such as a cactus or succulent mix) and gently plant the callused end of the cutting into the soil.
5. Provide Light and Water:
Place the cutting in a location with bright, indirect sunlight and water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
6. Patience:
It may take several weeks or months for the cutting to root and grow into a new plant.
Additional Tips:
Use a Rooting Hormone (Optional): Some people choose to use a rooting hormone to encourage root development.
Monitor for Rot: If the cutting appears to be rotting, remove it and try again.
Be Patient: Propagating aloe from cuttings can be a slow process, so be patient and consistent with your care.
It wouldn’t hurt. But it does look great! I’m glad it wasn’t further up the trunk!
Thats definitely rotten. Succulents in a container require at the bare minimum 50% inorganic aggregate such as pumice or perlite.
Rot is when bad soil or moisture conditions enable harmful microbes to infect & consume. Those conditions include: overwatering, pot sitting in standing water, water logged soil, overly moisture retentive soil, soil too organic, lack of aeration
In December 2023 I was gifted an aloe while visiting my family. When I got home after the new year, I found out it had zero roots and was rotting up the stem.
I googled what to do and it was similar to what you said, cut until there is no evidence of the rot and pull the bottom leaves off. I also cut the pot size down significantly, although, looking back now, it was definitely still too big for the size of my aloe. 🤷🏼‍♀️
https://preview.redd.it/v3tvunsh5v2f1.jpeg?width=2879&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5ac70d607080d2120933c970f77c2e1496a5915
I never saw aloe grow like that. Did you cut off the big outer leaves to make the “trunk” grow like that?