Many people will grow Aloe Vera because its great for decorative purposes and they like the look of this succulent plant, but others choose to grow aloe for its healing properties.
It’s a popular choice as a houseplant as it is relatively easy to grow and fuss-free!
However, in order to use Aloe for skin care or other treatments, you need to cut the leaves. And this can leave new plant enthusiasts wondering if the leaves will grow back.
In this post, I’ll look at why we use Aloe Vera, how to cut the leaves and whether they will regrow.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera is an attractive evergreen perennial and a popular household succulent. There are around 500 species of Aloe and it is a plant that is widely distributed and widely available, but it originally came from the Arabian Peninsula.
What Is Aloe Vera Good For?
Before we dive into how to cut the leaves, and whether they will regrow, let’s take a look at how you can use your Aloe Vera plant at home.
Aloe Vera gel, which comes from the leaves of the Aloe plant, is commonly used to treat painful sunburn and other skin ailments, but the popularity of Aloe Vera has increased in recent years and it is now being used for more and more ailments:
Burns and Bites
As I mentioned earlier, Aloe Vera has long since been used for sunburn and other minor burns.
If you’ve ever been burnt in the summer, or caught your hand on the oven, you’ll know that it’s healing and soothing properties provide a lot of relief. We always have Aloe plants and bottles of Aloe Vera gel in the house for this exact purpose.
After a particularly deceivingly warm day last summer, when all four of us got badly burnt at the beach, Aloe Vera was an absolute life saver!
Aloe gel can also be helpful for receiving the sting and the itch following a bug bite.
Skin Problems
As a result of its soothing and moisturising abilities, Aloe can be used for a wide array of skin problems.
While Aloe Vera may not heal skin conditions, it can provide some welcome relief to those suffering from eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and other conditions.
As someone who suffers with psoriasis, I can attest to its calming and moisturising benefits – it’s great for soothing the itch, but definitely couldn’t replace my stronger treatment.
For Hair
Aloe gel is not just good for the skin – it’s also good for your hair. It can soothe the scalp, repair and strengthen your hair, and remove excess oil.
According to Healthline, it may also help your hair grow.
Oral Hygiene
Hear me out! This may not be a use that immediately comes to mind, but Aloe is great for oral hygiene.
Due to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, Aloe gel can help with gingivitis, cold sores, and other oral conditions.
Stomach Issues
Medical News Today cites Aloe Vera as being beneficial for treating IBS and symptoms associated with the condition like constipation and diarrhoea.
Remember with any of these conditions listed, it’s very important you speak to a medical professional before seeking treatment for yourself.
Heartburn Relief
Some studies have highlighted the benefits of using Aloe Vera syrup for relieving symptoms of GERD and helping with reflux issues.
How To Cut The Leaves Of An Aloe Plant
It’s important to remember that although it’s okay to cut the leaves of your Aloe plant to use them, this isn’t something you want to do too often or you may kill the plant completely.
When you need to cut a leaf, try to only cut the most mature one – the ripest leaves will usually be the biggest ones around the outside.
Another thing to look for the colour of the leaf – with more mature leaves usually being a darker shade. You can also take a look at the serrated edges, which may display as a pink colour in a ripe leaf.
Be sure to use a clean, sharp knife or blade when cutting your Aloe leaf. It really is important that the blade is clean as you don’t want to contaminate your healthy plant.
So, Do Aloe Leaves Grow Back?
After cutting some of your most mature leaves from your Aloe, you may be wondering if they will grow back.
Unfortunately, the cut leaves are unable to grow back, but don’t let that put you off. Cutting a leaf every now and again – or pruning your succulent when it needs you to – doesn’t mean your plant will suffer. Far from it.
Your Aloe Vera plant should continue to grow by generating new stems towards the centre of the plant.
More reading: Why Are my Aloes growing horizontal?
Final Thoughts
As you can see, Aloe Vera is not just a beautiful succulent to grow in your home, it’s also highly beneficial for your health too.
It’s relatively easy to grow – making it a popular choice for houseplant beginners. But, that being said, there are common issues you should make yourself aware of when growing this plant.
There’s no harm in cutting the leaves of your Aloe plant to use the gel for its medical purposes, but now you hopefully have a good understanding of how to cut the leaves properly.
Remember, the leaves won’t regenerate, but that shouldn’t prevent you from cutting the odd leaf. Your Aloe Vera plant will grow new leaves in the centre of the plant. As long as it is well looked after, it will continue to prosper.
As I move into my mid-thirties, I find myself more eager than ever to enjoy having a beautiful garden. I’m also keen to grow my own produce where possible and enjoy a level of self-sufficiency.
As well as loving the great outdoors, I also try to live as much of an eco-friendly life as possible. so I absolutely love composting!
I’m definitely still learning about gardening and composting and I wanted to share this journey with you by taking it back to basics and learning from the ground up.
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