Steps involved in Aloe Vera propagation

People have always been curious to know if they can grow an aloe plant from a leaf cutting or not. Yes they can, but the most effective method of aloe plant propagation is from the pups or offsets with resulting plants immediately. Here are steps involved in propagating aloe vera:

1. Let adult aloe plant grow - as any healthy aloe plant has a chance to produce pups or younger plants, this is most likely to occur when the adult plant has reached the boundaries of its pot.

2. Wait till young plants emerge - the Aloe vera plant must start producing pups, which are clones of itself that share some of the mother plant's root system and may be attached to the base as well. Sometimes they will grow out of the drainage hole of the pot.

3. Let plants grow to adequate size - Young plants will do best if you wait until they are a little larger and mature enough to have a few roots of their own. While this size varies with subspecies and individual plants, a good rule of thumb is that the young plant should be at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall, and preferably 5 inches (12.5 cm). If the pot has sufficient space, wait until the young plant is 1/5 the size of the adult.

4. Sanitize your knife - to reduce the chance of infection. Clear away the dirt at the base of the pup to see whether it is attached to the mother plant. If it is, cut it away, making sure to keep the young plant attached to its roots if any are present. The presence of its own roots will increase the odds of success, but they may not be easy to find before you remove the pup. 

5. Leave cut plants in air for few days - Instead of planting the new aloe immediately, you should allow the plant to form a callus over the knife cut. Placing the cut surface of the plant directly against soil increases the odds of infection. 

6. Plant in its own container and support - Place the young plant on top of well-draining soil, without burying the leaves. Because the root system is likely to be small (or even nonexistent), you may need to prop up the plant with a layer of pebbles and lean it against another object. The root system should grow large enough to support the plant within a few weeks. 

7. Sprinkle once every few days if the plant has no roots - Before the roots have grown in, do not water the plant. Wait at least a couple weeks for a pup to grow its own roots before watering it. Instead, sprinkle the plants with spray bottle in 2-3 days.  Aloe plants can last a long time without water, and if you water the plant before its roots are extensive enough, the water could pool and rot the plant. If the pup already has its own root system, you may instead get the roots to set by giving it one watering and leaving it in the shade for 2 to 3 weeks. 

And once the plant is in its pot and has grown roots, it can be treated as an adult plant.