How to look after an Aloe Vera plant?

[JoyceByersWasRight]

I'm terrible at gardening. My neighbour has given DD a cutting of an Aloe Vera plant after she admired their one. However, several weeks in and it is not a happy happy. It's gone from a beautiful, healthy green plant which was quite firm to a sort of brownish colour and a bit squidgy. I don't know whether we are watering enough/too much or too much/not enough sun? What have I done to it? And what can I do to nurse it back to health?

If it's gone brown and squishy let the soil dry out and move it into bright but not direct light.

Aloe vera doesn't like much water. I can't even remember the last time I watered mine and it's still happy. It does sound like you're massively over-watering it and depending on how soft it's gone, it might not recover.

Too much water.

Put it in direct sunlight, and let the soil dry out.

I only water mine once a week if that.

I once forgot to water one of them for a month and it was fine. They’re desert plants really.

My little aloe has thrived in the bathroom where it doesn't get directly watered but is very humid. Could try that?

I am a master at killing plants. Everything my kids bring home from school, dead within days. Houseplant gifts, killed in a less than a week. Nothing green survives when I have responsibility for it.

Except my aloe vera! I've had it for 20 years now and pretty much totally ignore it. Once in a blue moon, usually when the leaves have turned brown and crispy, I throw a bit of water at it and it comes back to life again.

I put a smaller offshoot from it on the bathroom windowsill and I've never ever watered that one, the steam from the shower seems to be enough. Indestructible I tell you!

I did once read up on the care instructions - "thrives with neglect" - which suits me perfectly!

If my aloe vera ever dies I will know Armageddon has started.

Apparently I'm also pretty good at killing threads.

I'm very comforted by the advice above as I'm also a plant killer and have a sad looking aloe vera. 🤞 I can revive it.

Thanks so much Everyone, I will leave it alone forthwith! I just hope it does come back as by the sounds of it even those of you who have a similar track record with killing plants haven't managed to kill an Aloe. Oh the responsibility! This is why I hate gardening, I can't be trusted!