Aloe Turning Brown?

So often people tell me they can't grow aloe, that it just turns brown on them and dies. Last night, my daughter said the aloe I gave her last summer had turned brown and seemed to be dying.

Sometimes, my aloe turns brown, like the little one in this picture. I can usually bring them back to health, but I haven't really understood what was going on. There were actually several little aloe plants in this pot that were brown last week. I had it sitting beside an open window and the babies on the window side all turned brown.

Last spring, I went out to my folks in Southern California. Out there, aloe grows wild, but I noticed that most of it was brown. They have been having a drought, so I figured that was the reason, but my aloe has had plenty of water.

Thanks to the magic of the internet and a little digging, I think I finally understand! :) Aloe will turn brown if:

1. The temp dips below 45 degrees.
2. Or if it experiences big environmental changes such as lots of light or wind.

So, if your aloe is turning brown don't despair! Move it to a warm protected shady spot and it will probably recover :) Then harden it off by moving it to it's summer spot slowly. Make sure the night time temps are high enough, then, place it in a shady spot that is protected from wind or just put it out for short periods at a time to start with. Then slowly increase your aloe's exposure to light and wind. It should be alright :)

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue

The Weather Outside is Frightful - But Look What's Growing!

Well, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire in the corn stove is so delightful.

 

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!

 

There are 4 shelves and an ottoman full of plants in my living room. This window faces north east, but fortunately I have some grow lights that I put on when the sun starts to go down. I leave them on till I go to bed. That doesn't seem to be quite enough light, but I've only killed one plant so far! One of my momma aloes is on the left, Then I have a pot with some lemon grass and some volunteer chard. Do not ask me how it got in there, but it has tasted good this winter. Next winter I think I'll dedicate a whole pot to it! On the bottom there is a partial onion that I found at the back of my fridge that was growing. Thought I might as well put it in some dirt. 

This is the bottom shelf of the northeast window. I'm pretty sure I killed the thyme, I'm waiting to see if it will come back. If it doesn't, I have a few catnip seeds that I'm gonna plant in it. I put the packet in the  pot when I found it the other day so I don't loose it. There's also basil, some local rosemary and a celery base that I stuck in some dirt.

This is the southeast window. I've got some lemon balm, a begonia start that one of my elderly clients gave me, the orange tree than my grand kids planted and the rosemary that I brought home from my mom's house in California the last time I visited there. 

This is the bottom shelf and the ottoman. I've got some holy basil on the far left, a sweet basil that isn't doing so hot at the center  back, an elderberry start, some lavender and a ton of aloe! I gave away one of my momma plants and several babies after the markets ended last year, but I will have plenty when the markets start again in the spring. I've had to plant a bunch in cups and put them in a basket lined with a plastic bag. They are sitting on the ottoman because the only other window in my house that has anything to sit it on is in the kids room and I keep it closed when they aren't here. It just gets to cold there.  I have  a grow light on them at night too.

What do you have growing in your house?

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue

Market News

Don't look to bad do I? Yesterday I had WAY to much fun in the sun. I didn't bring the tent because  it was rainy and very windy when I left. Then it turned off sunny and hot. I should have had Grampa Tom bring in the canopy. Fortunately I was selling my extra aloe, so I was snapping off a leaf every now and then and rubbing it on my face neck and arms. Last night, I was feeling so crispy that I wasn't sure if I'd be able to have Julie Marie massage my neck and arms today, but I did one more aloe rub before I went to bed and this morning, my skin is touchable!

BTW, Julie Marie is the massage therapist in Nauvoo. When I first started going to her a little over a year ago, I was having problems holding on to a pencil. She has helped me so much! If you want an appointment call her at 319-572-7767.

I had a great time yesterday reconnecting with all our wonderful Nauvoo customers! I had planned to go home at 4, but I was having so much fun, I stayed till 5:30. 

Thursday, we went to Burlington and had our best opening night ever! So many wonderful interesting people, including this lady:

I love doing farmers' markets! We have lots of lettuce, kale, chard, radishes, onions, peppermint, thyme, fennel, lambs quarters, parsley and Italian parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano and aloe. We will be at the Port in Burlington next Thursday from 5pm - 7:30pm and in Nauvoo at the Sinclair Station from 10am to at least 4pm on Friday. The Keokuk market doesn't start until the 19th. 

See you there!

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue