I'm not even sure what this is, but it's gotten very tall. Would you cut part of the top off? I've got other succulents, but none that "stack" like this one. Thank you for helping out a novice!

An Aloe. You can cut it anywhere you want. I'd cut it about 1/4 of the way up. Let the cut off piece dry out for 2 weeks and then pot that part up. You can keep doing this for a long time if you do not want a tall plant. Gene

I wouldn't cut it unless there was a reason, like it didn't fit back in the house or the urge to play with propagating it is overwhelming. What others would do is irrelevant though, it's your plant. Do you want to cut it?

Thanks, Gene! I think I do like this one better if it's shorter.

Tiffany, I do like to propagate things, so that'll be a bonus

The aloe will continue to sprawl and grow sideways in its new location, so you know.... normal behavior, something you can mitigate by staking or tying, but it will be an evolving situation. It tends to be easier to handle if you put more than one plant in a given pot, then allow them to support each other for a while until they get leggy.

The cactus growing in the same pot looks like it has a scale problem. Those little white or pale dots on the skin of the plant, can you scrape them off with your fingernail or a toothpick?

That's the climbing aloe--http://garden.org/plants/view/117086/Climbing-Aloe-Aloe-ciliaris/. Am I correct, experts? In any case, you have a nice specimen, Ibis. A pot full would be lovely. I also love the look of the upright cactus. Enjoy your plants the way that you want to grow them.

I do believe I have one in my aloe seedlings.
#35?

Possibly #27, 28, 29? They are much darker but in full sun all day.


Stush

Baja_Costero said:The aloe will continue to sprawl and grow sideways in its new location, so you know.... normal behavior, something you can mitigate by staking or tying, but it will be an evolving situation. It tends to be easier to handle if you put more than one plant in a given pot, then allow them to support each other for a while until they get leggy.

The cactus growing in the same pot looks like it has a scale problem. Those little white or pale dots on the skin of the plant, can you scrape them off with your fingernail or a toothpick?

@Baja_Costero, I had to go check - yep, some of them I can scrape off. I've only dealt with scale once when most Sago palms were killed off in Central Florida a few years ago due to scale, and nothing seemed to work then. Is there something that I can use on the cactus?

@Deebie, thanks for the link! Now that I see them in a pot by themselves through database pictures, they do look pretty good in their natural state. I don't think I'll be able to keep them short anyway. Time to put them in their own pot, as you and @Baja_Costero both suggested. Thank you both!

Ibis,
I use Bayer 3 in 1 on all my plants. Mix in water and water them twice a year. Never had problems again. It kill bees so I don't use this on my outside plants. I pull off the flowers on my Haworthias and Aloes so not to kill bees.
Stush

Thanks Stush, I have some 3-in-1 so I'll try that. The cactus is outside, but it's never flowered so I'm hoping the bees won't be affected. Thank you!

I would not expect pesticide treatment to resolve the scale problem the way it looks now. The systemic product works best for prevention, not cure. Try removing the bugs mechanically first. Wipe the bugs with rubbing alcohol first to loosen their grip, then remove them with a Q tip or similar. Once they are detached they are basically done. You can come back for a second round of cleaning in a few weeks if the problem isn't solved right away.

Of course everyone should choose the best route for them, but I see a couple problems with using pesticides where they aren't needed. First off the 3 in 1 is overkill, and not in a good way... a simple systemic insect control product accomplishes the same goal with less chemicals being put into the world. If you don't have a mite problem, why use an acaricide? Second the use of pesticides is not necessary or even helpful for the vast majority of succulents I grow. When you treat everything in the garden, you are basically guaranteeing the absence of beneficial insects.

I've heard good things about horticultural oil --

Many people prefer to use homemade control of plant scale. Insecticidal soap is a safe and effective alternative to conventional insecticides. You can use bleach-free dishwashing liquid (1 1/2 teaspoons per quart of water) in place of commercial insecticide soaps. Homemade control of plant scale can also be achieved with oil spray. Mix 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water. This can also be mixed with 1 cup of alcohol to help penetrate the insect’s shell.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Scale Bug – How To Control Plant Scale http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

Make sure to test it on a small portion of the plant first so you don't kill it

Azamax is my all time favorite. It does take care of scale as well as many other pasta. Gene

Could that just be corking? I am not the best with IDs, but I understand corking is something you find on Opuntia sometimes, I believe due to too much water.