Aloe Polyphylla over winter

[Nicevans]

Is it better to keep a potted Aloe Polyphylla -
In an open fronted north facing garage over winter
In a well ventilated greenhouse to get more light
Indoors in an unheated conservatory, taking it outside on sunny days?

[edds]

I'd want to keep it somewhere where the soil won't freeze solid as I lost a bunch of plants in 2l pots last year in an unheated greenhouse when this happened.

[Nicevans]

I worry about the leaves which tend to stretch out and go pale when kept indoors?

[edds]

I worry about the leaves which tend to stretch out and go pale when kept indoors?

They will but leaves will grow back more compact in the summer - if it's dead it won't! They only need to be frost-free in my experience when young. You could keep it in the greenhouse and bring it in when negative temperatures are forecast?

[Nicevans]

Thank you

[Herts Mike]

Isn’t the conservatory frost free? Should be nice and light I would have thought but polyphylla doesn’t grow much if at all in winter anyway.

[Nicevans]

I should have said that the conservatory has a solid roof. When I moved the plant indoors recently I noticed the leaves starting to flatten out. Can I leave the plant out until the first frosts with no worry about rainfall on the crown??

[AllanA]

My two have been outside all year round for 14 years. We don't usually get frost more than -1C or -2C and only a day or two at a time. I loose bottom leaves each year due to windburn with salty air, but not wet. I nearly lost one last year with water in the leaves and then a -3C. But I remved the mushy leaves and the plant has grown on OK.
Can you not leave it outside and just bring it into a cool room, when frosts are due?

[Nicevans]

Hi Allan,
Thats reassuring to hear, this will be my first attempt at leaving it outside in colder weather, just out of interest what kind of compost do you use?

[AllanA]

John Innes no 2 ,grit and fired clay cat litter. There is probably ony grit and cat litter in now as I have neve repotted them in 14 years.
By losing some leaves each year, they have stayed about the same size so not outgrown the pot.