How to propagate aloe vera: examples by cuttings and in other ways

Aloe is a plant that has been revered in many families as a family doctor from generation to generation. It has been known since ancient times, described in the writings of many founders of medicine - Hippocrates, Paracelsus, Avicenna. Mentioned him and the true goddess of beauty, Queen Cleopatra. Its juice helps with many diseases: it protects against a cold, helps to cope with stomach diseases and skin problems. Women of all ages make masks for his face, neck, hair. Many want to get such a flower, they ask it from neighbors, friends, relatives. Therefore, the question of how to propagate aloe at home does not lose its relevance.

Species of aloe for reproduction

There is no universal solution to how to propagate aloe of one kind or another. The methods for all varieties are the same. The flower growers who are engaged in the cultivation of these plants use methods that are most convenient for certain species. Everyone chooses for himself how to plant aloe in his house.

Young processes of aloe

Vera

Aloe vera is the most popular species that is grown at home. Its distinctive features are a short stalk and long fleshy leaves collected in sockets. The leaves are light green in color, covered with whitish spots, and on the edges have sharp spikes. They practically do not bloom, therefore, for aloe vera, reproduction by seeds is practically excluded. Most often, aloe propagation of this species occurs by the apical method or by shoots.

Aloe vera

Aloe tree

He is often called the agave, because his life expectancy is simply amazing. Its main characteristic is long, spiky, elongated leaves attached to the stem. Thanks to them, it becomes clear how to plant aloe vera - by rooting the leaf.

Agave

Aloe motley (brindle)

It is characterized by a motley color of long (up to 30 cm) leaves, due to which the flower got its name. The most convenient methods of reproduction: tops or seedlings by children.

Aloe motley

Aloe fan

Externally, it is a shrub with a gradually lignified stem. The leaves are rounded, long (up to 30 cm) and wide (up to 5 cm). A distinctive feature of this species is how aloe fan propagates. It is characterized by seed propagation, rare for succulents. It blooms quite often, with proper care it does this annually. Scarlet flowers are located on long thin stems.

Aloe fan

Options for propagating aloe at home

Since the process of propagation of the flower itself can take several days, you need to carefully prepare for it. This will require the following materials:

• new pot for planting a young plant. If reproduction will occur with the help of children, then containers with water in which they will be stored will also be useful;
• priming. The universal composition purchased for the store or for succulents is best;
• scapula to dig up the sprouts and transplant them into a new container;
• a disinfected sharp knife, which will be required to cut leaves or processes;
• root growth stimulants that will help accelerate the long plant rooting process.

Cuttings

To produce aloe propagation using cuttings, you need to follow the following instructions:

1. Carefully cut the stalk with a sharp disinfected knife. A clerical knife or clippers work well.
2. It is necessary to cut off only a healthy, intact shoot neatly at its very base. For 5-7 days, the stalk should be placed in a place where the sun's rays will not fall, and where the air humidity will be at least 50% (for example, in a cabinet) until a transparent film forms at the place of cut.
3. Drainage holes should be made in the prepared pot, a drainage layer is required at the bottom.
4. After the slice dries, it should be treated with wood ash and deepened into the prepared soil to a depth of 4-5 cm. The soil should be slightly moist.
5. It is better if the leaves do not touch the topsoil, as otherwise they may rot.

Cut stalk

Seeds

The seed method of reproduction is the rarest at home, it is most often chosen by mass producers. Therefore, for this method, it is better to buy finished material in the store. But, if it turned out to independently collect seeds from flowering succulents, this is also wonderful. And in fact, and in another case, for seed germination, you must follow the step by step instructions:

1. Seeds are planted in pre-prepared soil. It is better if it is ready-made soil for succulents, because the seeds take root in it faster. They are deepened by 3 cm into the soil, observing a distance between them of 1.5 cm.
2. The soil is moistened with settled water and covered with a film that needs to be lifted daily for ventilation.
3. The container with seeds must be kept in a warm place (with a temperature not lower than 22 ° C) and watered from the spray gun as the top soil layer dries.
4. When shoots appear, the film is removed. Next, you need to wait for the first 2-3 leaves and transplant the plants into separate pots.

