It is one of my prized plants having managed to track down a mature plant which are rare in the UK (plus I got it for a bargain price which is always good). Anyway I have been in Stockholm for a week and got back to find this:
I am sad and puzzled in equal parts as I can not figure out what has happened. It looks like cold damage, but is inside. It has not been watered and the soil is totally dry. I have basically treated the same way as I have for the last two winters.
Whatever the reason the whole plant has rotted and beyond saving. I will obviously replace it, but doubt I will find one this large and will most likely have to start from one in its juvenile form. I have never lost a prized plant before and it is not a feeling I want to go through again. If it was prized before it will be even better looked after next time!
Oh my! I am so sorry and certainly feel your pain...it was a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThat's awful! I feel your pain having experienced the same thing with an odd Kalanchoe I recently purchased only to have it damaged in the cold. Fortunately a few babies are sprouting, but I can't imagine how long it's going to take to grow to where it was. Hope you find someting comparable soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have already been offered a replacement young plant from a friend which is lovely, but it will years before it starts to spiral let alone get to that size. But I guess these are the challenges we have in growing these plants in cold climates.
ReplyDeleteOuch! What a beautiful plant to lose. Very puzzling though why it died. Was it cold inside for a few hours? Strange event.
ReplyDeleteA. suprafoliata has been a much slower grower than most of my other Aloes.
HB: I know it was the speed it happened, I was only gone a few days, and I know cold will do that overnight, but in a house? In fact apparently there was a warm spell during that time and we didn't get any cold temps.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely aloe perhaps partly because it is hard to grow. Not at all cold tolerant, very fussy over watering and light. In the three years I had it I never thing I got the best growth out of it, I think it is one that needs light, heat and good conditions.
Oh I am sorry, it always feels so personal when something dies on me. I am also sorry to say that one of the seedlings you kindly gave me has turned up its toes, but I know why - our bathroom has been Baltic all winter and it was not a wise place to put it. I enjoyed looking at it so much I left it there too long. I am a Bad Foster mother, sorry.
ReplyDeleteSad. Hope you managed to figure out what the problem was. I've recently discovered your blog and am enjoying it immensely - now reviewing the older posts. My OH and I both [sorry] collect cacti and succulents, and have frustratingly run out of room! Thank you for your efforts in putting this blog together!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Amy: Sadly I couldn't find any definite cause. I had to put it down to one of the sad sudden unexplained events. And thank you for the comments about the blog.
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