Aloe Vera is a native plant to Africa. There are over 205 different species and they range in size from 1-inch to 2-feet in diameter. Aloe Vera is a plant that’s been around for centuries. My mother always had several aloe vera plants growing because they are easy to care for and they have medicinal properties. If you have a cut, burn, or rash, use aloe vera. Cut a leaf off the plant and peel away the outer skin. Apply the thick, sticky substance inside. If aloe vera is applied immediately, it cools the burn and brings relief without exposing your body to harmful chemicals. It also helps stop the itch of insect bites or the pain of stinging bugs.
Aloe vera is one of the easiest plants you could ever try to propagate from cuttings. You’ll have so much fun, that you’ll want an aloe vera growing in every room of the house. It also makes a wonderful and thoughtful gift.
Preparing the Leaf
Examine your aloe vera plant for a healthy leaf. Cut the leaf at a length of 3 inches or more with a sharp knife. Find a warm, dry location to lay the cutting. You can place it on a table or any place where it won’t be in the way or disturbed. The cut end of the leaf has to heal over or dry before you can plant it. This process takes approximately 1 week depending on the humidity in the air. If it is really humid, it will take longer to heal or scab over. The reason hat you allow the end to heal first is to keep it healthy. If you were to put the cut end into the potting soil right after cutting, it is more susceptible to disease and rot.
When the end has crusted over, find a small clay or plastic pot. I often use a coffee filter to cover the drainage holes, but you can use little pebbles, packing peanuts or a window screen cut to size. Some people use marbles.
Wet the Soil
Dampen the cacti soil. An easy way to dampen the sol is to pour your soil into a bucket, or worktable. It is a good idea to cover the worktable with an old tarp or plastic tablecloth to help contain the mess and make cleanup easy. Sprinkle a little water over the soil and mix it with your hands. Don’t use too much water that you make the soil too wet or soupy.
Planting the Cutting
Fill your pot or pots with the dampened cacti soil. Insert the aloe vera leaf with the scabbed side going into the soil first. The cutting should be about 1-inch deep. Firm the soil around the leaf to hold it upright.
Location
Place the pot in a room that stays warm and dry. Do not water your aloe vera or it will rot. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. It will take two or weeks for the roots to form. When that happens, care for your plant as you do the mature aloe vera.
