Aloe vera is such a hardy, beautiful plant to have around. Whether it’s brightening up your living room or soaking up the sun on your patio during the summer, it’s a total classic. The secret to a happy Aloe? Keep it warm, give it plenty of sunlight, and whatever you do, don’t overwater it! Once your plant reaches maturity, it’ll start producing “pups”—tiny baby plants—which makes it super easy to expand your collection.
Ways to Grow Your Own Aloe Vera
If you’re looking to propagate your Aloe, you’ve got a few great options:
- Growing from “pups” (offsets)
- Growing from leaf cuttings
- Starting from seeds
All three methods are pretty low-maintenance and usually have a high success rate if you follow a few simple steps.
The Pups (Offsets)
Once an Aloe plant hits about three years old, it starts producing “pups.” These are miniature versions of the parent plant that sprout up right next to it, complete with their own little root systems. To give them their own home, gently remove the mother plant from its pot and carefully detangle the pups from the main root ball. Plant them in a mix of potting soil and sand, then find them a warm spot with indirect sunlight. Be very stingy with the water at first—those delicate new roots are prone to rot if they get too soggy.
Leaf Cuttings
If your plant hasn’t produced pups yet, you can try a leaf cutting. Use a sharp, clean knife to slice off one of the outer leaves right at the base, then follow these steps:
- Let the cut leaf sit out for a few days so the “wound” can callow over (dry out).
- While you wait, prep a pot with a sandy soil mix.
- Add a layer of expanded clay pebbles at the bottom for drainage—standing water is the enemy!
- Add your soil and place the leaf upright in the center.
- Fill in the rest of the soil and press down firmly to keep it steady.
- Place your new plant in a bright, warm spot, but keep it out of harsh, direct sunlight for now.
Pro tip: You can actually cut a single leaf into several 2-inch sections and plant those using the same method!
Sowing Aloe Seeds
If you want to start from scratch, spring is the perfect time to plant seeds. Use small pots with a seed-starting mix and space the seeds out so they aren’t too crowded. Cover them with a thin layer of soil and give them a very gentle misting so you don’t wash the seeds away. Place the pots on a sunny windowsill or in a mini greenhouse—they need lots of light and warmth to wake up. Keep the soil slightly damp, but never soaked. Once your seedlings are about 2 inches tall, they’re ready to move into their very own “grown-up” pots.
