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Plus, learn how to extract and use aloe vera gel in your home
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Healthy aloe vera plants grow a lot, and they grow fast! Because of this, these plants need frequent trimmings to keep damaged and excess leaves down, as well as to remove any offshoots or blossoms. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain how to trim aloe vera plants. We'll also share how to transplant your large, overgrown aloe vera to a new pot, how often to trim, and more!
Trimming Aloe Vera: At a Glance
Trim brown, dried, rotting, & dead aloe vera leaves off at the base of the plant. Then, cut any old blossoms at the stem to remove them and give the plant a cleaner look. Lastly, prune the outer leaves & pups to help the aloe vera fit in the pot & help the plant stay hydrated.
Steps
Section 1 of 7:
How to Prune Aloe Vera
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Trim damaged leaves at the base with shears or a knife. Carefully move the healthy leaves aside to find any leaves that are mushy, brown, or dead. You may be able to pull these withering leaves out easily from the central stalk, or you may need to use a sharp knife or gardening shears to cut them at the base. Be careful where you trim so you don't accidentally break or cut any healthy leaves. [1] X Research source
- Aloe vera leaves can rot or dry out for several different reasons, including pests or plant disease, poor lighting, a lack of hydration, or too much watering. Once they show signs of decay, it's best to remove them for the health of the plant – and to make it look better!
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Cut off any excess outer leaves, causing the plant to look overgrown. Use your knife or shears to remove enough healthy leaves to make the plant fit in the pot. Cut each leaf at the base where it grows out of the central plant in one clean slice.
- The outer leaves are the oldest on the plant and contain the most aloe vera gel. If they're not rotting, sick, or dead, try to preserve them so you can use the gel later in cooking or for medicinal purposes.
- Avoid cutting leaves closest to the plant's main stem. These leaves are young and are needed to replace the old leaves.
- According to the plant specialists at Artemisia Nursery, an aloe vera plant will shed its lower leaves over time anyway. For that reason, they say, these are the ideal leaves to trim when you want to prune your plant. [2]
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Expert Source
Artemisia Nursery
Plant Nursery & Garden Shop Expert Interview. 7 August 2020.
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Cut out the pups and replant or discard them. Pups are small aloe vera plants that offshoot from the big one in the center. These new growths take energy away from your plant and crowd the pot. Most of the time, you can pull the shoots up out of the dirt with no harm to the plants. [3] X Research source
- If the edge of your aloe vera plant pot is crowded with pups, pull the plant out of the pot so it's easier for you to access the pups and remove them. Then, place the plant back in its pot with new soil. (Remember not to disturb the roots!)
- Artemisia Nursery suggests planting the pups in their own containers to grow them into whole aloe vera plants. Then you can keep the new ones and add them to your growing aloe vera garden or gift them to friends and family. [4]
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Expert Source
Artemisia Nursery
Plant Nursery & Garden Shop Expert Interview. 7 August 2020.
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Remove old, decaying blossoms to give your plant a cleaner look. Cut the blossoms at the stem the same way you cut the leaves. Once the flowers on the plant blossom, they soon drop seeds. While they die, they use nutrients that the plant could be putting towards new, healthy leaves. Since flowers rarely occur on aloe grown as a houseplant, if you grow your aloe vera indoors, you will likely not have to deal with blossoms.
- Dead flowers attract bugs and can drop into the plant’s pot, absorbing water and creating a mess.
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Section 2 of 7:
How to Cut Aloe Vera Leaves to Extract the Gel
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Cut off a large, healthy leaf and slice off the ends and the thorny edges. Pick a thick, healthy leaf on the outside of the aloe plant for best results. Next, carefully slice the leaf off at the central stem. Next, cut off each end of the leaf and then slice the thorny edges off.
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Set the leaf upright to drain the aloin for 10 minutes, then soak it for 5 minutes. Aloin is a sap that can irritate your bowels and cause diarrhea if you consume it. [5] X Research source By propping the leaf upright, letting it drain for 10 minutes, and then soaking it for 5 more minutes, you'll remove the sap. [6] X Research source
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Use a knife or cake spatula to separate the leaves and remove the gel. With the thorny edges and the ends of the leaf cut off, and the leaf softened from soaking in water, this should be a quick and easy process! Then scrape the gel into a blender and blend it until smooth. This will make it easier to handle and use for cooking recipes, first aid, and skincare.
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Store the gel and use it for cooking, first aid, and skincare. Pour the blended gel into an airtight container (like a glass mason jar) and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you plan on using it for face and hair masks, strain it to remove the white residue.
- To keep the aloe vera gel longer, pour it into an ice cube tray, let it freeze overnight, and then transfer the gel cubes into individual plastic bags. Put the bags back in the freezer and store them for up to 1 year. Then, when you're ready to use some, just pop out a frozen aloe vera gel cube and let it melt on the countertop in its bag.
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Section 4 of 7:
How to Grow Aloe Vera from a Leaf
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Remove a healthy outer leaf still attached to the stem. Make sure to cut a thin layer of the stem off with the leaf, as this is what will help the leaf develop roots and grow. Use a small knife and trim slowly and carefully so you don't cut off too much or too little of the stem.
