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Cacti & Succulents

Sealing cuts with aloe vera

16 years ago

A long-time cacti/succulent gardener taught me to use aloe vera to seal cuts before planting. She said this helps make sure the cut is totally sealed in addition to allowing the plant/pup to air dry. Works for me.

Anyone else use this method?

thanks!

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Comments (9)

zeckron
16 years ago
I'm still very new to cacti/succulent gardening, but have read a lot about it recently. However, I've never heard of this technique.

Can you elaborate on this? It sounds very interesting.
boydsagardener
Original Author
16 years ago
When one cuts/severs a plant for rooting a cutting, one usually lets the plant sit out in the air for several days to allow the cut edge to seal/heal. When the cut is sealed completely, one can plant the cutting in hopes of getting a clone. The plant cutting will rot if the cut is not sealed completely.
The method for using aloe adds one step to the above process, better ensuring the cut is sealed.
One would use the aloe vera just like one uses when covering a cut on the body to prevent infection.
Hope that helps....
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There seems to be some confusion again with common names - Aloe vera is Aloe vera :-) Although that term is sometimes used to refer to ANY kind of aloe, there are not two species of true or common, aka medicinal aloe. There ARE many species of aloe....as many as 400 have been registered but true aloe, Aloe vera (formerly Aloe barbadensis), is the one noted for medicinal purposes. There is some documentation that Aloe arborescens also has similar medicinal properties but as the species name suggests, this has a much more tree-like growth habit and develops a distinct stem or trunk. The difference in growth habits between the two plants shown in the pics is simply due to age and maturity. Aloe vera will form a full rosette if given sufficient time and proper growing conditions. Check the Wiki photo linked below. The smaller ones that appear to only grow laterally rather than in a round rosette of leaves are just young, immature plants (offsets or pups) and hampered from full development by lack of time and indoor growing conditions. Here is a link that might be useful:
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So the yellow, stinky stuff is called aloe latex and if you are going to consume aloe for the health benefits you want to first drain the aloe latex. The smell is normal (kind of a horrible body oder sort of smell). The latex is a powerful laxative and can really irritate your intestines. Unless you are very constipated than you want to get rid of it before eating it. I start by washing the aloe after cutting it. Cut off the ends and top of the aloe branch. Let it first sit at a 45 degree angel for 30-45 minutes. Then let it soak it soak in some water for another 20-45 minutes. This will help extract the aloe latex and leave the aloe gel. There are plenty of YouTube videos that show how to filet an aloe branch to get the gel out. But that stinky yellow substance you're smelling is natural (and naturally smells bad), nothing wrong with your aloe at all!
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They will grow fine together. I would have simply cut the pups off as low as possible, leaving no attached roots to avoid disturbing the parent plant's roots, and inviting a melt down. Lay the pups on their side for a week or so, then plant in dry soil, and wait for roots to form. Pups need to be large enough to survive several weeks or months without getting any water. Very small pups w may not survive. Don't repot any of these for a few days to let open wounds callous. Take your time, there is no hurry to do anything.
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zeckron
16 years ago
That seems to make sense. Isn't aloe gel supposed to be a natural disinfectant/fungal retardant?

Sounds good to me!
boydsagardener
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, aloe is a natural disinfectant/fungal retardant. Many people take it internally for those 'inside' problems. One can find aloe gel in many, if not all natural food stores.
zeckron
16 years ago
Thanks Boydsagardner. I recently took several cuttings from a Sans offshoot I got from my mother. Next spring when I take some more I'll try the aloe vera trick!
dufflebag2002
16 years ago
It probably will work great if each of us has an Aloe Vera, if that is so, and you only start a few plants at a time, I'm all for it. For my purpose I wouldn't have time for the extra step. I start my cuts about 100 at a time onto a flat and put it in the shade, I do set it on a bench what has an open slated bottom or wire bottom so the air can circulate I can flat them three hours later, Or I just just use my benches which are open on the bottom. The most important thing that air must circulate and not seal the wound, bacteria can get underneath the gel, and for me I must have time to use it. I also have a product made by Green Light Rooting Homone that would do the job if I had the time to use the product. I rather use the natural way. I have experimented with three different products in a controlled situatiion it didn't compare with the natural way. Norma
zeckron
16 years ago
100 at a time! That must be pretty exciting! I don't have a greenhouse so I can't have a big operation. I can't imagine how much fun it would be to have so many plants!
dufflebag2002
16 years ago
I do this for the Huntington Gardens. We never use anything, setting the new cuts in barely damp soil, wait a week and water, I take the cuts, and get them ready, all of the new cuts facing down in one direction go to lunch, and come back and plant them up. We usually plant up 4-5 flats of each species. The flats can hold 25-50 pots per flat depending on the size of pot we use. I don't do the watering or fertilizing any more. It is gratifying when they are on the table being sold. I hate to see my babies go, but I know it is raising the money needed to keep the program going. Norma
christianme
16 years ago
Norma,does The Huntington Gardens sell plants on a web site?

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