Aloe dichotoma in bloom

[Luisd]

Some pics of today

[Funkthulhu]

Beauty, Eh?

[Luisd]

This plant have over 10 years planted, grow in poor alkaline soil ( I hear that prefer acid soil) and always has fungal problems, have a cut at the base, now healing.

The smaller plant is a rooted cutting (the plant lost the roots)

the bark

[trioderob]

I love this aloe.

here is califonia you plant them in the ground where its sandy and dont give it one drop of water all summer.

if you give it water in summer it rots and will die

[MattyB]

As usual Triode, you take everything to the extreme. I'm growing this aloe now and have been learning from some experts. You can water them in summer as long as the soil drainage is good and you let them dry out between waterings.

[George Sparkman]

Great pictures Luisd !

Please post some more pictures of your garden. There are some great plants in the background.

[Stevetoad]

Love that!

[trioderob]

As usual Triode, you take everything to the extreme. I'm growing this aloe now and have been learning from some experts. You can water them in summer as long as the soil drainage is good and you let them dry out between waterings.

Matty-

as usual you know everything.

at least 5 experts who grow these for a living along with other aloe and succulents - in other words full time pros - have told me never to water them in summer at all or even plant them near a lawn.

no water at all.

mine did not get one drop from may- nov and look great now

will they be ok as little plants like what you have if watered ? - yes .

will they die from rot as they get bigger if you water them in summer ? - yes

no water from july -oct !

Edited November 14, 2013 by trioderob

[_Keith]

Matt and Rob, in the corner, now. Timeout. And don't post for another hour.

[trioderob]

"Hey y'all. So, apparently watering Aloe dichotima in summer is not good because it can rot. I guess it receives it's rain in winter where it grows"

MATTY -

May 28 2013 11:42 AM

IPS FORUM

Edited November 14, 2013 by trioderob

[Cindy Adair]

I think I'd better leave growing these beauties to those who have the option of not getting them wet..... That's not going to happen on my farm!

[MattyB]

"Hey y'all. So, apparently watering Aloe dichotima in summer is not good because it can rot. I guess it receives it's rain in winter where it grows"

MATTY -

May 28 2013 11:42 AM

IPS FORUM

Notice how I said "apparently" and "It can" and "I guess", because I was sharing some stuff that I was learning at the time, without trying to make myself appear as an expert and spouting absolutes. Yes, they can go without water the entire summer quite happily. But you said, "If you give it water in the summer, it rots and WILL die". That's just not true. We get an occasional summer monsoonal thunderstorm and all the Aloe dichotomas didn't die. I know for a fact you can water them, infrequently, and in well draining soil, like I already said, and they will not rot and die. Just stop it. It's in the bucket, and one, to the line, makes it, it's over, go take a shower.

[joe_OC]

Love the yellow on the flowers.

[trioderob]

the flowers are lovely

[Hammer]

Very nice looking. Wish I had the appropriate location for one in my yard. Oh well.

[Geoff]

I have grown Aloe dichotomas for decades now and have to agree with Matty... they take water any time of year.. I grow some of mine in clay, too, and they have done very well. Never rotted a single one. I do NOT soak the plants to the point of sitting in a bowl of soup, however. But they do seem to respond to summer water nicely. Same for just about any aloe (are some notable exceptions, however... I have watered Aloe pillansii in summers, too and not killed one, but do not notice it improves its look any. Aloe asperifolia is one that does NOT like summer water much, nor is Aloe clavata a fan of summer water, either... though I have not killed more than one by watering them in summers) in southern California. Some of the best aloe growers routinely water their collections all summer (to avoid that annoying leaf shrivel look... which is a 'natural' response, but not a good look). There are plenty of other succulents I have grown in So California way more 'upset' by summer watering than even the sensitive blue aloes. I have killed many, believe me. So for me not to have killed an Aloe dichotoma by my careless and excessive watering behavior says a lot for these plants.

Below are three of my Aloe dichotomas.. first one is planted in nearly pure clay... very happy plant. Does get watered even more than I think it should considering soil but plants around it demand it. Second one is growing in potting soil in a large planter box with lots of other plants that need a lot of water.. .this plant grew faster than any of my others. Third one is out front in a small brick planter box that gets watered at least once a week all summer (other plants would not be happy otherwise) though I admit this soil is really well draining- dries out fast. Last shot is of a plant grown by Jurgen Menzel in his garden... 11 years old!! Grown in soil that is nearly constant wet down deeper where his septic system is.

[MattyB]

!

[trioderob]

mine look just as good - and did not get one drop of water all summer.

comments ???

[MattyB]

Triode, there's some comments in this thread that you may want to check out.

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/39421-aloe-dichotoma-in-bloom/

[trioderob]

Matty-

ever know anyone who lost one of these by rot ?

I do.

what would be interesting is to see if our plants are the same size and then see their progress

water vs no water in San Diego inland.

ps: try growing one of those kauri trees in your huge yard.

they are insane looking for s. cali

Edited November 18, 2013 by trioderob

[MattyB]

This is you as normal conversation comes at you. Way to use the force Triode.

[trioderob]

Matty-

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

- Yoda

[Funkthulhu]

*eating popcorn*

[Funkthulhu]

*eating popcorn*