Aloe Vera wilting

merlinbatchelor

I haven't the slightest green thumb but wanted to improve the air quality in my home. I bought plants and an air purifier. The air purifier is doing well but the plants unsurprisingly not so good.

The aloe vera arrived looking perfect. Within a couple of days it looks like the attached photo (sorry for the photo quality; my photography skills are as good as my gardening). I looked online to see if there was any info and it could be too much water, too little water, too much sunlight or too little sunlight. I wouldn't know how to tell the difference. The soil is dryish and I last watered it 5 days ago. They are receiving direct sunlight but behind a window with terraced houses on either side so it's not masses of sunlight.

I am hoping some super gardener on here can tell me what's wrong and help save these plants from my cruel and sadistic (ignorant) torture!

merlinbatchelor

Sorry I should have kept it short. Does anyone know what's wrong with my aloe vera plant please?

wild edges

Did you pot the plant on or is it still in the nursery pot? I'm just wondering how the roots look and if the plant is established or one of last year's offsets. I haven't watered mine since the autumn and generally work to the rule that they don't need winter water. Less established plants might need a touch more water though and less direct sun.

Nollie

Well I wouldn’t describe myself as a super gardener, but Aloes are best kept on the dryish side and will rot if too wet, just water them when the leaves start to lose their plumpness. Could it be it is either getting scorched if it gets direct sunlight magnified via that window, or alternatively, and possibly more likely, they are getting too cold at night if the temperature drops dramatically overnight?

The outer leaves naturally wither and die off in time, just pick them off, but I’ve never seen that problem you have at the tips, sorry.

merlinbatchelor

Thanks; I have taken it out of the sunlight for now. I didn't think about windows magnifying sunlight. The plants are in the pots they were shipped in.

Theveggardener

If they are on the window sill have the tips been toughing the window when it's been frosty or very cold. Just a thought.

Dovefromabove

It does rather look like cold/frost damage at the tips. 
Windowsills and window glass can get very cold at night. 

merlinbatchelor

I can put them somewhere warmer, but can the plants get enough light indoors without being in front of a window?