People are becoming more self-conscious day by day. The more they do so, the more they realize that without being eco-conscious, it is not possible. So, they are keeping indoor plants for medical and other natural treatment purposes.

One of the popular indoor plants is aloe vera. It is a very powerful healer for burns, cuts, and other skin conditions, and it boosts the appearance of the skin as well. Eating aloe vera provides the same healing benefits. In addition to working on digestion and reducing inflammation, aloe vera also promotes intestinal healing.

Even after having so many benefits, this plant requires very little care. Plants like aloe are inherently set-and-forget, meaning they do best when they are not over-tended. The aloe plant can successfully grow in most households if it receives adequate sunlight and water. But if it is not cut properly for use, it will die. So, in this article, we are going to talk about how to cut an Aloe Vera plant without killing it.

How to Cut Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing it – Getting the Right Cut

Several tools are required to make aloe vera cuttings. If you choose to snap off the leaves with your hands, use a knife that is sharp and clean so that you do not tear the edges and the plant looks nice. When a sprout is more than an inch or two, you should remove a sprout close to the ground to start a new aloe plant. Make sure the plant has time to scab over before transplanting it to fresh potting soil.

The proper way to cut aloe vera without killing the plant is given below step by step:

Step 1

The first step is to choose sharp utensils. If you use a blunt object, it will be difficult to cut properly. So you should use a sharp blade or even scissors. If your large plant has grown wild, it is essential to use clippers to control it.

Step 2

After choosing your cutting device, the second step is to sterilize it before you use it on your plants. If necessary, you can wipe the blade with alcohol and allow it to dry.

Step 3

Now start by removing leaves that have been damaged and rotten at first. Make sure any leaves that are dry, brown, or dead are found by moving the branches and leaves. A lack of water or excessive amount of water and poor lighting are common causes of dying leaves. You can also remove leaves that are noticeably discolored or diseased. There could be pests or diseases on these leaves, so they need to be removed to prevent the plant from getting sick. Cut them at the stem with a knife or scissors. However, be careful when you take off the diseased leaves so that you don’t accidentally damage healthy leaves.

Step 4

It is best to remove as many leaves from the bottom of the plant as possible and to cut close to the plant’s main stem when cutting aloe vera. It’s better to cut a leaf in half than harvest a whole one at a time for aesthetic reasons.

Step 5

Aloe Vera plants can grow up to three feet tall and are fast-growing succulents. Keeping an aloe alive in a pot or on a patio that is potted requires periodic pruning, but never regular pruning. After 2-3 days of cutting the plant, the aloe vera plants will usually start to heal on their own. As pruning removes many of the nutrients that a plant requires to remain healthy and nourished, cut according to the needs.

The plant needs many nutrients to stay alive and healthy, and snipping takes away some of those nutrients. So, make sure you are giving them enough time to heal and do not cut the leaves frequently. Because cutting multiple leaves at a time can lead to a dead aloe vera plant.

Step 6

Cut the plant’s outer leaves near the base of the stem, trimming the leaves cleanly. This will allow the plant to fit in the container. This plant usually sheds lower leaves on its own over time. Aloe vera plants should be cut from bottom to top, so removing them from bottom to top is the best method. 

Step 7

Several types of Aloe vera plants are capable of blooming flowers. However, they will bloom only once, in the summer weeks. It is also best to cut off any worn-out flowers you find while trimming your Aloe plants. Without being removed, dead leaves and dead flowers can attract pests if they are left on the ground.

Step 8

Aloe vera plants need to be propagated in order to control their size since they will form pups or young plants, and those will grow more new plants. It is common for Aloe Vera plants to become too compact if young plants are not separated from the mother plant.

Step 9

In order to keep your Aloe Vera plants in the pot, you need their young plants in order to keep them tame. When a potted Aloe plant is not divided, multiple Aloes can grow in a container that is way too small, and you end up with multiple Aloe plants. You can propagate Aloe Vera plants for use as a source of juice from Aloe Vera leaves if you use aloe leaves frequently. This will ensure the plant will grow enough for the sap from the Aloe leaves to be used regularly. For that, you can propagate from the offshoots rather than from the leaves, even though it is a bit difficult.

Related Post: Gardening Implements

So, that was all about the steps of cutting aloe vera plants without killing them. If you follow the steps given above, your aloe vera plant will remain healthier and give you better results. Nevertheless, you should have more than one aloe vera plant if you plan to use aloe vera regularly for some reason, such as having more family members. Then you can cut leaves from each of the plants regularly without having to worry about killing the plants.