Controlling Aloe Vera Rot

Soil

• Wet soil causes most aloe rot problems. Aloe grown in pots requires a quick-draining soil, such as a cactus potting mix. Make your own by combining a standard potting soil with equal parts coarse sand. Pots must have drainage holes so the excess moisture can drip from the soil. Garden-grown aloe resists rot if planted in sandy soil that drains quickly. Avoid areas prone to standing water after rain or watering, since the water in the soil will quickly cause aloe roots to suffocate and rot.

Watering

• The succulent leaves of aloe store moisture until the plant needs it, so it rarely requires watering. Potted plants only need watering when the soil dries out completely. Water just until the excess drips from the bottom of the pot, and then allow the water to drain over a 30-minute period before emptying the drip tray. If you end up overwatering, repot the aloe in fresh cactus soil promptly, before the excess moisture causes rot. Outdoor aloe rarely requires irrigation. To prevent rot, avoid planting it in areas with automatic sprinkler systems or near plants with more water needs.

Frost Damage

• Temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit can cause cold damage on aloe leaves, and temperatures below freezing kill the plant. Aloe that suffers cold or freeze damage develops soft leaves that eventually turn black, which resembles rot. Growing aloe in pots and bringing it indoors during winter completely prevents damage. In areas that rarely experience cold, you can protect aloe from chill damage by covering it with frost blanket or upturned box during short periods of cold.

Cuttings

• The small plants that grow around the base of an aloe are offsets, which can grow into their own plants if you cut them off just beneath the soil level. Allowing the cut end to callus over prevents the offset from rotting after you pot it. Spread offsets out on a paper towel in a warm, well-ventilated area that's away from direct light. Allow the cut to dry for two or three days, and then insert it into barely moistened cactus soil. The cutting shouldn't need watering until after it begins to root, which can take up to four weeks.