Expert: Greg Simpson - 3/13/2006

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I bought a house in Laguna Beach 6 years ago with a large concentration of aloe on a hillside. In the last few weeks the "leaves" of the plants have been drying out and dying. Close to the center, the plant is still green but the outer edges of the "leaves" are turning brown to black, shrinking in size and curling up. In its earlier stages of deterioration there appear to be brown splotches forming on the "leaves." We have two areas of plants separated by stairs and the problem is spread throughout the plants on both sides. We have had average rainfall so far this year. Is this some kind of disease? What should I do? We are talking about roughly 200 square feet of plants. They are signature to our house. I would die if we lost them.
Answer -
Dear John,

The brown spots sound like marks left by a sucking insect of some kind (other than a mark, there isn't a whole lot of damage done). The way you describe the leaves dying sounds normal, especially if they are doing it all at the same time. I would suggest however, that you contact a certified arborist, or at least contact the Huntington Botanical Gardens:

1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

They have one the largest collections of succulents (including Aloes) in the world and are relatively close to you. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Greg

Greg,

Thanks for the Huintington Library suggestion. I'll try that. As to the leaves dying as "normal" that is not the case because we have been here six years and this is the first time this has happened.

John

Answer
Dear John,

The reason I said the leaves dying the way you described them as normal is that I have been a succulent/cacti collector for over 25 years and have had many Aloe's over that period of time and that is always the way the leaves have died, then have fallen off the plant. Sometimes the fall off looking perfectly fine, but mostly they shrivel up and fall off. What you have to really watch out for are the crown leaves (the new ones in the center), if the is rotted, the center leaves will pull out.

Good Luck.

Sincerely,

Greg