tropicalhomestead:

tropicalhomestead:

I really, really want aloe to work as a rooting agent.  It’s disappointed me in two separate tests. So let’s try one last time.

So out to the pokey patch to cut a few leaves

I trimmed off the pokey parts and then used a knife to separate the outer layers,

then dumped  gooey innards into the blender.

A lot leaves, a lot of gooey stuff.

Now it’s frothy stuff.

After the bubbles settled down, I filled five jars with 12 ounces of filtered tap water.  I stirred in  4 tablespoons of  aloe to one jar, 3 tbsp  to the next, and so on, leaving the fifth just water.

Maybe some percentage of aloe is conducive to root growth.  I’ll find out in a few days.

Oh. And the leftover mint I used for mint and honey tea. Because I’m worth it.

Ok, I have exhausted all possiblities and enthusiasm for aloe as a rooting agent.

Special thanks to @theatomscombined for reminding me to post the results, I think I was trying to block it all out.

From left to right shows the mint that was in the 4 tbsp of aloe mixture, then 3 tbsp, etc. The right is the control. 

After SIXTEEN days, I stopped – as you can see, the stems started to get slimy.  Roots appeared only on the control, no aloe in the water. 

My findings: Aloe is not only ineffective as a rooting agent, it appears to actually be detrimental to rooting.

I welcome anyone with too much time on their hands to try and see if they get different results.