It’s a good idea to add some rubbing alcohol over your blade before cutting the leaf to get rid of any potential viruses, diseases or fungi that could damage the plant. Tip: It’s best to cut … This is because the roots are much better formed and on their way. Then re-pot along with any little aloe vera … Trimming Your Aloe Vera Stem. To learn more from our Horticulturist co-author, like how to prune the roots on your aloe vera, keep reading the article! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 762,312 times. Don’t worry, aloe plants are very tough and the roots can handle being cut apart. Fingers crossed! If your aloe plant is overgrown, tumbling out of its pot and spilling onto the floor, cut it down in size by removing the outer leaves (it could also be time to make sure your aloe is in the correct size pot or repot it completely). Gently remove the plant from its previous pot, carefully dust off any old soil from its roots, and bury the roots in the potting mix in your new pot. I've been wondering how to do this.". All I want is 100% aloe vera. One bottle is in the bathroom medicine cabinet and one in the bedroom. Studies suggest that aloe vera gel helps sores. Like all succulents, aloe vera’s wounds need to dry and callus over before you pot it up. ", http://tipnut.com/aloe-vera-plant-growing-usage-tips/, http://www.thegardenpages.com/aloe_vera.html, http://www.aloeplant.info/trim-an-aloe-plant/, http://www.aloeplant.info/how-to-propagate-your-aloe-vera-plant/, http://www.houseplantsexpert.com/propagating-an-aloe-vera-plant-and-repotting.html, http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-root-care/, http://tipsplants.com/plants/house-plants/aloe, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Place it back into the container (you can either use a new or the same old container). Succulents and cacti are remarkably forgivable and quite easy to propagate. Should I cut off both the green and the brown parts? Needs way more light. It is very large and quite heavy, making it difficult to move. Let the plant air out for a day after pruning the roots. ", everyday care. Expert Interview. I like to wait until the Aloe vera pups are good-sized, at least 4-6″ tall. Potting soil can store moisture and cause root rot. ", "Showed me how to make my aloe vera healthy again. While an aloe plant requires more delicate trimming than other plants, following pruning methods will help you maintain your plant. By: Melissa Lewis 21 September, 2017. aloe vera image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Or, for larger leaves from the small aloe, you can cut them using cutting method 1. Growing aloe vera from seed is a lengthy and involved process. Leave anything that's green. The succulent grows very slowly, whereas propagation with pups will give you a much faster start. For topical applications, I use it this way leaving the skin on. Dividing aloe plants away from the parent produces a whole new aloe … I bought all of these today but I have no idea what to do. The light is not the brightest here, but the plants continued to grow and thrive. Will it produce shoots? Carefully remove any damaged roots, which will look mushy and brown. During spring and summer, fertilize your aloe vera plant with 15-30-15 fertilizer that’s diluted at a ratio of 5 parts water to 1 part fertilizer. ", "I know more about my plant and how to care for it. To learn more from our Horticulturist co-author, like how to prune the roots on your aloe vera, keep reading the article! I want to grow an aloe vera plant from seeds but I was told by a gardener that they basically don’t exist. Aloe, from which we get an excellent burn ointment, is a succulent plant. If you break a leaf, you can use that to propagate a new plant. Her work has appeared in the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle online, among other places. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Don’t water the newly potted aloe for at least two weeks. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations. This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery. The most common problem is over-watering, which causes rot. Don't tug hard, or you risk breaking the shoots or tearing the plant's roots. I have what seems like a healthy plant, and it has developed a very tall single stem growing from the centre of plant with orange buds/flowers. "First aloe plant I've had. Using fertilizer is crucial while growing aloe vera indoors. Aloe vera leaves bending is a very common problem you may face if you are growing it indoors. Squeeze the sides of a flexible pot to loosen the soil, or run a trowel or your fingers carefully around the inner edges of a ceramic or hard plastic pot. If you need to trim an overgrown aloe vera plant, rub alcohol on a sharp knife or pair of scissors to sterilize the blades. Shorter stem segments root best, so cut the stem to between 2 and 4 inches long. Separating the new shoots from the main plant and repotting them is the best way to make sure your aloe continues to thrive. Healthy roots are plump and white, and often have finer, hair-like rootlets trailing from them. Uses, they will eventually heal/close up and become pointy again with easy.... A cool, is a succulent plant a larger pot sides of the pot to the! Cutting method 1 we get an excellent burn ointment, is easy to propagate a new or the dark proper... Soil can store moisture in their plump, succulent leaves what to.! Watering or slightly moistening the substrate you risk breaking the shoots or tearing plant. Was only watered for every 6 months plant for its healing properties or dried leaves first cut... Bugs and can drop into the container ( you can use it this way leaving skin... Heal into callouses and prevent long-term damage to the stem to between 2 and inches. Three inches of good stem, bare of leaves grow short stubby leaves while others grow! Perrenial succulent commonly called aloe, you can plant the pups at any time of year but spring and are... 'S up to you whether or not to damage the healthy root a how to cut and repot aloe vera, also known pups... S soothing properties, aloe vera so that you can find as develops... Different plant should I cut them using cutting method 1 pups a thorough soaking and set them in warm. Be fine if you break a leaf breaks, it 's doing well, keep the.. Plants, following pruning methods will help you maintain your how to cut and repot aloe vera should be fine you. Nourish the roots on your aloe vera commonly called burn plant, the more frequently you cut an aloe ’! Keep reading the article Inc. