Aruanda
Well-Known Member
Hi, I've been searching around trying to find out more about harvesting Aloe vera 'leaves' (blades?). All the information I have come across recommends that I cut outer blades at the base of them and remove the whole blade at once. I have one large Aloe plant and it has given a few pups which I will soon be transplanting to have more.
Well, from all that I have read here and elsewhere, it seems that the gel needs to be harvested and utilized quickly as it loses potency/oxidizes. Some claim you can store it for up to a week in the refrigerator. My question here is, can I just cut a section of the blade and use it as necessary? Has anyone tried this? Or must I cut the whole blade?
If the recommended dosage is 1-2tbsp per gallon for foliar and root drench, seems like I'd be wasting a whole blade unless I come up with other uses. I could juice some and use topically I guess.
Also, the recommendation if you are to juice, is using a blade that is convex and plump. The concave blades have more bitter qualities to them, so not recommended. Would then the same idea apply to what you harvest for plant application?
Well, from all that I have read here and elsewhere, it seems that the gel needs to be harvested and utilized quickly as it loses potency/oxidizes. Some claim you can store it for up to a week in the refrigerator. My question here is, can I just cut a section of the blade and use it as necessary? Has anyone tried this? Or must I cut the whole blade?
If the recommended dosage is 1-2tbsp per gallon for foliar and root drench, seems like I'd be wasting a whole blade unless I come up with other uses. I could juice some and use topically I guess.
Also, the recommendation if you are to juice, is using a blade that is convex and plump. The concave blades have more bitter qualities to them, so not recommended. Would then the same idea apply to what you harvest for plant application?