Help Please - Unknown Succulent

[pcguru34]

I got this Succulent (I believe) as a gift from a relative and it is starting to die. Could someone please help me to identify it so that I can properly take care of this plant

The tab that came with the plant appears to be the wrong one.

Thanks for you help in advance.

[Saxicola]

Definitely and Aloe, possibly Aloe ferox. That thing has been spray painted red. The good news is it will grow out of it eventually. The bad news is it may take a couple years before new leaves have fully replaced the red ones.

Water sparingly but don't let it stay dried out for too long either. Where do you live? If you live in a warmer climate (zone 9b or above) you should grow it outside year round. If you are in a cold climate then it would benefit by being grown outside during the warmer months.

[KittieKAT]

Beware of the spikes on the leaves piercing the upper leaves, if the spikes puncture the flesh it will seep fluid and die off, i usually shove a piece of perlite between the spike and the Flesh of the upper leaf if it's to close, very sad someone spray painted it
I would repot it in sifted (thru grate or a small pots holes) of Cacti&Succulent mix and perlite (50/50) for better drainage and to help it dry out faster soo it doesn't die or get root rot, Goodluck

[HairyHarry]

Beware of the spikes on the leaves piercing the upper leaves, if the spikes puncture the flesh it will seep fluid and die off, i usually shove a piece of perlite between the spike and the Flesh of the upper leaf if it's to close, very sad someone spray painted it

Really, a plant that hurts itself? Up to the point it dies off? Or just the occasional dying leaf?
That is a stupid thing to do for a plant isn't it. (or for any other living thing really) Is that natural or a result of selective breeding gone wrong?

[adetheproducer]

I got one of these with out the poor graffiti art work, it doers poke holes in its self but no bad consequences no rot or nasty marks, it tends to only affect the old leaves anyway which are quickly replaced by the new central growth.

[KittieKAT]

It's just the one leave that will die off if punctured not the whole plant, you'll just have to remove the leave after it dies it will grow another so no biggie, aloes and other succulents are known to loose their bottom leaves time to time. And i agree painting anything living is cruel, without its permission, of course lol

[KittieKAT]

And that's ONLY if its a deep puncture not a small pin prick like adetheproducer is talking about, but i stick perlite inbetween the plant leaf and spike reguardless now lol, the poor dear has already done it to itself twice and then had one leaf that was deflated where the puncture was but fat everywhere else, until the leave eventually died off a while later. Goodluck with this guy

[pcguru34]

Thanks everyone for your input/replies. I can't believe that it has been spray painted?!?!? My relatives informed me that they got it in this condition from Home Depot. They certainly wouldn't have done it and I wouldn't have either. My guess is somebody wanted to make it more attractive and/or more unusual so that it got sold quicker and/or for more money (I'm guessing the latter is most likely).

Thanks again!

[KittieKAT]

That's usually why they do that, u can go to any market baskets plant section and see there various spray painted succulents an cacti...Soo stupid