I bit the bullet and dug this Aloe dichotoma (or whatever it's called now) out of my garden, where it has been for 3 years but never looking very happy and not growing much. It is a winter grower so it gets no water at all from June until the first Autumn rains. I think I made the mistake of not preparing the planting hole well enough, so thought I'd dig it up, decompact the soil and make a sandy, gritty mix. I've now got a hole 50cm deep and wide.
What I found when I dug it up is the photos, one side quite rotten, lots of broken roots and stupidly I broke more in getting it out. There are now only a few roots on one side. It is 95cm from top to toe.
My thinking now is let the breaks dry for a few days and then replant it, so it can get re-established before the hot summer. Is that a good course of action or should I keep it out of the ground until it grows more roots or something else? Any advice gratefully received.
Patrick. Small varied collection of North American, Mexican and Andean Cacti. Variegated Agaves and Echeveria. Developing a succulent garden in Portugal. Joined Somerset BCSS and forum in 2007.
I would pick out every last crumb of peat (is it?) and all the dead material. Or blast it with a hose.
I don't feel I can advise on what to do next due to lack of experience of your conditions but, in ignorance, I would want to reestablish a few roots in a pot before replanting - in the UK I'd be thinking of moler or grit/moler.
Phil Crewe, BCSS 38143. Mostly S. American cacti, esp. Lobivia, Sulcorebutia and little Opuntia
These are a devil to root but you have a bit of a chance.
Clean it up as Phil says but for what it’s worth I think I would put it back in the new hole you have prepared and give it a gentle watering from time to time.
Many thanks both. I guess that was another mistake, that I didn't completely clean off the 'soil' it came in as I would have done if it was going in a pot. I didn't want to disturb the root ball but there may have been dead/broken roots there already. Fingers crossed and praying on my knees.
Patrick. Small varied collection of North American, Mexican and Andean Cacti. Variegated Agaves and Echeveria. Developing a succulent garden in Portugal. Joined Somerset BCSS and forum in 2007.