Germinated aloe seeds

Top

There is another option, how to root aloe - using the top. This method can injure an adult plant, but thanks to it, young shoots quickly adapt to new conditions, due to which rapid growth will follow. The sequence of actions during landing is as follows:

1. The top is carefully cut so that at least 8 leaves remain on it.
2. The resulting process must be put into water, into which phytohormone is added, designed specifically for root germination. In this container, hold the cut tip for 40 minutes.
3. Place the slice in room temperature water and put in a warm place for a long time until the new plant has roots. This can take several weeks. Water needs to be periodically added, in some cases changed.
4. A transplant into a pot with soil is made only when the roots reach 6 cm in length.

Aloe tops with sprouted roots in water

Kids

Reproduction by children is not typical for all varieties of aloe. Accordingly, it is suitable only for those who have these very children. If it is important that new seedlings appear in this particular way, then it is advisable to choose a cramped pot for an adult plant so that all its power does not go to its own development, but to the formation of a young shoot. If they appear, then they are immediately planted in separate pots, following the following instructions:

1. Entirely remove the entire plant from the vessel in which it grew, and put it on paper / napkins / newspaper. In this case, the soil should be moderately moist.
2. The cuttings of the formed baby are opened and separated obliquely with a blade or clerical knife. Well-formed roots should remain on the baby.
3. In specially prepared, small, pots with moistened soil, ready-made plants are planted and lightly crush the soil.
4. An adult plant is returned back to its pot or transplanted into a new one.

Adult plant with babies

Leaf

Aloe leaf propagation method is often used to rejuvenate the plant. He needs healthy adult leaves, the length of which is at least 8 cm. The mother plant itself must also be completely healthy. So, for example, when its roots rot, reproduction may not work. But then it’s worth a try, if this is the only chance to save the plant. To reproduce by leaf, you must perform the following steps:

1. To cut a sheet with a disinfected knife with a thin blade, the minimum length of which is 8 cm. The knife can be decontaminated with alcohol or by calcination with an open fire.
2. The cut off parts are wrapped with a bandage or gauze and placed in a warm dark room for 2-3 days. The meaning of this placement is the appearance of a transparent film on a slice. If it has not formed during this period, then you can leave the sheet there for a few more days.
3. A slice is sprinkled with chopped charcoal or sprayed with a special antiseptic and planted in a pot with pre-prepared soil. Initially, the pot should be small, with a diameter of about 10 cm.
4. The sheet is deepened by 3-4 cm.
5. The vessel with the transplanted sheet is sent to a warm room with good lighting, but without direct sunlight.

Aloe leaves cut off

Aloe leaf not deepened in soil

Care after breeding

How to root aloe so that after this procedure, the daughter plant grows healthy and takes on the size of the mother or even outgrows it? To do this, observe the following rules for caring for young succulents:

• initially, all processes must be carefully protected from direct sunlight and strong overheating;
• in the warm season, the young plant is gradually accustomed to fresh air and bright lighting. To do this, they take him out onto the balcony, open terrace, porch, etc. for several hours. Time must be gradually increased. If the plant was replanted in the summer, then such procedures can begin only from the next year;
• if young shoots are planted in the autumn-winter period, then it is necessary to extend their daylight hours by hanging a special lamp for this;
• the plant needs regular watering as the topsoil dries. Watering should be carried out in such a way that moisture does not fall on the leaves and does not accumulate in sockets;
• the plant should grow in a ventilated area. However, the air should not be cooled very much, and drafts should be avoided when airing;
• leaves periodically need to be wiped with a clean cloth to avoid dust accumulation on them;
• after 6-9 months, it is necessary to make the first dressing of the plant with special fertilizers for succulents. Once or twice a year, adult plants must also be fed.

Tips for beginner gardeners on care and propagation of aloe vera:

• if the first attempt at rooting failed, then do not despair. Perhaps some mistake was made in the selection of material or parts of the future plant were damaged. It is worth repeating the procedure if there is an adult plant;
• the worst thing that happens with aloe is the invasion of pests or diseases. Most often it is a mealybug or scabbard. To get rid of them, it is necessary to transplant the plant into new soil, and disinfect the pot. The flower itself needs to be washed with a soap solution or a special insecticide;
• the most important thing when propagating aloe is to follow all the recommendations and try not to violate them. Only in this case will everything work out.

It is easy to root all varieties of this plant, but it will take a little longer than most other flowers. However, it is worth it, because not only the external attractiveness will please its owner, but also the healing properties of almost all its types. This will especially appeal to young parents and allergy sufferers, since such a medicine is unlikely to cause rashes and give side effects. The cosmetic effect also surpasses even the wildest expectations.