The Aloe Vera plants can be easily propagated through the natural side shoots that the mother plant produces on its trunk at a certain age. You can also grow new aloes yourself from a cut leaf without much effort.
How can I propagate aloe vera?
Aloe Vera can be propagated through side shoots, cuttings or seeds. If there are side shoots, carefully separate seedlings and transplant them. Cuttings are obtained by dividing leaves and planting pieces. Seeds are propagated by sowing in a sand-soil mixture or potting soil.
Propagate generatively or vegetatively?
Although Aloe Vera can be propagated by seeds, propagation by cuttings is preferred. Growing from seeds, which you can buy or harvest yourself, takes longer than propagating from offshoots, which each mother plant can form from around the age of three. All you need to do is cut off the resulting shoots, let the cut areas dry and transplant the seedlings into their own container.
Propagation by seeds
You can get the seeds in garden centers or by mail order (€8.00 on Amazon). Sowing can take place all year round. However, because of the better lighting conditions, it is advisable to sow the seeds in spring. As light germinators, they need a really bright place to germinate. A sand-soil mixture or potting soil is suitable as a substrate. The sowing should be kept moderately moist, waterlogging and direct sunlight should be avoided.
Propagation through natural offshoots
The easiest way to propagate is through side shoots. However, you have to wait until your aloe vera plant sprouts new growth on the trunk. The seedling is carefully separated and repotted into a container filled with moistened succulent substrate. Beforehand, you should let the cut surface air dry for a few days.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings can easily be obtained from the leaves of the aloe plant. To do this, proceed as follows:
- cut off one of the outer leaves,
- divide the sheet into several pieces,
- let the cut surfaces dry for a few days,
- planting the cuttings,
- keep the soil evenly moist, but not too wet,
- Place cuttings in a bright, warm and sun-protected place.
Care for young plants
Until the cuttings have fully developed their root system, they cannot tolerate too much light. To avoid fungus formation, the young plants should not be watered from above. The small plants can initially only store a little water, so watering sparingly is advisable, just enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Waterlogging causes more damage to succulents than temporary dryness.
Tips & Tricks
Aloe blooms every year. This distinguishes it from the agave, which dies after flowering.
