As an aloe plant owner, I’ve had to remove some of its leaves from time to time. They can grow back in some cases, but not always. What matters here is where the cut is located.
When you cut aloe vera leaves at their bases, they will quickly grow back. However, they cannot regenerate if cut in half or at their tips. However, the new stems from your aloe plant will make up for the lost ones in a few weeks.
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Does Aloe Vera Grow Back After Cutting?
Yes, and no. It all comes down to how you cut it.
Cut aloe vera leaves will not grow back. It remains cut, and new growth will continue to sprout from the center. Unless babies start appearing from the sides.
You can’t regrow aloe plant leaves if you cut them in half or snip the ends. Instead, because you’ve removed a part of it that no longer requires its support or nourishment, the plant seals the cut portion.
After a while, the aloe leaf will turn brownish, but don’t worry about it. It can’t stop the plant from thriving, however.
In most cases, new stalks on aloe vera plants grow to replace leaves that have been snipped in half or at their tips.
How Long Does it Take for Aloe Vera Leaves to Grow Back?
Cut aloe vera leaves typically take three to five months to regrow. If you are harvesting, always clip those on the outside of your plant.
I wouldn’t recommend cutting a fresh aloe vera leaf because it might take more than five months to regrow. If you want to see your aloe plant’s new growth, you must be patient.
Aloe vera leaves can quickly regrow, but only in the right conditions.
Here are some of the best tricks I’ve found for getting an aloe vera leaf to regrow quickly after being cut.
Water Evey Other Week During Summer
Difficult as it may be, aloe vera plants still need water, despite their drought tolerance. Ideally, you should water your aloe vera deeply every other week but less frequently during the winter.
This is a simple way to water your aloe when the soil in the top 1 to 2 inches is dry.
Excessive watering may prevent cut aloe vera leaves from regrowing. Worse yet, it could cause them to rot, resulting in the death of your lovely succulent.
Also, be sure to wait until the soil is arid before watering your aloe plant again. (Source: University of California)
Purchase a Growing Pot
If you want cut aloe vera leaves to regrow, I always advise getting the pot with drainage holes. It should have holes to ensure proper drainage and allow the roots to spread out. Thus, the plant’s ability to produce new leaves and increase its growth rate is aided.
Choose medium or large aloe growing containers based on the size of your plant and the available space in your home. A small one may slow Aloe vera’s growth rate, making it longer for the cut leaves to grow back.
Here are some aloe plant pot options you can check out on Amazon.
Maintain an Ideal Temperature
The ideal temperature for your aloe plants’ leaves to regrow is 55-80 °F (13-27 °C). However, you shouldn’t be concerned about not meeting this requirement.
It doesn’t matter how bad the weather is; these plants can handle it. Even if the temperature isn’t right, they can still produce the leaves you want to see in three to five months.
Ensure the Plant Gets Enough Sunlight
To encourage the growth of new leaves on your aloe vera plant, provide plenty of sunlight. For example, put it on a shelf or near a window to get plenty of natural light.
If you don’t get a lot of natural light in your house, artificial grow lights should be your first choice. (Check the prices on Amazon here) In terms of effectiveness, they’re on par with each other.
Aloe plants come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so you can pick the one that best suits your aloe plant based on where you plan to place it in your home.
How Do You Cut an Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing It?
Are you cutting your aloe plant for gel, propagation, or health purposes? If your aloe plant has a lot of leaves, this will be an easy task for you. First, however, you must master the art of doing so without accidentally killing your succulent in the process.
Check out these helpful tips:
Use a Sterilized Sharp Blade
This task requires a sharp, serrated knife; a blunt one will make the task much more difficult. It can also harm the stems and leaves of your aloe plant.
Before you begin, make sure your blade is clean by rubbing it in some alcohol. Using this method, you can trim your aloe vera plant with less risk of infection.
Cut the Damaged Leaves
When trimming your aloe vera plant, keep an eye out for dead, discolored, diseased, or dried leaves. These frequently include features such as:
- Discoloration/ yellowish or brownish color
- Brittle texture
- Abnormal density
- Foul odor
- A droopy look that keeps worsening
When cutting aloe leaves that have been damaged or diseased, be especially careful. If any sap leaks out, it could infect healthy stems nearby, spreading an infection.