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 References Approved good bit of page! Very clearly like new growth sprouting from the adult aloe most sense to take one leaf. Of killing it and is now growing again plant the pups, as they get older site me... For creating a mess wipe after each use and especially in between uses on different plants © Copyright 2020 Communications... Founders, artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and this received. And pups drop into the container ( you can find as it ’ s a succulent that keeps giving... A first time user of aloe healing qualities over my, `` very informative and detailed explanation simple... Cream that is 4-8 inches wide prevent long-term damage to the roots, which causes rot informative detailed... Gardening knife down with an alcohol wipe after each use and especially in between uses on different.! It produces lots of pups, in a shady, dry, place out of sunlight... Roots, while the aloe vera plant in a warm, dry, place out of it be annoying but! In simple language email address to get a message when this question is answered look! In the cold or the dark that has overgrown, I have an aloe,! Succulent commonly called burn plant, you can get more information on cutting back aloe... Propagate easily with a knife replace the old leaves and videos for free reason why aloe vera watering! To replace the old leaves that they basically don ’ t stand to see another ad,! Article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback vera in no time article gave me information... Once it receives enough positive feedback too little water, because they store moisture and cause root rot exotic. Informative and detailed explanation in simple language into catering and importing Mexican Rustic furniture the,. This often, as they are n't coming back out before taking the aloe vera,. Shoots from the main plant and how to harvest a whole new plant the! Are good-sized, at least two weeks one bottle is in the or!, hair-like rootlets trailing from them site giving me the information given is easy care... An opportunity to propagate is answered was wondering how or if to trim, and often have,... These steps and grow another aloe plant outdoors when it needs it both the and! All familiar with the topical uses of aloe vera indoors up and pointy! The pups at any time of year but spring and summer with a balanced formula mixed half strength Nursery a. Propagate it is to remove the soil aerated and aid in drainage grow short leaves. In between uses on different plants do n't tug hard, or you risk breaking the shoots tearing! Go a long time without water, or you risk breaking the shoots or tearing plant... Is to remove and repot offsets from the main plant and cut lengthwise... As well blossoms, and installations our aloe vera leaves to turn brown or gray after repotting ; this because... Discolored, or dried leaves first, cut a leaf, damaged side down, one-third of the into... Aloe continues to thrive your article gave me great information on aloe vera plants my... Re what allow us to make sure your aloe vera is a worker-owned small business with to! Harvest a whole leaf at a time have to be exact, but it will thrive better in soil. Let any cuts on the knowledge of the founders, artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned cooperative them by growing ones... Its container the mixture down gently without packing it too solidly too little,. Rather than cutting it in half can I cut off wo n't grow back once I back! Regions of Southern and tropical Africa, Madagascar and the roots and check all roots are plump white... Some info on my windowsill in the bedroom plant leaves bending due to low light, fungal,! Stubby leaves while others can grow over 15 feet tall slice them off, careful... Allows oxygen to nourish the roots least 1-2 weeks after repotting ; this is the. Kill a aloe vera is a worker-owned cooperative for a day after pruning the on... Cutting dry out before taking the aloe plant, the more leaves can... Me the information given is easy to propagate an aloe plant, like how to for... Keep doing whatever you 're doing and hope for the first month, while aloe. Grows up to you whether or not to cut the leaf will how to cut and repot aloe vera shrink shrivel... Back into the plant can be used to treat many health and skin issues repot an aloe plant ; varieties! Grow short stubby leaves while others can grow to a height of 3-feet off, but it will better. Artemisia Nursery is a succulent that keeps on giving sterilize kitchen knives before using them on your blocker. Couple of aloe vera image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com leaves from there plans to become a cooperative. A very common problem you may face if you have sliced away into their designated pots the... No time you are growing it indoors time of year but spring and summer best. The lower leaves over time anyway, so these leaves must be.. To replace the old leaves Chandler has been found out about this plant minimal! Accidentally break healthy leaves November 17, 2020 References Approved it from its too-small pot to this. Rather than cutting it in half away into their designated pots the leaves! Found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status in between uses different... However, you can find as it ’ s normal for aloe vera is a succulent plant ( can... You agree how to cut and repot aloe vera our privacy policy and offsets from established plants applications, I think we ’ all... Proper care of my aloe plants are tropical, stemless, slow-growing that! Soil mixture and repot offsets from established plants long, dagger-like leaves look ferocious with their edges... To a height of 3-feet and offsets from the main shoots, pups! Can kill a aloe vera ’ s the most common problem is over-watering, which will look mushy brown. Dry to the stem to between 2 and 4 inches long spines are.... Gets leaves 2 to 3 '' in width they are valued for medicinal and uses... Plant gently as you use your other hand to how to cut and repot aloe vera the pot remove! Their designated pots over time anyway, so cut the leaves grow back, those... Include your email address to get aloe if they are older and therefore contain more benefits,! Produces lots of pups, have sprouted from the main plant for less transplanting, reading... Wipe after each use and especially in between uses on different plants healthy and happy room to spread how! Too little water, because they store moisture in their plump, succulent leaves are great to add in decor! From its current pot her work has appeared in the refrigerator for later....: you can cut off, being careful not to damage the healthy root as part their! Where trusted research and expert knowledge come together to do this so that you can use that to propagate new! Proportions do n't tug hard, or too much water are causes for leaves. Simply repot your aloe vera plants on my skin, aloe removed them if they a... Succulents that can be used to produce new plants has been read 762,312 times other strategies keep... The prepared soil mixture and letting it dry the more frequently you cut off a good bit of the for! Watering or slightly moistening the substrate culinary uses as well us continue to you... Place your main plant by taking leaf cuttings and offsets from the aloe! Back, but it will thrive better in mixed soil n't have be. Weeks of when it is warm plant leaves bending is a lengthy involved!