Propagating Aloe Vera: How To Remove Aloe Vera Pups
Besides being a plant with medicinal properties, Aloe vera is a succulent that keeps giving. If your plant is healthy and happy, you’ll see new growth appearing at the base of the mother plant. I’ll show you the easiest method of propagating Aloe vera, in my opinion. This is all about removing those pups so you can have more plants and share the love.
My Aloes have always produced many pups, and I’ve given many away to friends and even my friendly UPS guy. Aloe vera is a clumping plant; those babies grow and spread as they mature.
You don’t have to remove them, but if you have them growing in a pot, they’ll eventually crowd each other out, and you’ll need to divide or move to a larger pot. I have a large pot of Aloe growing here in my Tucson garden that needs dividing and a new pot. You can see it in the photo directly below.
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis. Common Name: Aloe Vera, Aloe, Medicinal Aloe, Medicine Plant.
Propagating Aloe Vera
Aloe vera are popular indoor plants and will do great if growing in enough light and you don’t give them too much water. It’s easy to get new aloe vera plants from division. Removing the pups is a way of dividing the plant.
What Are Aloe Vera Pups
The baby plants grow off the larger, more established parent plant are commonly called pups. You may also see them referred to as offsets, plantlets, and babies. Once your pups grow and get established, they’ll produce new aloe plants, also.
A mature plant will produce pups. If yours isn’t, it’s not old enough or growing in the right conditions.
When To Propagate Aloe Vera
You can remove an Aloe vera pup at any time of year, but the best time is spring or summer. I’ve also propagated in early fall and avoided doing it during winter.
How Big Do Aloe Pups Need To Be?
I like to wait until the Aloe vera pups are good-sized, at least 4-6″ tall. This is because the roots are much better formed and on their way. You’ll see in the last photo that I removed all of the pups from the parent plant because I wanted to show you how less formed the roots are on the smaller ones.
Those tiny pups with 1 or 2 roots on them will grow too, but if you’re a beginning gardener, why not just hold tight until they’re bigger and the root system is better formed? It’s not that long a wait, and you can be certain the babies will survive.
You can leave your Aloe in the pot (with the mother plant) to remove the pups, especially if you only remove one or two. I find it easiest to take the plant out of the pot. That way, you can also freshen up the soil for the mother plant simultaneously. I show you both ways of removing the pups in the video below.
Do you have questions about this plant? We answer questions about Growing Aloe Vera here.
Aloe Pup Without Roots
Aloe vera pups don’t need to have an extensive root system, but there needs to be a few nodes showing. Nodes are what the roots emerge out of. If no nodes or roots are showing on the stems or at the base, there’s no guarantee the pups will root.
Aloe Vera Propagation Video Guide
Propagating Aloe Vera Step By Step
Loosen the plants from the sides of the pot with a knife.
Scrape the soil away from the base of the pups with a clean knife, small trowel, or spoon.
Pry the pups away with a knife, small trowel, or spoon. If the root ball isn’t too tight and the pups are loose enough, you can do it with your hands and no tool. Whatever you use, you’ll need to hold firmly onto the mother while doing this.
Here are five reasons you may be having problems Growing Aloe Vera Indoors.
They’ve always pulled away easily for me, but if not, you may have to use the knife to pry or cut them if they’re stubborn.
You might want to check out this Aloe Vera 101. It contains a round-up of our Aloe Vera care guides covering aspects of this useful plant.
How To Plant Your Aloe Vera Pups
Now that your new plants are separated and ready to go, it’s time to plant them in a new pot or two.
A small pot for small pups is fine. You want to make sure there are drainage holes on the bottom of the pot. A Succulent And Cactus Mix is best because it yields good drainage and is loose, so the roots can easily grow.
I’ve done a post and video dedicated to Planting Aloe Vera Pups. You can see how to do it, along with how to care for them.
Aloe Vera Propagation FAQs
Aloe propagation is easiest via the division of the aloe offsets or pups that form at the base of the plant. A young plant won’t produce the pups; a mature aloe plant will.
Remove the pups following the step-by-step above and plant the pups using This Guide. Keep your newly planted pups in bright, indirect light while they’re rooting in. You’ll find more care instructions in the planting post.
Yes, you can grow it from stem cuttings. The stem must have visible roots or root nodes for propagation to be successful. Those nodes are where the roots emerge.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant. I always propagate succulents in succulent and cactus mix, which is light and well-aerated. This allows the roots to develop easily.
I’ve never propagated it in water. This is a plant I’ve been growing for over 25 years and have had a success rate of 100% when propagating Aloe vera in soil mix. Why change it up?!
There are various opinions about this, some claiming to have success and others saying don’t do it. Aloe has thick stems and leaves that are full of water. I tried to root a stem cutting (not a single leaf cutting) in water once, and it rotted out.
I learned to propagate Aloe vera in soil mix many years ago, so that’s the successful method I stick with. Propagating in soil mix is what I recommend, but try the water method if you’re curious!
The fleshy leaves store water and are full of Aloe vera gel. For this reason, I’ve never tried leaf cuttings in water or soil because of rot. And besides, a healthy Aloe vera plant will produce many pups, so there’s no need to propagate from a single leaf.
Interested in more on Aloe vera leaves? Check out this guide on How To Use & Store Aloe Vera Leaves.
Note: This post was originally published on 9/20/2017. It was updated with more information on 4/3/2023.
If you have one Aloe vera plant, having new plants isn’t a bad thing at all. If you don’t want anymore, I’m sure a friend will. This plant has healing properties, so spread the goodness!
Happy gardening,
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
Would you basically just keep the mama aloe for the purpose of producing and then take the aloe from the babies or do you also take from the mama? Yours is so large and beautiful! I guess I’m just wondering if it will only grow that large if I don’t take aloe from the mama. Great video, thank you!
Hi – Thank you! I take the aloe gel from the mother until the babies get big enough & then take it from them too. I wait until the leaves get to be a substantial size before I harvest. Nell
I have had an aloe vera plant for ten years in two different homes. I have had six babies so far only in the last year and it just keeps producing. The stem of the mom keeps getting thick and tall! I take the bottom aloe from the mom as it grows and then from the babies when they get bigger:) It really is the plant that keeps on giving.
Hi Sheri – Yes it is! The mother plant that you see in this post is already producing more pups. Nell
So my aloe plant has been growing for about a year, and doesn’t seem to have separate root systems for the pups so I am wondering how I can do this without the entire root. All of my pups come straight off the mother, can I still propagate it any way? Does cutting off a leaf and planting it work? Thank you
Hi Allie – I’ve always waited until the pups are showing some kind of root system, even a small one, before removing. I was doubtful as to whether an aloe vera leaf would root & tried it one day. As I thought, the leaf rotted out before rooting. They’re so full of gel & water that they “mush” out. Nell
My aloe plant is huge with huge with huge overflowing no pot can or how do I replant them looks like something out of a scarecrow movie scarey
Hi Pam – Aloe veras have tough roots. You can carefully divide the plant by cutting or pulling it apart. Then you can repot it. Nell
I started out with a small $5 aloe plant about 7 years ago. She is now huge! I’ve had dozens of pups and have enjoyed repotting and sharing them. I am terrible with plants but this one just keeps flourishing. I love it!
Hi Jessica – Not only is Aloe Vera a plant with purpose but it’s also 1 which keeps on giving. Many people over water aloes but it sounds like yours are happy as can be! Nell