This light-starved aloe is seriously in need of repotting! Source: indseec, http://www.helpfulgardener.com
Question: I would like to know how to recuperate an aloe that is very etiolated, with a 12-inch (30-cm) section of bare stem at the base.
Answer: You mostly see this kind of bare stem on either very old aloes (Aloe vera) or those seriously lacking light. Fortunately, you can easily solve the problem by cutting off the top of the plant and rerooting it.
Cut the stem about 2 inches (5 cm) below the lowest leaves, then remove a few leaves at the base of the rosette, pulling them off completely, including the sheath at their base, to expose a section of fresh stem. You will notice that there are small bumps on this part of the stem: they are actually adenventious roots that will spring into growth when in contact with soil.
Now fill a pot of barely moist growing mix (any potting soil will do: aloes are not fussy plants!). Make a hole in the center of the mix and insert the cut stem into it, pushing it down so that the lower leaves rest on the pot edges. This will help stabilize this heavy cutting, otherwise difficult to fix solidly.
Place the cutting in a well-lit spot, preferably one that gets a few hours of sun daily. Only water when the soil is really dry.
The cutting will root slowly, probably over several months, but soon enough your aloe will have regained a healthy appearance. It can then be treated as an adult aloe, with more frequent waterings and even a bit of fertilizer every now and then.
In the future, give your aloe more light (your plant is clearly struggling from the lack of it!). Remember that an aloe is essentially a full-sun plant that will tolerate moderate light, but certainly not dark corners!