How can I perk up my aloe? (Pic included)

[TheRhythmlessMan]

I hardly water it. It's been like this for about a year.

I’d say you’ve been underwatering it, especially if you only moisten the surface when you do. Succulents tend to do best if you only water them when the soil is really dry, but you give them a good soaking when you do. That, and as much sunlight as you can give them.

Of course you would kill it by overwatering - it's a succulent (not a cactus, it's in the Asphodelaceae family), they are adapted to very dry conditions, so mustn't remain in wet compost for long.

The live plant is one that lives on a moss ball. You're supposed to soak the ball every few weeks but I just hung it in the bathroom and didn't soak it, it's sprouting lots of new 'petals' in the centre and looks very happy.

The other live plant is a snake plant that I forget to water but seems ok. It lives in the bathroom with no windows and comes out once a week to sit in the conservatory for some sunlight.

If I can happily ignore the aloe plant and just go 'oh crap!' and water it every few weeks then it sounds like it will survive.

To be honest my problem is probably a combination of bad watering techniques and lack of sunlight. I live in a dark cottage so the best position is the bathroom next to the skylight which faces east. But maybe the bathroom isn't dry enough so maybe I just can't provide the right conditions for the poor thing.

If we get the summer heat that we did last year it's going outside (don't know why I didn't stick it outside last year!!!)