Aloe care
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First let me start by saying I love aloe. I don't use the gel inside the leaves or keep it for its medicinal properties I just love the way it looks. I would buy every aloe I saw if given the chance to.
Light
Aloe can survive in bright indirect light or full sun. If its in full sun it will need to be acclimated so it doesn't get sunburnt. Yes aloe can get sunburnt. There leaves will turn a red/brown color when exposed to too much light too quickly. I have mine in south and west facing windows and all of them do great.
Watering
Next is watering. Aloe is prone to root rot if overwatered. Signs of overwatering include droopy yellow squishy leaves and stunted growth. I'm sure you have heard this before, but aloe loves neglect. During the winter I can easily go a month without watering my aloe and it is happy. If you are unsure if your aloe needs watered or not use the touch test. Stick your finger about 2" into the soil if it is dry go ahead and water. If not back away and leave it be. During the summer water your aloe every 1-2 weeks when the top 2" of the soil is dry.
Aloe is really prone to root rot from overwatering. If you over water your aloe you can take it out of the soil and let it out for a week to dry out. If any of the leaves or stem look black or are squishy they are rotted. You will need to cut of any part that is rotted and give your aloe time to callous before replanting.
Does your aloe need to be repotted?
If its been a year or more since you repotted your aloe there it is probably root bound to some degree. Aloe like to be root bound and produces pup easier when it is rootbound. On the other hand if it is too rootbound your aloe will start to suffer. You can check your aloe by gently pulling it out of the pot. If the roots like the one in the picture above it will need to be repotted soon, but doesn't need to be done immediately. If looks worse than picture your aloe needs to be repotted. In order to repot you will need rinse the old soil off and loosen up the roots. Once the roots have been loosened up you can replant your aloe into a slightly bigger container, only go size up 1-2". Wait 5 days to water your aloe. Do you have a leggy stem on your aloe? You can choose to plant your aloe deeper into the pot, this might mean getting a larger pot. If you do this stick the entire stem into the soil up to the bottom leaf on the aloe. Another option is to cut the stem and leave it out to callous for about a week. After a week plant your aloe in soil and wait 2 weeks to water. Be careful not to over water while the aloe establishes new roots.
Propagation
Aloe can be propagated through off sets also know as pups. Once a pup reaches around 1/3 the size of the mother plant it can carefully be removed and planted on its own. In order to remove the aloe pups you will need to take your aloe out of its pot. Then clean away all the soil so you have a clear view of its roots. You may be able to gently pull the pup away from the mother plant at this point. If not you can use gardening shears, a sharp knife, or scissors to cut the aloe pup away, but sure the pup still has plenty of roots of its own. Wait a couple of days for the aloe pups root to callous and you can plant your new aloe. Once planted wait 3-5 days and water. Aloe can not be propagated from leaf cutting.
Common Aloe Vera problems
Are the leaves on your aloe droopy? This can be caused by over or under watering your Aloe. Check to see if the soil is still wet first. If the soil is wet, when is the last time you watered your aloe. If it has been more than 5 days since you water your aloe you might need to remove your aloe and sit it out to dry out. If the soil is not wet and feel bone dry your aloe probably needs a good watering. Water until you see water coming out the drainage holes. Another reason for drooping leaves is insufficient light. If your aloe is indoors it will do best in a south facing window. The next best thing would be a west facing window which gets four hours of direct light in the evening. A north or east window will not provide enough light for an indoor aloe.
Does your aloe have yellow squishy leaves? This is a sign of over watering your aloe. Aloe are very prone to root rot when over watered. If you see yellow squishy leaves on your aloe take it out of the pot and leave it out for a few days to a week to dry out. After it is thoroughly dried out replant it in dry well draining soil. If you are a frequent over waterer mix more perlite, pumice, or chicken grit into your soil to avoid your aloe getting root rot.
Does your aloe have orange or brown spots? This is a sign of sunburn. Move your aloe further away from the window or into a spot that has a little shade. If you are moving your aloe outdoors after its been indoors leave it in a shady area for a week, then move it to an area that is partially sunny. After its been outside for a few weeks it can be moved to an are that receives direct sun.
Do the leaves on your aloe dying? Do they appear limp, curled and thin? This is caused by being under watered. Aloes are a succulent and don't like to be watered to often, but they do like to be watered deeply when the soil is dry. Check to see if the top 2" of soil is dry. If so then water your aloe until you see water coming out the draining hole. Another way to do it is to bottom water your aloe. Fill your sink, tub, bowl, or bucket up with water and sit your aloe pot inside it. Leave it there for 15 minutes and then check on it. If you see the soil looks wet remove it, if not leave it for another 10 minutes. This method allows your aloes roots to soak up the moisture they need and helps prevent overwatering.
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