In December 2024 I wrote a post about repotting my aloe vera which had become too big to keep inside. I needn’t have been concerned that it wouldn’t grow outside. This summer it produced a spike over half a metre tall (66cm in fact) from which elongated trumpet-like flowers emerged. It was intriguing to watch – my home-grown variation of the ‘corpse flower’ in the Botanic Gardens which people queued to see.
Today, the last flower is fading at the tip of the spike. The plant is on more of a lean than it was, probably because Felix tried to climb it this morning. Incriminating evidence: his fur all over it, and the thumping and scrabbling noises he made as he fell between the wall and the pot – which was where he was when I looked out the window. However, the plant seems to have a firm foundation, having grown massively since I repotted it – quite a change from the wobbly little plant it was when my nephew gave it to me in 2021.
A most impressive plant – obviously Felix was impressed, almost impaled.
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Any wounds might have been soothed by the aloe vera!
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Anne, Felix seems to have performed an accidental stability test. If the root ball feels firm, do not move the aloe into a larger pot to correct the lean; unused mix can stay wet too long. Check for a cracked pot, soil pulled away from one side, splits at the crown, or loosened roots.
Once the final flower fades, cut the 66 cm stalk near its base with a clean blade. Removing that long lever may be enough to rebalance the plant. If the root mass has shifted but remains intact, settle it back at the same planting depth and top up only with gritty, fast-draining mix. A wide, heavy outer pot or low plant stand can add stability without burying the stem or oversizing the root zone. Keep drainage unobstructed.
I would also move it out of Felix’s climbing route. Aloe can cause digestive upset in cats if chewed; drooling or vomiting warrants a call to the vet. The spiked leaves and falling pot are physical hazards too.
I work on KnowYourPlant; our succulent guide includes aloe drainage, light, and pet-safety checks: https://knowyourplant.app/blog/posts/succulent-care-guide/
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