Key Points
Always leave an aloe plant with 7-8 leaves remaining after cutting, and never cut new sprouts on the inside.Do not cut any leaves off if a plant has six or fewer leaves; it will take longer to grow new ones.You can use aloe leaves as a fertilizer, rooting hormone, and pest and disease repellent.
In suitable conditions, aloe vera produces one new leaf per month during the spring and summer months. Whether you are growing aloe vera as an ornamental or to harvest the leaves for their healing sap, there comes a point when the plant needs cutting.
When you cut aloe, it is crucial not to remove too many leaves. Find out what this aloe expert says and learn about the many ways aloe cuttings can benefit your other plants.
Meet the Expert
Bryan Svoboda is an aloe farmer with Honest Aloe in Houston, Texas.
How Much Aloe Can You Cut Off Without Damaging the Plant?
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fernanda reyes / Getty Images
An aloe plant needs to have reached a certain growth stage before you can start cutting it.
“If there are fewer than six leaves, the plant takes longer to recover in producing more leaves,” says aloe grower Bryan Svoboda.
He explains that the remaining leaves are at a much higher risk of falling apart at the stalk.
“Although the plant will continue to grow, it will take several months to recover,” he says.
For the sake of the plant’s health, be conservative in how much you cut. Svoboda recommends leaving at least seven or eight whole leaves, including any new leaves sprouting in the middle of the plant.
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Why Cut Aloe?
Homemade aloe vera fertilizer use on plants.
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toni jardon / Getty Images
There are different reasons to cut aloe. Growers harvest the leaves to extract the leaf gel for healing products. As an ornamental, occasional pruning is required to maintain an aesthetically pleasing look and encourage new growth.
The leaves of your aloe plant also provide several benefits to other plants in your garden, including promotion of plant growth, reduction of transplant shock, enhanced resilience to stress and disease, stimulation of root development, and seed germination.
Aloe even helps with challenging soils.
“Aloe acts as a natural wetting agent; it helps to break the surface tension of water in water-repellent soils, allowing for better water penetration and retention, especially useful in dry or sandy soils,” Svoboda says.
And it’s not even the gel alone that is beneficial; entire leaves can be used as natural fertilizers and repellents when chopped into pieces and placed around the garden.
Tthe inner leaf gel has a ton of beneficial compounds including amino acids, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants, all of which provide a potent, gentle boost to plant nutrition. Its peels possess natural pest repellent and insecticidal properties, too.
Are There Any Other Plants That Provide Benefits Similar to Aloe?
When it comes to the healing properties of aloe vera, there is no plant like it.
“Although there are other plants that provide similar nutrients, electrolytes, prebiotics, and probiotics, aloe vera is the only plant that is rich in polysaccharides, and it is this specific profile that gives aloe its healing power,” Svoboda says.
However, if you are looking for an alternative to aloe to plant in your yard as an ornamental, consider these other succulents:
Agave
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Gabriel Perez / Getty Images
In terms of looks, plants in the agave genus are the most like aloe vera because the leaves have a similar shape. What sets agave apart is that the thick leaves are usually stiffer and end in dangerously sharp points; it should be planted with caution, and never in high-traffic areas.
Aeonium
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Sanjiv Shukla / Getty Images
A common feature of aloe and aeonium is the rosette growth pattern but aeonium species come in a range of colors, shapes, and size. The fact that they display stunning color changes in response to sunlight or temperature variations adds to appeal of these succulents.
Haworthia
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TorriPhoto / Getty Images
These succulents look like mini aloe plants, which makes them popular houseplants. The haworthia genus offers a lot of variety not only in leaf size but also in the pattern and the orientation of the white markings on the leaves.
Gasteria
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Bilal photos / Getty Images
Another aloe look-alike, gasteria has thick, long leaves with a rough texture, yet lacks the spikes of aloe. As an understory plant, gasteria is more tolerant of lower light conditions, making it a good houseplant option.
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