Over-watered Aloe Plants
Hi Judy. Can you help identify these 3 small houseplants. I have had these for years in small non-draining pots, normal soil, indoors in Chicago. Each is relatively small, stiff leaf, ‘cactus’ like plants. they have each started to brown from the bottom and leaves have begun to rot. I must have done something wrong.
Hi Nater,
It sounds like you have overwatered your plants and they are developing root rot which is very serious. Your plants are Aloe Plants and from the pictures they look like Aloe humilis, Aloe Black Beauty, and Aloe Aristata. It is really necessary that there be drip holes in the bottom of your containers so the excess water can drain out and the roots of the plants do NOT stay wet for a long period of time. These plants also like very bright indirect light. My recommendation: remove them from their containers, get rid of all of the wet soil, allow them to sit out bare rooted for a few days so the roots can dry out, then plant them in cactus soil in a pot with drip holes in the bottom. Be very careful with your water.