Google propagation aloe vera, and you'll read quite often that aloe vera have rhizome root systems and best propagate themselves via these rhizomes rather than leaf cuttings.
I learned this through experience earlier this year. ;)
My aloe vera plants were starting to show some large offshoots (pups), so I set off to re-pot the babies this morning.
Just about every site I read said to cut the dirt with a sharp knife in order to separate the pups from the mother. Hm.... I didn't. The entire pot was emptied and the soil was gently loosened to free up the pups from the mother.
A great example of the rhizome root system! The larger white 'connector' in the picture is the rhizome coming off the mother plants. You'll see that the mother plant (and pups) have 'normal' roots in addition to the thicker rhizome root.
The pup can simply be snapped free from the mother -- it's best if they have established roots on the pups. Although, there was one I transplanted today missing roots -- I'll keep an eye on how that one fairs...
Another 'fact' stated on most sites describing how to transplant pups say to allow the pups to sit a few days in order for any wounds to scab over. ... *shrug* ... I didn't earlier this year, and they all seemed to do just fine, so.... into the dirt they went.
One thing I HAVE started doing now, though, is washing up any containers I plan to transplant in to.
From my four established 'mother' plants, three of which were pups from a master-mother earlier this spring, fifteen new lil' aloe vera plants have been started. LOVE this!!!! I truly wonder if I missed my calling in life...
They say that plants grow to the size of their containers. I saw some MAMMOTH aloe plants when out researching different propagation methods, and I'm curious to see if I'll ever be able to have enough (or large enough) plants in order to draw small, yet substantial, amounts of aloe from the leaves to include in some of my lotion bars (I have yet to blog on those!) ;)
So... the house was searched virtually high-n-low for an empty, larger pot.
LOL. NONE to be found.
But, I spied a larger pot that was currently housing some fallen-leaves from my ever-growing jade plants, which is how you can propagate jade plants ;)
With the aloe vera transplanting finished, I'm excited to see how much larger my mother plant will become.
THEN, I had to do something with the jade leaves that have been growing...
And the Good Lord knows I couldn't stop there. One of my viney houseplants had been growing like it received a dose of steroids! (I guess it kinda did; it has been fertilized on-n-off for the past couple of months); it was given a trim which lead to 8 new transplants...
Some new containers of marjoram, oregano and thyme were planted...
Our older mini-greenhouse's plastic was removed, and it now acts simply as a plant shelving unit in our south-facing window.
Another container of new-to-me herbs was also planted. I've been reading up on herbal teas; catnip, lemon verbena (I have to suffice with lemon grass), and chamomile were all highly suggested on a few sites.
Is it crazy to be excited to see all these lil' plants and containers?!!??
NOT to forget all of our tomato plants that are starting to take off in the upper garden :D I kinda lost count, but.... 75-ish is a good estimate (give or take 4-5). They were given a couple hours of my attention this morning as well; weeded, re-leafed, and pruned.
Happy Sunday!
