The Trick For Propagating Aloe Vera Plants Without Any Roots

Aloe vera is one of the most popular house plants for a reason. The plant's easy-to-care-for nature makes it one of the best indoor plants for any home. As a bonus, the gel within its leaves is associated with several health and beauty benefits related to wound healing, anti-aging, dental hygiene, and even blood sugar management (via Medical News Today). Whether you're a seasoned collector of houseplants or a beginner, aloe vera should be considered a must-have plant.

When it comes to propagating your aloe plant, the plant offers an additional option compared to many other houseplants, which are propagated using stem cuttings or leaves. When propagating aloe vera, you can skip taking cuttings and instead remove the plant's pups – the adorable baby aloe plants — and plant them in their own pot. Many times, these pups will already have roots, but this isn't always the case. If you've ever wondered what to do with rootless aloe pups, rest assured that you can still plant them. 

To propagate an aloe vera plant using pups, the first step is to locate them. The miniature versions of the mature plant can be found at the base of the main plant. Once you find one, pull it out using gentle force. If the pup does not easily separate when pulled, use a clean knife to cut it away from the main plant. If the pup comes out with roots, it's ready to be dried for a few days to heal its open end and then planted directly into a well-draining pot filled with cactus potting soil.

When a pup is detached from the main plant without any roots, there's no need to panic. You can plant its base in soil (after drying out for several days) the same way you would any other pup and simply wait for its roots to grow. If you'd like to speed up this process, just dip the base of the plant in a rooting hormone powder or gel before planting.