First time trimming Aloe arborescens plant

My Aloe arborescens plant needs a trim after 2 years of growth. Trimming Aloe arborescens is easy, since the plant takes pruning very well, and it's also a good way to promote branching. The basic principles of how to prune Aloe arborescens can be applied essentially any type of aloe plant.
We go through the trimming process and discuss potential issues with branch dieback as well as my approach for lower trunk thickening as an initial step in the attempt to make an Aloe Bonsai. We also have a look at how Aloe arborescens grows in nature. The pictures that are used in this video are linked below.
1.Crop of a photo by vagabondreports on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/35...
2.Crop of a poto by Igmar Grewar on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/16...
3.Crop of a photo by Sharon Louw on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/77...
4.Crop of a photo by Alex Lansdowne on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/54...
5.Crop of a photo by Marco Schmidt on INaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/96...
6.Crop of a photo by Matthew Fainman omn iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/10...
7.Crop of a photo by Nick Leggatt on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/73...
8.Crop of photo by David Renoult on iNaturalist, licensed under CC, www.inaturalist.org/photos/11...
All videos on my Aloe arborescens bonsai candidate will be found in the dedicated playlist: • Aloe arborescens Bonsai
#aloe #aloearborescens #pruningaloe

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome video Stefan! Your Aloe is looking good!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Nigel. Not much left out of the Aloe for now 😁

[@gillesetmariepaulefredaigu3319]

Francais s v p

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You can set the auto-translate to French! @@gillesetmariepaulefredaigu3319

[@kosmoso7725]

Thank you! such a good learning video on aloe

[@OddBonsai]

I am happy to hear it was useful for you! I hope I will be able to put out a new update video on my small Aloe arborescens soon.

[@VinciecBonsaiJourney]

Grat video Stefan! I needed this tutorial for my own Aloe. I found that some aloes really dont like a lot of direct sunlight

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Vincent! Yes, not all aloe species take full sun. In my case I think the problem was a combination of full sun and too little water. All articles I read about Aloe arborescens said that it should take full sun.

[@sutatama2282]

Nice ..new friend

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you my friend.🙏

[@PSPMHaestros]

Nice video, I was about to do the same to my aloe but there are hardly any videos on trunk chopping aloes. I was going to cut it below the leaves, now I know not to do that hahahaha

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! It's comments like yours that make it worthwhile to produce these videos. Glad you found the info before making the cut, I killed several specimens while learning its growing habits.

[@eppmovie]

In what kind of weather are you? I think they don't grow in specific climate conditions. I am wondering if they would grow up in the south (zone 8) in the USA? Any ideas?

[@OddBonsai]

I am in zone 6 but I cannot grow Aloe outdoors all year round. Even if you're in a zone 8 with very mild winters it will be risky. As far as I know Aloe arborescens could take temperatures as low as -1 C (30 F). Some kind of protection like a cold frame might help but I didn't try it.

[@dwnthk]

Thx you. I like your scissor. Where did you buy it?

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! The scissors came with one of those cheap standard bonsai tool kits that you can find in many online
bonsai tool shops. It's not something special.

[@vishallagoo]

Do they grow from cuttings? I guess no.. whats your experience? If yes, please tell us a method to grow from cutting.

[@OddBonsai]

Actually aloe grows very easy from pups and cuttings. I put the part that I cut in some soil and it rooted very fast. Just let the cut point dry out for a few days and then put the cutting in some well draining soil. Don't water too much for the first few weeks until it grows roots.

[@vishallagoo]

@@OddBonsai thanks man...

[@ericshingles]

Mine is about 2 feet tall, with many branches

[@OddBonsai]

Yes, they can grow quite tall an bushy if they have the right condition and they're not pruned.

[@jamesmichael8549]

Is aloe aborescens and Aloe vera the same or are they different plant ?

[@loveU-jg9pd]

Is it good for skin and hair??

[@OddBonsai]

Aloe arborescens is one of the main species of Aloe used for medicinal purposes. I don't know about hair but it can surely be used for skin care products. However, you should take care when preparing and consuming home-made remedies from Aloe arborescens since it contains anthraquinones which are beneficial in small doses and short periods of time but can have ill effects when used in excess. Take care!

[@elmergonzalez7098]

Candy corn aloe

[@OddBonsai]

I didn't know it was called that. What is the reason behind this name?

[@jarheadbonsai]

Where are you from Stefan?

[@OddBonsai]

I'm just an ocean + almost a continent away from you :). I live in Romania.