How to reproduce Aloe Vera by suckers

Propagating Aloe Vera plants is fun, easy, and soon you’ll have tons of new babies to share with friends. In this post, I will talk about the different methods of propagation of Aloe Vera but I will focus on the suckers, I will also give you tips to encourage the offspring of Aloe or suckers and I will show you exactly how to separate the plants step by step.

How to propagate Aloe Vera by division

As you well know, the succulent Aloe Vera or Aloe Vera plants are one of my favorite plants because they are excellent indoors and are very low-maintenance plants. I have had aloes for 4 years now, and have propagated them many times. Most of the time I give the children, so even my neighbors have babies from my plants.

Whether you are growing an Aloe plant as a houseplant, or in your garden, the steps to propagate Aloe Vera are the same. Let’s first talk a little about the reproduction of Aloe Vera.

How aloe vera plants reproduce?

The propagation of Aloe Vera can be done by dividing the suckers , by cutting the stem (cuttings) , or by growing seeds . The easiest and most common way to propagate Aloe Vera is by division. So, in this post, I will show you how to divide an Aloe Vera plant.

NOTE: Aloes cannot reproduce through a cut leaf. Here the full explanation .

What are Aloe Vera suckers?

The new Aloe Vera plants grow at the base of the plant, and are commonly called suckers. But there are other common names for Aloe Vera hatchlings, therefore, you might find that they are called as well; pacifiers, stems, offsets, babies, or glides .

Whatever they are called, once they mature, they can be separated from the plant and planted in pots to make new plants. Once these baby plants are mature enough, you can reproduce Aloe Vera plants by removing the babies from the plant and placing them in individual pots.

When will my Aloe Vera kids grow?

With proper care, it doesn’t take long for a plant to start producing shoots on its own. Older plants tend to produce young more prolifically than younger plants. But a young Aloe Vera plant can start to produce young in the first few years.

I have had small Aloe Vera plants that produce young in less than a year after planting them on their own. But it can also take much longer, depending on the growing conditions. A healthy aloe plant is much more likely to have young than one that is struggling to survive.

How to stimulate our Aloe to get suckers

If your plant has yet to sprout, there are things you can do to try to encourage the appearance of aloe sprouts. First, make sure it gets plenty of light ; If you are growing Aloe Vera indoors, move it to a south-facing window or add a grow light .

You can also try putting it outside during the summer to encourage the aloe fry. If you do, make sure you don’t put it out in the sun for long hours so it doesn’t burn (yes, ironic, I know, but Aloe Vera plants can get sunburned ). Also, make sure your aloe is in a pot that has drainage holes in the bottom before taking it out.

Keep in mind that aloe thrives on neglect, so make sure you don’t over water it . Always let the soil dry out before you water it again. I water my large aloe plants maybe once or twice during the winter.

You can also try giving your aloe a shot of fertilizer in the spring or early summer to encourage the young. An organic fertilizer for general purpose succulents will work very well. Tomato fertilizer is also a great option to use as an Aloe Vera plant fertilizer (use half the dose).

When to propagate Aloe Vera

You can divide Aloe Vera plants at any time of the year , but you must wait until the young are mature enough to be separated from the mother plant. The best way to know if the hatchlings are ready to be separated is to check the roots of the Aloe plant.

To do this, you can carefully remove the entire plant from the pot. Then brush the soil until you can see the bottom of the suckers and you will know that they are ready to be separated because they will have their own roots.

Only remove the ones that have their own root system because rootless aloe babies may not be able to survive on their own. So if all the shoots are really small and no roots can be seen, put the plant back in the pot and give it a few more months for the shoots to grow.

How to separate Aloe Vera plants step by step

Once you’ve determined that it is safe to start dividing an Aloe plant, then it’s time to pick up some supplies. Don’t worry, you don’t need to buy a bunch of expensive propagation stuff. In fact, you probably already have most of these things on hand!

Supplies Needed:

Soil for succulents or cacti
Clean containers (to store babies)
Metal toothpicks (makes it easy to untangle the roots)
A pair of pruning shears or a sharp knife
Palette (optional)

Steps to propagate Aloe Vera plants:

Step 1: Loosen the root system : It can be difficult to untangle the thick roots of Aloe Vera plants without disturbing them too much, so a lot of patience is necessary. You don’t want to accidentally break any of the baby’s delicate roots. Brushing and brushing off as much dirt from the root system as you can will help make dividing an aloe plant a little easier.

Step 2: Cut the sucker from the main plant – If the stem of the pup is still attached to the mother plant, cut the connection with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors . This will make the job of untangling your roots that much easier.

Step 3: Detangle the roots of the baby aloe – Gently detangle the roots of the sucker to separate them, trying not to break any of the roots in the process. This is going to sound silly, but using a metal toothpick makes untangling the aloe root system that much easier. I got a couple of these a few years ago, and they are amazing to use to propagate Aloe Vera this way.

Step 4: Use Rooting Hormones for Immature Plants – If any of the aloe offsets you have removed don’t have many roots, just have little root knots in them, or the roots have broken off, you can use the rooting hormones to help. suckers to develop strong roots faster. You just dip the end into the rooting powder before sticking it into the ground.

Step 5: Replant the main plant – Once you finish removing the suckers, you can simply slide the mother plant back into the original pot and fill it with fresh Aloe Vera potting soil . If not, this is a good time to replant it in a new container if you wish. Don’t use too large a container to repot an aloe plant, because they like to be in a pots that can quickly cover their roots.

How to Plant Aloe Vera Babies

Now that they have been separated, you can plant each individual sucker in its own pot. Since they are succulents, the best soil for Aloe Vera plants is a fast-draining, sandy mixture.

You can buy potting soil that is specifically made for succulents , or make your own using a mixture of coarse sand, general potting soil, and perlite or pumice or volcanic gravel . ( here is my recipe for making your own succulent soil mix ).

If you have a lot of suckers that you want to plant and share, these little pots are the perfect size to use . If you tend to overwater your plants, choose a pot with drainage holes or a clay pot. You can also use a succulent, sandy soil as a mix to plant Aloe Vera, which will give them extra drainage.

Plant each sucker in the new pot at the same depth it was in the old pot. Don’t forget to add a label to each plant if you are going to share them with your friends.

Remember not to plant the Aloe Vera babies in very large pots or controlling the watering will be very difficult for you.

How to care for a baby Aloe Vera plant

After starting the Aloe Vera transplant, you have to wait several days before watering them, especially if the soil is already wet. This will give them time to recover from the shock.

Caring for the Aloe Vera offspring is no different than caring for the mother plant . Just remember that they thrive on negligence, so don’t kill them kindly . This means that the less attention you pay them, the more they prosper and the more you water or take care of them, you will probably make a mistake that will kill them.

That is, now that you know the steps to propagate Aloe Vera by division, you will have an endless supply of aloe. You just have to look at all those new aloe plants! Make sure to share them with your friends. I mean, who wouldn’t want free Aloe Vera plants? They make a great gift too!

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