A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum aloe plant

I need help with my aloe plant please. I've had this plant for a really long time. It stands about 1 1/2 ft. tall and has about 6 leaves, about 15" long. Most of the leaves are growing out of the top half of the plant. The leaves that were on the bottom half have dried up and look like they should fall off but they don't. They just shrivel up and hang there. I've tried pulling them off but they are just don't come off easily. I'd like to cut the plant down and re-root it. Is this possible? If yes, how to I go about it?
Julie

Hi and welcome Julie.

You can start a new plant by propogating side shoots(pups)..or you could cut the top off, leave it dry out for an hour or so, dip it in rooting hormone powder and in fresh soil,...keep it in a warm place out of the sun til it reroots.

Thanks for the help. What is rooting hormone powder? Is it something I can easily get at a home depot/lowes type of store?
Julie

yes, it is. but you don't have to have it, it is just better if you do

I got some rooting hormone at the local feed store. to each his own....but I really wished I hadn't have bought it. it was 5 bucks and I've never seen a difference by using it. I still use it...all the time, cause I don't like to waste anything...but my results are about the same.