Overwatering is the fastest way to kill this aloe. The roots will rot in consistently moist soil, and by the time you notice problems with the foliage, the damage is usually extensive.
Learn more about watering succulents here.
Temperature and Humidity
This succulent prefers warm temperatures of between 70 and 80°F during the day and 60 to 70°F at night.
As mentioned, it can survive brief drops to 25°F but will suffer damage.
Low humidity is ideal. This is a desert plant that doesn’t appreciate muggy conditions.
Fertilizer
‘Crosby’s Prolific’ doesn’t require much fertilizer.
Feed once a month during the growing season in spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.
A product formulated for cacti and succulents works well. Stop fertilizing in fall and winter when growth slows.
Skip fertilizer for the first few months for newly planted or recently repotted plants. Our guide to fertilizing aloes has more information.
Where to Buy
‘Crosby’s Prolific’ is usually available at nurseries that specialize in succulents and cacti. Many general garden centers also carry it, particularly in spring and summer.
You can find ‘Crosby’s Prolific’ in two-inch, four-inch, and one-gallon pots from Planet Desert.
Maintenance
Remove any dead or damaged leaves by pulling them gently away from the rosette. If they don’t release easily, use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut them at the base.
Dead leaves left on the plant can harbor pests and diseases, so remove them promptly.
Repot when the clump outgrows its container or when offsets become too crowded. This is typically needed every two to three years.
Spring is the best time to repot, at the start of the growing season.
Choose a container one to two inches larger in diameter than the current pot.
Remove the plant from its pot and brush away loose soil. Inspect the roots and trim any that are dead, mushy, or damaged.
Set the plant at the same depth it was growing before, backfill with soil and water lightly.
As the clump expands, you can divide it to create new plants or reduce crowding, as discussed below.
Learn more about repotting aloes here.
Propagation
You can propagate ‘Crosby’s Prolific’ easily by dividing offsets. Leaf propagation doesn’t work with this plant and will result in rot.
From Offsets
Offsets, or pups, are the small rosettes that form around the base of mature plants.
Wait until offsets are at least two inches across and have developed their own roots before removing them. Offsets that are too small or lack roots are unlikely to survive on their own.
The best time to divide is in spring or early summer during active growth.
To remove an offset, unpot the plant or carefully dig away soil to expose where the offset connects to the parent.
Check that the offset has visible roots of its own. If it doesn’t have roots, leave it attached to the parent to develop further.
Gently wiggle the offset to see if it separates easily from the parent. Some offsets pull away cleanly with their roots intact.
