How can I revive my aloe vera plant with horizontal leaves?

Sarah
by Sarah

I thought my aloe was just adjusting to winter but today I noticed on of its larger leaves has cracked close to the stem. I’m not sure if it should leave the cracked leaf and hope for the best or cut it off ? And also I’m not certain how to encourage it to stand more vertical instead of horozontal. It gets rotated regularly and also sits in front of a south facing window. Does anyone have tips for caring for my aloe vera plant?

  14 answers
  • Hmmm... that's weird... I have an aloe that does great. But it gets forgotten a lot, which is fine with it. They like to have good draining soil and not be over watered.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Feb 05, 2019

    until it gets more crowded in pot it may droop(smaller pot),they need very dry soil;looks fine/healthy just leave cracked leaf on it unless you need it for scar or burn repair. if you let it get root bound and in nice bright sunny window it will produce additional plants in pot & it will eventually bloom. I have about 20 different varieties(there are MANY more) they don't all grow upright some the leaves lay on the ground & only middle new growth is upright

  • Janice Janice on Feb 06, 2019

    Put it outside in the summer and see what happens, it may surprise you. Sometime they do straighten out with full sun and it gets optimum growth.

  • Jerry roselli Jerry roselli on Feb 06, 2019

    Put it in a larger pot

    , & Mother Nature will do the rest.


  • Barb in Texas Barb in Texas on Feb 06, 2019

    I live in Houston and have that variety. Mine lives outside, unless the temp drops to freezing, and I have to keep it in the shade since even partial sun is too much. The dirt never dries due to the amount of rain here. I suppose it's all the climate you live in, but mine has been going well for at least 7 years in the same exact pot. The crack will never heal, but you can leave it there if you like, or use that one next time you need some aloe juice.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 06, 2019

    Your plant needs repoting, just great growth and needs more room to perk up.

  • Jo Anne Jo Anne on Feb 06, 2019

    Aloes do that when they get heavier. I have one that's huge and it is fat and lazy. You can stake it if you don't want it laying down.

  • Betty Betty on Feb 06, 2019

    Hi I think it needs a bigger pot also. .you have some pretty plants in your window. .I am a plant lover myself. .good luck on your healthy plant. .

  • M s johnson M s johnson on Feb 06, 2019

    Looks overwatered, but needs sunlight.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 06, 2019

    Sitting on a table away from the window it may not be getting the same amount of sunlight as those on the window sill. Perhaps a grow light will help to match the sunlight it gets outside, or move the table closer to the window so it gets a stronger light from the window. If it is still growing and looks healthy, it is ok. Unless the fold on that one cracks open, I would leave it alone or you could stake that one up a little so it isn't cracking at the fold.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Feb 06, 2019

    Less water, more sunlight; cut broken leaf and repaint in same pot after rioting tr leaf I a clear jar so you can see when the leaf has new roots, 3-4 weeks. Best wishes!

  • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Feb 07, 2019

    I vote for a bit more sun indoors and a bit less water too. I don't think I'd repot, especially now since it's still winter. Aloes (and all succulents really) do best potbound. And if there has been a teensy bit of overwatering, a larger pot will just make that even more likely to happen. The soil looks like it could be a bit heavy based on its appearance as does the soil the cactus is growing in. Usually cacti like a very sandy soil and succulents like aloe like some sand or more vermiculite mixed in to lighten the soil. I wouldn't worry about the soil type now as your plants are doing fine overall BUT just realize this type of soil will make it easier to overwater. The lack of upright growth may simply be due to the variety of aloe. It could also be the leaves are growing longer (stretching out) because it needs a bit more sun. And I do mean a bit more. Even a cactus can get sunburned if suddenly given blazing outdoor sun in summer after living indoors near a window all year. Good luck!

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Jul 18, 2020

    Hi Sarah, it looks like your aloe may have had too much water and too little sun. Move her outside if the weather permits and feed her a banana skin. It's rich in plant protein and phosphorous, which aloes love

  • Sarah Sarah on Jul 18, 2020

    Thanks everyone!! Here she is almost a year and a half later! I cut back on watering and have not repotted. I have since moved and she’s in an east facing window now. She’s thriving! Has about one offshoot a month!