I can't possibly kill it in 4 days, can I? It was gorgeous and healthy, does moist potting soil really hurt them that bad (drainage is good.)
saving my aloe vera division
When I plant my aloes, I put a layer of pebbles on the bottom, then layer potting soil, sand, and compost. They grow in desert-like conditions, so regular potting soil may be holding too much water for its liking.
I may also have sunburned it. It was in a sunny spot in the greenhouse and below soil line, leaf is green, above, kinda olive. I have moved it to more shade - is that ok?
That would probably help it.
About the ONLY way to kill it is to get it too wet and it rots. Did you let the cut part dry and scab over before transplanting? Also, sprinkling cinnamon liberally on the root portion helps prevent rot with all succulents and cacti.
yup, could have thrown the plant in a dry drawer for a week or two while it scabbed over-without misting... no water for quite awhile as the bare plant can survive for all winter in a drawer without soil, and plant out in the spring...I would repot, remove the potting soil and go for a faster draining medium...
Gypsi ~ you didn't say specifically what was going on with your aloe but if you think it got sunburned, you are probably right.
I have found aloe is a bit tender when moved out into the sun in springtime. It commonly looks like it has been frostbitten but it is really sunburned. It will recover.
I always start with bright light and ease it into sunshine gradually.
how about on a box under the table in the greenhouse, covered with a towel. I use a woodstove for heat, if I put it in a drawer in the house it will be forgotten and die there. I left the one in the pot in the bathroom where it was, it doesn't look too bad, and pulled the other 5 out of their moist soil, although the tops were starting to look better. I saw fungus dots on the sides of the top root zone, so yes,. I think they were too wet. I had no idea I could let them dry out and they wouldn't die...
They are like cactus in that they can stay a long time living on their stored water. Some are still more delicate than otherz tho. Some var are huge...