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Let the leaf sit in an open area with no direct sunlight for 2 weeks. The garden shed is a good option (if you have one) if you plan on growing your aloe vera plant outside. If your aloe vera plant will be inside, you can put it in the pantry or place it in a shadowy corner of your kitchen countertop. Letting it sit will give it a chance to form a callus and start growing roots. [8] X Research source
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Plant the leaf in a small pot of soil deep enough to cover the roots. Place wooden skewers or small stones next to the leaf to keep it upright while it grows. Once it takes root and is attached to the soil, you can remove the skewers or stones and watch it bloom into a fully grown aloe vera plant! [9] X Research source
- Fertilizer can help your aloe vera plant take off, but apply it sparingly. Aloe vera plants don't need a lot of maintenance to thrive.
- If you do decide to fertilize it, only do so once every 1-2 months, starting in March or April and ending when the temperature cools down in the fall. Use a 10-40-10 liquid fertilizer and follow the manufacturer's instructions for how much to add at a time. [10] X Research source
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Section 5 of 7:
How to Repot an Overgrown Aloe Vera Plant
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Gently remove the aloe vera plant from its pot. Hold the stem of the plant as you tilt the pot to the side and pull on it. If it doesn’t come out easily, try squeezing the pot or tapping it against a solid surface to loosen the plant so you can pull it free. [11] X Research source
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Place the plant into a bigger pot without disturbing the roots. Avoid trimming or handling the root system as much as possible, and leave the soil packed around the roots intact. [12] X Research source After repotting the plant, surround it with soil from its old pot. [13] X Research source These steps will help protect the root system from stressing out too much and rotting once it's settled in its new home.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionMy 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?Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.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!
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QuestionDo the leaves grow back once I cut them? Or do I have to repot it to grow an entirely different plant?Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.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.
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QuestionMy aloe vera plant has a broken leaf. Should I cut the whole leaf off?Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.It's up to you whether or not to cut the leaf - the plant itself should be fine either way.
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Tips
- When removing older aloe vera leaves that are starting to whither, they should come off easily just by pulling them gently with your hands. For stronger, healthier leaves, always cut them off at the base of the plant. Avoid ripping them off, or you might damage the central stem!Thanks
- Brown and yellowing leaves could be a sign you're not watering your aloe vera plant enough. Leaves with soft, soggy spots are a sign you overwatered.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aRoHO3Ceal4
- ↑ Artemisia Nursery. Plant Nursery & Garden Shop. Expert Interview. 7 August 2020.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/LNJqE7_2jqE?si=WWkIPxvg5hwS9Ih4&t=31
- ↑ Artemisia Nursery. Plant Nursery & Garden Shop. Expert Interview. 7 August 2020.
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5837434/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/6TA2rbYnCTA?si=DtbC_UMdro6BYufB&t=84
- ↑ https://adamsfarms.com/gardentips/growing-and-using-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/i5-7s756ptw?si=LKjgKItzY8zA_CpX&t=51
- ↑ https://youtu.be/i5-7s756ptw?si=RoHTwAFWzXGYaJ6M&t=80
- ↑ https://www.epicgardening.com/fertilize-indoor-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AJEuo1B624I?si=nPepnmkrSBZ5hubg&t=15
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AJEuo1B624I?si=eMGNTnN_EI-m4406&t=121
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AJEuo1B624I?si=DgPZfxdMvpVV4pz3&t=153
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6330525
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you need to trim an overgrown aloe vera plant, rub alcohol on a sharp knife or pair of scissors to sterilize the blades. Remove damaged, discolored, or dried leaves first, cutting close to the stem. Next, cut away excess outer leaves until the plant fits in the pot, then cut away any old stems and blossoms from the center of the plant. If you want to save the leaves to use them for their medicinal benefits, trim away the thorny edges and store the leaves in the refrigerator until you want to extract the gel. To learn more from our Horticulturist co-author, like how to prune the roots on your aloe vera, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have had several aloe over the years but never really looked up how to care for them. This was a great help in everyday care. I always have had a plant around for all kinds of skin problems and cuts and burns. All 5 kids knew where to get aloe if they had a skin problem. I didn't know you could put the cut leaves in the refrigerator for later use. I'm going out now to get the old leaves (with plenty of juice) that I just trimmed and put them in the freezer/fridge." ..." more
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"I have had several aloe over the years but never really looked up how to care for them. This was a great help in everyday care. I always have had a plant around for all kinds of skin problems and cuts and burns. All 5 kids knew where to get aloe if they had a skin problem. I didn't know you could put the cut leaves in the refrigerator for later use. I'm going out now to get the old leaves (with plenty of juice) that I just trimmed and put them in the freezer/fridge."
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"I learned how to properly care for my plant. The plant is at least 24 years old and has never been properly cared for. It is very large and quite heavy, making it difficult to move. Thanks to your illustration, I have a better understanding."
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"First aloe plant I've had. Didn't have a clue how to care for it it has suckers all around it. Now I know I have to move them to separate pots, it's looking 100% healthier thanks to this site giving me the information I need."
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"I bought an aloe vera plant, and a few of the leaves are brown at the base and just very loosely attached to the plant. I was wondering how or if to trim these, and your article gave me great information on what to do. Thanks!"
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"It helped me at lot knowing how much aloe vera can do. Years ago I had a plant, and there wasn't that much information about them. I'm shocked how much has been found out about this plant."
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