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BIL gave me a BIG, healthy pot of aloe May '11. Spent a few months out on deck in NJ before coming in for the winter. Went back out this past spring. Dodged a bullet on frost Friday night, so have been cleaning up plants to come inside for winter... KNOW a hard frost would reduce aloe to a pot of SLIME.

Plant didn't get much attention this summer... too darn HOT to spend much time outdoors at all. I cleaned it up... lots of leaves and stuff had fallen into it. The plant is seriously "reaching" out over rim of pot... not a lot in center. I know aloe is easy to propogate... like stick a hunk in a pot and it'll be fine.

If I give this plant a SERIOUS haircut and stick all the cuttings into another pot... they'll grow just fine. Will the original (bald, post haircut) plant come back?

Hi There - yes, it will most likely just sprout new hair. When I repot mine, I normally toss out the old ones... have never given them a haircut unless I have a burn to treat.

So you should be fine with your short haired friend. Enjoy

ve

Ok.. I'll have to try it.. mine is huge.. has lived in the same window for years.. is spread out sideways. I too never cut it unless I get a burn. Will let you know.

Gonna give the aloe a SEVERE haircut and poke all the cuttings into another pot of soil. Then wait to see what happens with what's left behind. Sister (in DC area) thinks she might have left an aloe on deck of her place in WV mountains... probably toast, if she did... since snow (at least flurries) are NOT uncommon by the end of October. If both pots are a success, will give one to her.

You might also take it out of the pot, rinse off the roots and see how many plants you really have there. Likely needs fresh potting soil anyhow. I've propagated many of those things countless times and given away tons of them over the years.

I have always re planted the whole plant when replanting aloe. I don't know if they take by leaf cutting. Some succulents take by planting a leaf.If you do trim them, the center of each aloe will continue growing. They do grow leggy when they don't get enough light. I would transplant a few of the smaller ones in another pot. That way if something happens to the big pot, you will still have another one.