Here are some tips for timing your aloe vera pruning : If it doesn’t, try squeezing the pot or tapping it against a solid surface. Pick a thick, healthy leaf on the aloe plant for best results. Sterilize kitchen knives before using them on your plant. One is for replanting and propagating new plants and the other is to harvest latex from the plant or to prune the leaves (both the latter involve leaf cutting ). It’s a good idea to add some rubbing alcohol over your blade before cutting the leaf to get rid of any potential viruses, diseases or fungi that could damage the plant. You can leave the plant alone, cut off damaged sections, or trim further down the leaf. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut off a large leaf right at the base. Remember to allow the cut end to callus before repotting in suitable soil for optimal growth. Make sure the soil is slightly damp before you remove the plant; Be gentle as you do this so that you do not accidentally break healthy leaves. The amount that you leave should be enough to take up about 2/3 of its new pot. Then, use your knife to carefully cut the leaf off at the base. Gently hold the stem of the plant as you tilt the pot to the side. Most of the time, you can pull the shoots up out of the dirt with no harm to the plants. While an aloe plant requires more delicate trimming than other plants, following pruning methods will help you maintain your plant. Tackle the bad leaves first. It will take longer to grow new ones. Carefully move the branches and leaves if you have to in order to find any leaves that are dried, brown, or dead. Spring and summer: · in summary, it’s vital to properly cut an aloe plant, ideally from the base, removing any undesirable leaves. You ’ll need something that can cut through small leaf stems and roots, such as a knife from your kitchen. See full list on wikihow. com Scissors can also be used, and if you ’ve let a big plant go for a while, you many need shears to tame it. These new growths take energy away from your plant and crowd the pot. Poor lighting, too little water, or too much water are causes for dying leaves. Deal with any suckers you couldn’t get before. Also called pups, suckers are offshoot plants. Remove the plant from its pot. There are two different ways to cut an aloe plant. First, shake the dirt off the plant. This will help prevent damage to the roots. Unhealthy leaves that are highly discolored can also be removed. This is the ideal period for pruning , as the plant is in its growth phase and can recover quickly from any cuts. By removing damaged and excess parts, you can promote health. · aloe vera is a pretty forgiving plant, but that doesnt mean you should just start trimming away without a plan. Use your cutting tool to cut the shoot off of your plant. · pruning is best done during the plant’s active growing season, which is typically in the warmer months. Water lightly until the plant has adjusted. Trim the long root and remove some side roots. If you need to repot the plant, you may need to do this. This makes the aloe vera easier to transport but also allows it to regrow a stronger root system in new soil. Because of this, these plants require frequent attention. You can do this by rubbing alcohol on the blade, and letting it dry. · when cutting an aloe leaf , use a sharp serrated blade to cut it as close to the base as possible. When healthy, aloe vera plants grow abundantly, forming new leaves, blossoms, and even new plants. Some suckers may get buried and tangled under the soil, so you ’ll have to take the plant out of the pot, carefully remove the dirt from the root ball, and untangle the roots. · always leave an aloe plant with 7-8 leaves remaining after cutting, and never cut new sprouts on the inside. Use your knife or scissors to cut them at the stem. In this article, gardening expert and succulent enthusiast emily horn walks through a few easy steps to successfully prune your aloe vera plant. Do not cut any leaves off if a plant has six or fewer leaves; Avoid pulling off aloe leaves by hand since you could damage the plant. You can use aloe leaves as a fertilizer, rooting hormone, and pest and disease repellent. Pests or disease on these leaves can infect the plant, so these leaves must be removed. If you d like, you can plant the pups in their own containers to grow them into a whole new plant. The plant should come out if you pull on it.