What Is The Better Way To Propagate Aloe vera Leaves?

In all my YouTube videos on propagating Aloe vera leaves, I’ve consistently shared one key point: Aloe vera leaves cannot grow roots or pups unless a portion of the stem is attached.  Also, I always let the leaves show signs of growth before planting them in the soil.  However, one commenter asked If I could try growing the leaves immediately after cutting.  So, I did.

If you’re interested in propagating Aloe vera leaves, I’ve created a step-by-step video tutorial on propagating Aloe vera leaves, which you can find on my YouTube channel.

Setting Up the Experiment

The first step was carefully removing an Aloe vera leaf from the plant. I ensured that a small portion of the stem remained attached to the leaf, as this is typically crucial for successful propagation.

I then used soil from my compost for the experiment. Instead of burying the leaf in the soil, I simply placed the freshly detached leaf on top of the surface without watering it.

Creating a Comparison Group

To add a comparative element, I detached four additional Aloe vera leaves but did not plant them immediately. Instead, I let these leaves sit and monitored them to see if they would develop pups or roots before planting. This group became my second sample.

By setting up these two distinct groups, I aimed to determine whether immediate planting or waiting for root or pup development leads to better propagation results.

Observations After Ten Days

Ten days into the experiment, all four Aloe vera leaves placed directly on the compost soil had successfully grown pups. To keep the leaves securely in place, I added small pebbles around them.

In contrast, the leaves stored in a plastic tub (Sample 2) had mixed results—only one of the four leaves began to grow a pup.

Progress After Four More Days

Four days later, the differences between the two groups became even more apparent. The leaves planted immediately in the soil showed significant pup growth within just 14 days of the experiment.

Meanwhile, the leaves from the plastic tub also began developing pups, but these were noticeably smaller compared to those in the soil. At this point, I decided to transfer the leaves from the tub into the same compost soil used for Sample 1.

After transferring the leaves, I lightly watered the soil to make it moist and maintained that level of moisture throughout the experiment.

Results After 30 Days

Fast forward two weeks—30 days from the start of the experiment—the pups from the leaves planted immediately had grown considerably larger. However, I did notice some scarring on the leaves. While I couldn’t determine the exact cause, it didn’t seem to affect the pups' growth.

As for the leaves originally kept in the plastic tub, their pups also showed substantial growth after being transplanted into the soil. Although they were smaller than the pups from Sample 1, they appeared healthier and more robust.

Final Results After 40 Days

By the 40th day, the Aloe vera pups in Sample 1 had grown taller, with one exception—the pup attached to a scarred and rotted leaf. Interestingly, despite the leaf’s condition, the pup itself remained healthy.

The pups in Sample 2, while not as tall as those in Sample 1, showed impressive growth in another way: they were twice as numerous. Each leaf in this group produced at least two pups, unlike Sample 1, where each leaf produced only one.

Key Takeaways

Although this experiment isn’t definitive, the results provide some valuable insights:

1.  Immediate Planting Advantage: Aloe vera leaves planted immediately after cutting tend to promote faster pup growth.

2.  Delayed Planting Advantage: Allowing Aloe vera leaves to rest and develop pups before planting can lead to more pups, even if they are smaller initially.

Both methods have their merits, depending on your goal—whether it’s quicker growth or a higher pup yield.

As someone deeply passionate about Aloe vera and its propagation, I enjoyed the opportunity to experiment and share these findings. If you’re starting your own Aloe vera garden or want to explore different propagation techniques, feel free to share your experiences. Let’s keep growing together! 

You can also watch the video below for you to have a better understanding of the things I said above.