The best way to propagate aloe vera plants is to use their natural offshoots, which can form on the trunk of the mother plant from a certain age. With a little skill, offshoots can also be made from one leaf.
How do you propagate aloe vera through cuttings?
Aloe Vera offshoots are created by carefully separating shoot tips or leaf pieces from the mother plant. The cut surfaces should be allowed to air dry for several days before being planted in a mixture of potting soil and fine sand.
Generative or vegetative propagation possible
Aloe Vera can be propagated generatively (through seeds) or vegetatively (through cuttings). The seeds are available commercially all year round. However, sowing is recommended in spring because of the better lighting conditions. Growing seeds requires more patience and is ideal for an adventurous succulent plant lover who wants to see the seedling develop into an “adult” plant.
It is no less exciting to watch how a new plant is created from a piece of aloe vera leaf. This happens when a leaf part that is planted in the ground forms roots underground and new leaves above ground. This type of propagation is easy to accomplish even for an inexperienced hobby gardener.
Propagation through offshoots
If you own an aloe vera, you may have already observed that it produces new shoots on the trunk. A mother plant can form this from around the age of three. All you have to do is carefully separate the seedling and repot it into its own container so it can continue to thrive. Before planting, let the cut surface of the cuttings air dry to prevent mold formation.
You can also easily take cuttings from the leaves of the mother plant, from which you can grow new plants. You proceed as follows:
- cut off one of the outer leaves,
- cut the leaf into several pieces,
- let the cut surfaces air dry for a few days,
- Place the cuttings in a mixture of potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon) and fine sand (quartz sand if necessary),
- keep the soil evenly moist,
- Place the growing container bright and warm, but protected from the sun.
Care for young plants
To avoid fungus formation, the young plants should not be watered from above. Until the cuttings have fully formed their root system, they cannot tolerate too much light. The small plants can initially store little water, so watering sparingly is advisable. The risk of drying out for succulents is lower than the risk of rot caused by waterlogging.
Tips & Tricks
Cutting off the outer leaves and side shoots also serves to keep the plant in shape.
