Q&A for How to Trim an Aloe Vera Plant

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  • Question
    My plant was only watered for every 6 months. Now, I have started watering it every 2 weeks of when it needs it. It has green growing out of the brown. What should I do? Should I cut off both the green and the brown parts?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Sounds like your plant died back to the roots, and is now growing again. Your watering schedule sounds about right- I water my aloe every few weeks. Go ahead and remove the brown parts- they aren't coming back. Leave anything that's green. Hopefully your aloe will regrow itself completely!
  • Question
    Do the leaves grow back once I cut them? Or do I have to repot it to grow an entirely different plant?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    The leaves that you cut off won't grow back, but the plant will replace them by growing new ones at the top. Your plant should be fine if you cut off a leaf now and then.
  • Question
    My aloe vera plant has a broken leaf. Should I cut the whole leaf off?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    It's up to you whether or not to cut the leaf - the plant itself should be fine either way.
  • Question
    I repotted my plant. First I took off pups and bad leaves. I repotted but didn't cut the roots. Will it still grow?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Yes, the plant should be fine. It is not necessary to trim the roots when you repot.
  • Question
    I bought a single rather large aloe leaf and for the heck of it I stuck it in the pot and it is doing well. It has been 7 weeks. Will it produce shoots?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Maybe! If it's doing well, keep doing whatever you're doing and hope for the best!
  • Question
    I have what seems like a healthy plant, and it has developed a very tall single stem growing from the centre of plant with orange buds/flowers. What should I do with this?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Congrats! Your aloe bloomed. After the flowers start to fall, and the stem looks ragged, just trim it off at the base where it comes out of the stem and discard. Your aloe should continue to grow.
  • Question
    How do you kill an aloe vera plant?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    You can kill a aloe vera plant by neglecting it, for example leaving it out in the cold or the dark. Overwatering the plant will also kill it.
  • Question
    How do I cut back an overgrown aloe plant?
    Artemisia Nursery
    Plant Nursery & Garden Shop
    Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned small business with plans to become a worker-owned cooperative. In addition to California native plants, Artemisia Nursery offers a selection of succulents, heirloom veggie and herb starts, house plants, pottery, and gardening tools and supplies. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations.
    Plant Nursery & Garden Shop
    Expert Answer
    Usually it's best to harvest an outer or bottom leaf. The plant naturally sheds lower leaves over time anyway, so it makes the most sense to take the leaves from there. Also, aesthetically, it looks best to take one entire leaf at a time.
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