A sexually mature aloe vera forms small daughter plants on the trunk that can be used for propagation. Division is done by carefully cutting or breaking off the shoots. After the cut surfaces have dried, the offshoots are planted.
How to divide an aloe vera plant?
To divide a sexually mature aloe vera, carefully remove the daughter plants on the trunk, let the cut surfaces dry and place the offshoots in potting soil, cactus substrate or soil-sand mixture. Water sparingly weekly and avoid waterlogging.
Aloe vera is suitable for propagation by division even for inexperienced gardeners due to its natural offshoots. The robust and undemanding succulent begins to form daughter plants at the base of the trunk around the age of three, which grow up quite quickly. With a suitable location and good care, Aloe vera produces several offshoots at the same time. To keep the plant in shape, these offshoots should be removed regularly.
Propagate aloe vera by division
Strictly speaking, the term “division” does not exactly apply to the propagation of aloes. This is because a plant is not divided into two or more equal parts, but rather a shoot growing on the mother plant, also called a “kindel” in Austria, is separated from the mother plant. Except for the missing roots, it is an independent aloe vera in mini format. To root these, please proceed as follows:
- Carefully break off offshoots as close to the mother plant as possible or cut them off with a sharp knife,
- Allow cuttings to air dry for several days to avoid mold formation,
- Place cuttings in a container with potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon), cactus substrate or soil-sand mixture,
- place the planter protected from the sun,
- water the substrate sparingly weekly,
- Do not water the leaves, avoid waterlogging at all costs.
Tip
To propagate aloe vera, you don't have to wait for your plant to produce offshoots. You can just as easily take cuttings from the leaf and grow new plants from it.