The aloe vera plants can be easily propagated by 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.

The easiest way to propagate aloe vera is by cuttings

Propagating Generatively or Vegetatively?

Although aloe vera can be propagated by seed, propagation by cuttings is preferred. Propagation from seed, which you can buy or harvest yourself, takes longer than propagation from cuttings, which any mother plant can produce from around three years of age. All you have to do is cut off the resulting shoots, let the cuttings dry and transplant the seedlings into their own container.

Propagation by seeds

You can get the seeds at garden centers or by mail order. Sowing can be done all year round. Because of the better light conditions, however, it is advisable to sow the seeds in spring. As light germinators, they need a really bright spot to germinate. A sand-soil mixture or potting soil is suitable as a substrate. Sowing should be kept moderately moist, waterlogging and direct sunlight should be avoided.

Propagation by natural offshoots

The easiest way is to propagate by side shoots. However, you have to wait until your aloe vera plant sprouts again on the trunk. The seedling is carefully separated and repotted in a container filled with moistened succulent substrate. The cut surface should be left to air dry for a few days beforehand.

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,
  • plant the cuttings,
  • keep the soil evenly moist, but not too wet,
  • Keep the cuttings bright, warm and protected from the sun.

Care of the young plants

Until the cuttings have fully developed their root system, they cannot tolerate too much light. To avoid fungal growth, the young plants should not be watered from above. The small plants can only store a little water at first, so sparing watering is advisable, just enough so that the soil does not dry out completely. Waterlogging does more damage to succulents than temporary drought.

tips and tricks

Aloe blooms anew every year. This distinguishes them from the agave, which dies after flowering.

Category:

Indoor plants