How To Cut Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing It: Step-By-Step Guide

Aloe vera is an amazing plant that is full of health benefits. People have used it for hundreds of years to help with different things like burns, skin issues, and even to help treat diseases like cancer.

But if you don’t cut the aloe vera the right way, you could hurt the plant and maybe even kill it.

In this guide, we’ll show you all the steps you need to know to cut an aloe vera plant the right way. We’ll talk about what tools to use and how to carefully get the gel from the plant without hurting it.

How To Cut Aloe Vera Plant Without Killing It

Step 1 – Choose a healthy and mature aloe vera plant

Select an aloe vera plant that looks healthy and has grown enough. These plants will have thick and strong leaves. Thin and weak leaves might not be very good to use and could break when you cut them.

Look for a plant with a solid stem and bright green color. Check for any bugs or signs of disease before cutting.

Step 2 – Clean your cutting tool with rubbing alcohol

Before you cut the plant, make sure your knife or scissors are clean. You can clean them by wiping them down with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. This helps kill any germs and prevents plant disease.

If you’ve used the tool on other plants or if it’s been a while since you’ve used it, cleaning it is really important.

Step 3 – Carefully cut one leaf from near the base of the plant

Gently hold the leaf close to the base of the plant, and cut as near to the stem as you can. This is to avoid hurting the plant more than necessary.

If the leaf is really big, you can cut it into pieces to make it easier to use. Just make sure not to cut near the middle of the plant because that could hurt where new leaves grow.

Step 4 – Take care to not damage the center of the plant

Be careful when cutting to not hurt the middle part of the plant where new growth happens. If the center gets damaged, the plant might not grow well anymore.

When you cut leaves, try to keep your cuts close to the outside of the plant to protect the middle.

Step 5 – Remove any sharp edges from the leaf

Aloe vera leaves have little sharp bits on the edges. You can take these off by running a knife or scissors carefully down the sides of the leaf.

Taking off the sharp edges isn’t necessary but it can help make the leaf safer to handle and look nicer.

Step 6 – Use the leaf or keep it for later

After cutting the leaf, you can use it right away or store it in your fridge. Put it in a container that seals tight to keep it fresh for about a week.

When you’re ready to use the leaf, wash it with some cool water first.

Step 7 – Grow a new aloe vera plant from the leaf

If you want more aloe vera plants, you can grow a new one from the leaf you cut. Just put it in some soil or water and wait for it to start growing.

Planting the leaf in a mix of good potting soil and putting it in a sunny spot helps it grow well.

If you’re using water, put the cut end of the leaf in a jar filled with water. When roots start to show in a few weeks, you can plant it in the soil.

Step 8 – Cover the stem with soil or water to help the plant grow again

If you’ve taken off a leaf from the bottom of the plant, cover the part that’s left with some soil or water. This protects the base and helps new growth.

For starting a new plant, put the cut stem part in some soil or water, covering up the cut end.

Step 9 – Don’t cut too many leaves at once

It’s important to not cut off too many leaves at once. Taking too many can be too much for the plant to handle.

Usually, it’s a good idea to not cut more than one third of the plant’s leaves at one time. This lets the aloe vera keep growing and gives you enough leaves for your needs.

Step 10 – Look after the plant and water it properly

After cutting a leaf, keep an eye on the plant and water it when it needs. Aloe vera plants don’t need a lot of water but they still need some to stay healthy.

Give it enough water to keep the soil moist but not too much. Watch for any bugs or plant problems, and try to fix them quickly.

FAQ

How should you use Aloe Vera after cutting it?

Once you’ve cut an Aloe Vera leaf, there are many ways you can use it:

1. Get the gel out: Take a leaf and slice it down the middle to find the gel. This gel is great for putting on your skin to help with things like sunburns or to calm down irritated skin.
2. Make more Aloe plants: If you want more plants, you can take one good leaf and leave it out for a few days to let the cut end dry up a bit (this process is known as callusing). Once it’s ready, you can put it in some soil or even in water, and you’ll eventually have a new little Aloe plant.
3. Dry the leaves: You can cut the leaves into smaller pieces and let them dry out. After they’re all dry, you can keep them in a tight-sealing container for later use.
4. Freeze the gel: If you have too much aloe gel and can’t use it all before it spoils, you can freeze it. Just put the gel into an ice tray and let it freeze. Once they’re solid, you can move the aloe gel ice cubes into a bag and keep them in your freezer. When you need one, just take it out and use it as you wish.

No matter what you choose to do with the Aloe Vera, be sure to handle the plant with clean hands and use a knife that’s both clean and sharp when you cut the leaves. This helps prevent the spread of germs.