Numerous advantages come with having access to your own fresh aloe vera gel, but first things first! It’s crucial to understand how to cut aloe vera plants without killing them in order to release the plant’s potent healing properties without harming it. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to do it:
The best suggestion for cutting your aloe vera plant without killing it, either for trimming it down or using the leaves is to only cut one or two leaves off a month. Make sure the tools you use to remove the leaf are clean. Cut as near as you can to the leaf’s base. Have several aloe plants so you can alternate which plant you’re cutting off.
Please continue reading for more information.
How to Cut Aloe Plant?
Here is an easy step-by-step guide on how to cut vera plant without killing it:
Prepare Items
Prepare to cut your aloe plant first, then do it! If you have a larger aloe plant that will be too difficult to wrap scissors around, your best bet is to use a sharp knife.
Like all other plants, aloe can be prone to infection. So, before using any tools, make sure to clean them with isopropyl alcohol or warm, soapy water. Once you’re done, make sure to clean them off!
Choose Exterior Leaves
Now that we’ve got a clean knife, the next step is to choose which leaf you’re cutting off. Regardless of if you’re just pruning the plant back or are looking to use the aloe gel, choose one of the outer leaves.
These are the oldest leaves, so they should be the first to go. Additionally, they will be the larger and most accessible leaves for cutting off.
Cut Off Leaf
Cut off the leaf once you’ve decided on it. Making sure you’re cutting as close to the bottom as you can is the most crucial step. You want to remove a leaf close to the stem, just like with almost all other plants. Aloe’s ‘stem’ is at the soil, so cut as closely to the soil as you can.
If you cut close to the bottom of the leaf, the aloe won’t have to decide whether to save or kill off that half-cut leaf. The area where you cut should eventually scab over, keeping the aloe plant healthy and happy.
(You can cut a little bit further up the leaf if you’re only removing a portion of a dead leaf. Simply remove the leaf’s dead portion by cutting it off within 1 cm of the healthy leaf. You could use pruning shears for this.
Use Leaf!
It’s time to put the leaf to use now that you have it cut off! Cut the leaf down the middle, then scoop out the gel to access it.
Propagating Aloe – More Leaves Cut at Time
Now, the best way to keep your aloe plant alive if you require more than one leaf at a time, or more frequently, is to actually have more aloe plants. The good news is that they spread quickly and easily! This is the ideal time to propagate your aloe if you have a containerized aloe plant that needs to be replanted. If not, you can still easily repropagate.
Look for a clump of leaves together near the base. This is going to be a part you can separate off the mother plant. These ought to have their own tiny roots, allowing you to easily cut them off from the plant without needing to try to develop new roots from just one leaf.
After a few months, you should have another aloe plant growing that you can harvest leaves from if you repot that into a new pot! Additionally, since aloe is a low maintenance air purifying plant, you’ll be able to remove more leaves at once and enjoy cleaner indoor air.
How to Make Aloe Vera Gel?
Lay the leaf out flat on a cutting board and cut off both of the spiny edges to obtain all of the internal aloe vera gel for use in face masks, hydrating lotion, sunburn relief, or smoothies. Next, remove the upper leaf surface with your knife. To do this, insert the knife blade a few millimeters beneath the leaf skin and run it along the length of the leaf. To fillet a fish, use a similar motion. Lastly, lay the lower leaf surface flat on the cutting board and run your knife along the leaf’s underside (below the thick gel). Gel attached to the leaf will separate as you cut. See more: How Much Sun Do Aloe Vera Plants Need?
Benefits and Uses of Aloe Vera
Healthline has a great review of the benefits and uses of aloe vera, which are summarized here:
- helps with eczema and psoriasis
- provides heartburn relief
- moisturizing for face and hair
- anti-bacterial for minor wounds
- gets rid of ringworm and cysts
- used as a natural laxative
- helps to relieve insect bites, poison oak, poison ivy and mild cuts
- helps to heal cold sores & mouth sores (can be an alternative to mouthwash)
- helps to heal wounds & sunburns
- aids in weight loss
- it is an adaptogen for the body and alkalizes the body boosting the immune system
- detoxifies the body and supports kidney health
- hydrates and soothes the body
- has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
- reduces high blood pressure and lowers blood sugar
- balances digestion and protects your immune system against infections
Why You Should Grow An Aloe Vera Plant?
Aloe vera plants are ideal houseplants because they not only look gorgeous as succulents but also have many uses and health advantages. They have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and you may have even seen aloe vera in modern-day skin care products. Nevertheless, why not prepare the fresh ingredients at home?
You can use aloe vera at home, as it has a variety of benefits, including:
- Clearing acne
- Healing burns
- Improving digestive health
Some things (like aloe juice) only need a recipe; other things (like some other things) can just be made with the fresh gel that you get from aloe leaves. You should consult your doctor to ensure that using aloe vera for any purpose other than a topical salve is safe for you.
An important note: Not everyone can use the gel of the aloe vera plant. It irritates and discomfort for some people. Before applying aloe vera gel or leaves to the affected area if you’ve never used it before, test it on a small patch of skin to check for any side effects.
There can be side effects to ingesting aloe. Some side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Low potassium
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
Aloe is a great plant to grow at home and harvest, though, if you’re in excellent health and don’t have any underlying diseases.
FAQs
Can You Still Propagate Your Aloe After Harvesting?
You shouldn’t be concerned about the harvesting interfering too much because aloe vera plants spread primarily through offshoots that grow up from the base of the mother plant (though they can also spread through seed).
How to Store Aloe Vera Leaves？
You want to keep your Aloe vera leaf as moist and fresh as possible. I simply put the cut end in a large plastic shopping bag, wrap that tightly, and then tie it with another elastic band.
I store the leaf in the fridge and cut off pieces as needed, always wrapping the ends.
I’ve discovered that cut aloe leaves keep their freshness in the refrigerator for around two weeks. Keeping them any longer than 3 weeks will cause the leaves to get a bit “funky, funky”. As with most everything, freshest is best.
If the temperature isn’t too warm and you plan to use the leaf within 1-3 days, you can leave it out on the counter. You could also wrap it tightly in plastic wrap but I don’t have any. A sizable shopping bag works perfectly well, and I try to use it as often as possible.
The leaf could be divided into portions that are usable and kept in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. This may be a more advantageous method for using and storing it, in your opinion. Since the first time I used a leaf, I’ve always stored it using a foil bag with success. We are creatures of habit after all!
Does Cutting Aloe Hurt the Plant?
How many and what kind of leaves you cut will determine the outcome. The aloe plant will grow stronger and more quickly if its dying, wilting, or yellowing leaves are removed.
The plant stores its nutrients and water in its leaves, though. Cutting or pruning too many healthy leaves will damage the plant.
Do Aloe Plants Grow Back After You Cut Them?
As close to the base as you can when cutting aloe leaves is ideal. They will wilt away instead of regenerating.
Within 3–4 days, calluses will form on cuts to aloe leaves that are made near the middle or tip. Additionally, these leaves do not regrow. As long as you continue to take care of aloe plant, it will, however, produce new leaves.
Summary: How to Cut Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing It?
The best advice is to cut the aloe without killing it. Whether it is pruning or using leaves, cut only one or two leaves a month. Make sure that the tools you use to remove leaves are clean. Cut as close to the bottom of the leaf as possible. Prepare several aloes, so you can cut which one alternately.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. My Prime Home tries to give you the best home improvement information. Don’t forget to share the post. Thank you for reading.
