Aloe plants, regardless of variety, are as resilient as a Camden punk and can withstand almost any abuse you can dish out.
If the tops get too big and noisy, or you want more of these lively plants, cutting them off is easy and safe. A drastic haircut won’t hurt them. For some species, a sharp new look is energizing!
Cutting off the top of an Aloe plant is risk-free as long as you use sterilized tools. Aloe, like many succulents, can take a surprising amount of physical damage before it shows signs of unhappiness. It can also quickly grow new plants from surprisingly small pieces of leaf.
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Will Cut My Aloe Plant Harm It?
Many people keep Aloe plants to regularly harvest the leaves for use in cosmetics and health remedies, which is entirely safe.
To cut Aloe successfully, you must practice good hygiene. You are, after all, performing surgery, and just like with any other patient, there is a chance of infection whenever you cut into healthy tissue.
Before you start snipping and trimming, ensure your pruning shears or scissors are clean and rust-free and then sterilize them in rubbing alcohol.
When you cut an aloe plant, the soft, wet, raw tissue is a feast for germs that could make your Aloe sick. Using clean tools is the best way to reduce the risk.
The blades on these tools need to be razor-sharp to ensure a clean cut without crushing or tearing the plant.
I’d recommend buying a set of shears with different-sized tips. This way, you’ll always have the right tool for the job, whether you’re trying to clean up a vast monstera. (Check the Amazon price here)
Lastly, remember to clean up the area before and after you start working in it by washing your hands or putting on a fresh pair of gardening gloves.
Can I Take A Cutting From The Top Of My Aloe Vera Plant?
Even though most Aloe species expand outward from the top, cutting off the crown won’t hurt the plant. Also, unlike palm trees, removing the crown won’t kill aloe veras.
Once the stem has dried out, the Aloe will grow a new crown. Depending on the type, this can take up to five months. Trimming back a top-heavy Aloe will give you even more time before it becomes unmanageable again.
Can I cut the stem of an aloe plant?
It is best to treat a leggy or unwieldy Aloe by cutting it back to a more manageable size, yet cutting at any point on the plant is fine. Please read my article to learn how to fix your leggy aloe vera.
You should be as precise as possible if you want a good cut. For example, it might be easier to use a sharp pruning knife to cut between stems and larger leaves instead of shears.
How to safely cut an aloe vera plant
You will need the following:
- Clean pruning shears or scissors.
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Water.
- Powdered cinnamon (optional)
Step One
Plan the new shape of your Aloe to see where the trimming should begin. After all, you can’t undo a botched pruning job.
Is it your goal to prune back an overgrown aloe? Or are you looking to propagate a few new plants? Is this trim mostly about getting rid of old foliage?
You can figure out where to begin if you take the time to look. Check out for damaged leaves or brown, soft, or damaged stems. Remember to remove them when designing your Aloe’s look.
Step Two
Wipe down the edge of your cutting tools with rubbing alcohol to sterilize them and ensure they are sharp and in good condition.
Step Three
Soft, dried-out, brown, or damaged leaves should be removed. Cut as close to the base of the leaf as possible. Remove old flower heads and dead stalks as well.
Step Four
Make your most significant cut. If you’re only removing the top, this step is simple. For a larger plant, trim the outer areas first, especially if it has multiple stems.
Step Five
Finally, rinse the Aloe to remove any potting mix and other debris that could irritate open sores.
I recommend dusting the cuts with powdered cinnamon if you’ve made many of them. Cinnamon contains fungicides and growth hormones that prevent infections and speed healing.
Step Six
Clean your cutting tools and let them dry completely before you put them away. This is also an excellent time to eliminate any cuttings you don’t want. If you intend to propagate the off-cuts, place them in a warm, dry place to callus.
Step Seven
Lastly, put your Aloe back where it was and keep a close eye on it.
Every species of Aloe prefers indirect, bright sunlight. Moderate humidity is ideal to avoid excessive moisture loss through the cuts.
Keep the Aloe away from humidifiers and moist environments like bathrooms, and remember that cuts need to dry before they can heal.
Does Aloe vera regrow once cut?
Aloe Vera will recover quickly after having its leaves pruned from its base. Cutting the top off a plant promptly sends a new stem from the center.
However, you should not divide the leaves in half. After reaching its full size, a leaf can no longer grow because of its internal structure.
When you lop off the top, growth stops. The Aloe will focus its energy on producing new leaves because it will interpret the trimmed leaf as being damaged.
Here I elaborate on how to trim Aloe leaves. If you want to know how to cut aloe leaves, so they grow back, read my other article.
Can I cut my aloe plant in half?
Aloe plants don’t mind if you cut them in half. This is a great way to deal with an Aloe that is too big and loud for its current pot.
Depending on the type, you may need to cut the main stem cleanly and split the root system in half.
This is major surgery for an Aloe, so liberally dust the plant with cinnamon powder to protect it from fungal infection afterward and give it lots of extra attention while it heals.
Should I cut off drooping Aloe leaves?
Aloe plants droop for many reasons, not all requiring intervention.
Discoloration, a foul smell, or visible damage indicates disease, root rot, or injury. In such cases, remove the damaged leaf from the base. This prevents the damaged tissue’s infection from spreading.
Drooping leaves may indicate Aloe needs water or light.
Despite popular belief, succulents need regular deep soakings to keep their leaves plump and upright. So they need a deep soak once a month, even if you’d instead trickle smaller amounts.
Aloe needs bright, indirect light for at least six hours. Without it, Aloe can’t keep its architectural leaves. They weaken and droop. It’s best to fix these two issues before cutting off the leaves. If the droop is bothering you, tidy up your spiny rebel.