Pick the Healthiest Leaves
If you want to harvest the gel from your aloe plant, pick the leaves in the best condition. These are typically the mature ones on the plant’s periphery. Keep in mind the thickness and size of the leaves when choosing a tool for cutting.
If you cut your aloe vera plant correctly, you shouldn’t have any problems. When you cut down these succulents, they’ll be able to heal on their own and start to grow back shortly.
How Do You Stimulate Aloe Vera Growth?
Once your aloe vera plant has been cut, it’s a good idea to encourage it to grow quickly. Here’s how you can do this and get the best results possible.
Get the Best Potting Soil
Did you know that aloe plants originated in sandy desert areas? Because of this, sandy or grittier potting soil is ideal.
Sandy soil aids in drainage rather than retention. As a result, succulents, native to the desert, can survive without water for an extended period, even if you don’t water them.
Apply Banana Peel Tea
Banana peel tea and its remarkable effects on plant growth may be familiar to you if you’re a seasoned gardener.
These banana skins are high in potassium and phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and iron. The majority of these nutrients are required for your aloe plant to thrive.
For the most part, banana peel tea has been shown to increase a plant’s number of leaves and height. With it, your aloe plant will be fully mature in no time.
Use Low-Nitrogen Fertilizer
If you plan to avoid the hassle of making banana peel tea, there’s another way to increase your aloe plant’s growth. Get some low-nitrogen fertilizer from the nearest store.
Note that succulents like aloe vera don’t require fertilization. So be sure to do it sparingly, most preferably once every several months or a year, depending on your aloe plant variety.
Take the Best Care of Your Aloe Plant
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of making banana peel tea, you can still boost the growth of your aloe plant in another way. Purchase some low-nitrogen fertilizer from your local store.
Remember that succulents like aloe vera don’t need to be fed. Make sure to do it sparingly, ideally once every few months or a year, depending on the variety of aloe plants you have.
What Happens When an Aloe Leaf Breaks?
An aloe leaf that has broken is the same as one with a cut made right down the middle or tip. As a result, it never grows back. Instead, after a few days, the leaf’s surface develops a callus.
I understand how heartbreaking it can be to see the leaves of your lovely houseplant break. However, you are not helpless.
To keep your aloe plant’s leaves from breaking, try the following approaches:
- Overwatering your aloe vera makes the plant vulnerable. However, if you do, treat it with an appropriate fungicide to counteract the effects of fungus caused by excessive water.
- Make an effort to keep your plant at a suitable temperature (55-80 °F (13-27 °C).
- Ensure the aloe plant gets at least six hours of sunlight per day to keep the leaves from becoming brittle.
- Consider repotting, but proceed with caution. It’s not a good idea to start too soon. This may occasionally shock the aloe plant’s system, causing its leaves to fall off.
Should I Cut Damaged Aloe Leaves?
Yes, if you notice any damaged leaves on your aloe plant, you should remove them.
Damaged aloe vera leaves typically turn pinkish-brown or yellowish. Getting rid of them is the best way to keep the plant healthy and green.
If your aloe plant is medium-sized, use a small pocket knife to remove the brownish, decomposed, or dry leaves. However, consider using sheers to complete the job correctly if the aloe plant has large and thick leaves.
Steps to Grow Aloe Vera from Leaf
You don’t have to discard your cut aloe leaf. While you can extract the gel for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, you can also use it for propagation.
It’s pretty simple! But keep in mind that the success rate is very low.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to growing aloe vera from a leaf:
- Get an aloe vera leaf that is 3.15 inches long.
- Cut your aloe leaf at the base, preferably at a downward angle, with a clean, sharp, and sterilized knife.
- Allow your leaf to sit in a warm place for two weeks to allow a film to form over the cut section. This protects it from infection once it is placed in the soil.
- Fill a medium-sized growing pot halfway with sandy/cactus soil. Dampen the latter with water before inserting about a third of your aloe vera leaf into it (the cut side should be in the soil).
- Keep your aloe leaf’s soil moist for the first month to facilitate transplanting. The next time you water, wait until the soil has completely dried out. Don’t be alarmed if the leaf dries out or begins to shrink. This is normal when the roots are forming.
It’s important to note that there’s no guarantee that the aloe vera you’re growing from leaf will thrive. However, suppose you control its moisture and temperature access, as well as the amount of direct sunlight it receives. In that case, you have a good chance of success.