Expert: Greg Simpson - 10/6/2007

Question
Hi Greg,
I hope you can help me. I can't find the information I need. I have an Aloe Vera plant that is at least 3 yrs old. It was tiny when I got it, it's probably close to 4 ft wide now. I read more recent about the "pups" to cut them. I was scare to, now it's so big, I need to repot it, it's trying to crawl down the pot, and it's almost tipping the pot over. Now it's looks like in the dirt around the base that it's had about 5 babies? Do they do that also? Should I take them out when I finally repot it? I read one of your answer about cutting aloe veras back, needing to know the kind, it only said Aloe Vera-Medicine Plant when I bought it, so that's all I know. Will I hurt it if I do try to some of the new growth in the plant now? Sorry for all the questions, this thing is going crazy!

Thank you for your help!
Darlene


Answer
Darlene,

You can go ahead and trim off the "pups". You can try replanting them, but they must sit out for at least a month before planting. Aloe vera is what is called a "trailing" Aloe. In other words, they will creep along the ground as they grow. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg