Expert: Greg Simpson - 11/15/2005

Question
Hi Greg,

I have read that pups from Aloes should be taken off and re-potted. How do I know exactly what a "pup" is and how exactly do I remove it from the mother plant? My 3 year old plant is quite large and most of the leaves now grow horizontally.

In addition:
My new kitten had damaged most leaves of my Aloe. Will this affect the health of the plant as a whole?

Thanks.

Answer
Dear Lia,

A "pup" is anything that grows off the main plant. They can be broken off (leave at least 3 to 4 inches of stem), allowed to heal for a week or so, then repotted. As far as the damage from your kitten, it will be mostly cosmetic and shouldn't adversly affect the plant itself.

Watch out for your kitten though, as Aloe can also be a strong laxative. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Greg