Repotting aloe

Repot an aloe about every two years, or sooner if it is top-heavy, rootbound, crowded with pups, or sitting in soggy soil. Spring is the best time, while the plant is growing. Choose a pot with drainage holes that is just 1 to 2 inches wider than the root ball. Clay pots dry out faster and add weight. Use a cactus mix, or mix equal parts potting soil, sand, and perlite. Set the plant so its leaves sit just above the soil, then water and let the soil dry out before you water again.

Repot to a bigger pot if the plant is top-heavy or the roots circle the pot. If it is already as large as you want, Penn State Extension suggests replanting every two years in fresh soil to reduce crowding, and you can split off the pups to keep the same pot size. If the plant is mushy from overwatering, repot it right away into dry cactus mix. A healthy aloe can wait until spring.

Repotting aloe helps the health of the plant by providing fresh soil and new space for the roots. Aloe plants grow best in lightweight cactus potting mix and in planter pots with effective drainage holes.

Young aloe plants are moved into a size larger pot as they grow towards mature size, about every two years. An established aloe vera might be repotted into the same pot every couple of years by separating off the baby plants and adding some fresh potting mix.

When to repot aloe plants

There are a few signs that it is time to repot your aloe plant. The first might be that your plant is now too large and potentially top-heavy for the pot it is in. If the plant is large above the soil, it may also be rootbound in the pot (the thin feeder roots are circling around the outside of the soil ball).

Another reason might be that the aloe plant has created too many pups. Pups are the small little offshoots off the base of the mother plant. The pups can start to grow out of the side of the pot, and the plant will benefit from removing and repotting the offsets separately.

The final reason might be that the potting mixture originally used is spent or overly moist and needs to be replaced with fresh, drier soil. Overwatering can easily kill an Aloe plant and an overwatered plant may need immediate repotting into well-draining soil. This is the perfect reason to repot your aloe plant and give it a healthier living space (especially if it’s struggling).

The best time of year to repot an aloe plant is in the spring when it’s most actively growing. That said, it is possible to repot it at other times of the year, although it’s not optimal.

How to repot aloe vera plants

Here’s everything you need for repotting aloe.

Repotting supplies:

• Aloe plant
• Planter (with drainage hole)
• Potting mix (preferably a succulent/cacti mix)
• Garden trowel

1. Choose the right pot

The best pots for aloe plants are those that drain very well and are large enough (and heavy enough) to support the large foliage of a growing plant. Unglazed earthenware and ceramic pots like classic terra cotta provide both breathable, permeable sides as well as substantial weight.

Choose a pot that is no more than one or two inches wider than your current pot. Using a pot that’s much bigger than the current pot can mean the soil takes a long time to dry out. Consistently moist soil can rot the base of your aloe plant, so don’t just pick a giant pot so you don’t have to repot it for a few years. If your plant is already quite large, you can just repot it in the same pot after removing any offsets and trimming the roots.

Choose a pot with a drainage hole. Aloe plants like soil on the dry side. Using a planter made of a porous, breathable material will help allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Planter pots made of terra cotta, unglazed pottery, or concrete are great choices for Aloe and other succulents.

Some planters have a matching saucer that sits under the pot to catch drips. Other large planters are watertight and are generally used as an outer decor planter along with a thin plastic nursery pot liner (the aloe is planted in the nursery pot that drains easily, and then the whole thing gets popped into the watertight outer pot).

2. Use a cactus soil mixture

It’s important to use a soil mixture that’s suited to succulents like aloe. You can use a cactus soil mix, or make your own. Penn State Extension suggests one part potting soil, one part sand, and one part perlite or lava rock.

Avoid using outdoor soil. The aloe plant won’t want to hang onto excess water. Use a fresh bag of potting mix and don’t moisten the soil too much before repotting.

3. Water before repotting

An important step to repotting your aloe plant is to water it 24 hours before you intend to repot it (unless the plant has been watered in the last few days). A plant that is very dry can be harder to remove from the pot and more stressed by the move.

To decide whether your aloe needs water first, look at its leaves. They should be plump and shiny with no signs of shriveling or withering. If they look thin or shriveled, water the plant and wait a day or two before repotting.

Note: If your aloe plant is suffering from overwatering, do not water it before repotting. In this case, remove as much of the moist soil from around the base of the plant and repot it into fresh, dry cactus potting mix.

4. Remove the aloe plant

The next step to repotting an aloe plant is to remove it from its current pot. You can do this by using a fork to gently loosen the aloe plant from its soil, then brushing off any lingering dirt with your hands. Be gentle as the aloe plant is delicate and fragile. If the root ball is stuck in the pot, you might need to cut it loose by sliding a butter knife down around the sides. Whichever method you use, move slowly and gently to make the transition easier on yourself and the plant.

Note: If you’d like to propagate your aloe plant by separating the offsets from the mother plant, now is the time! Look for “pups” around the base of the plant. These are little baby plants developing. If they’re over 4 inches tall, remove the pups by pulling them away from the mother plant. They may come off with a gentle tug, or you might need to use a plant knife. Repot each pup up separately in its own pot.

5. Place the plant in the new pot

The next step is to put the plant in its new pot with a good-quality potting mix (as mentioned above), making sure to keep it straight up and down. You don’t want to cover your aloe’s base with too much soil, so do not bury it deeper than it was growing in its previous container. Gently firm the soil down around the base of the plant.

6. Watering your newly repotted aloe plant

After repotting your aloe plant, water it to settle the soil around the base of the plant and to check that water drains out of the drainage hole. Skip this step if you repotted because of overwatering, as described in the note above.

After that, let the soil dry out before watering again. NC State Extension advises letting the soil dry all the way between waterings. During spring and summer, water well when the soil surface is dry. In fall and winter, water less, just enough that the leaves don’t shrivel.

Note: Do not overwater! Mushy, soft leaves point to too much water. Thin, shriveled, or puckered leaves point to too little. You can move your aloe outdoors for the summer, but Penn State Extension notes that aloes are not frost tolerant, so bring it back inside before the first frost.

Keep your aloe out of direct sunlight for a day or two after repotting to let it rest, then move it back to its usual bright spot.

Repotting an aloe plant is easy!

If you’re ready to start repotting your aloe plant, here’s a quick recap on how to do it:

• Make sure your aloe is healthy and happy before you begin! If it’s not, then take the time to heal it before moving forward.
• Don’t worry if your aloe looks a little stressed after you first repot it. It’s normal for them to look like this after being transplanted. If possible, give them a few days out of direct sunlight, and let the soil dry before watering again.
• Repotting can happen at any time of year if needed…but they will thrive best if done in spring or summer when they are most actively growing.

Care after repotting aloe

After repotting, wait to water until the soil has dried out, which may be every couple of weeks in summer and less often in winter. Look out for mushy, droopy leaves as a sign of overwatering. Also, keep an eye out for pups developing at the base as they can be split off and repotted on their own.

Repotting aloe FAQ

How often should I repot an aloe?

About every two years, or when it gets top-heavy, rootbound, or crowded with pups.

What size pot does an aloe need?

A pot a little larger than the last one, with about 1 to 1.5 inches between the root ball and the pot edge. It needs drainage holes, and clay works well.

What soil is best for aloe?

A coarse, well-draining cactus or succulent mix. You can make one from equal parts potting soil, sand, and perlite or lava rock.

Should I water aloe after repotting?

Water once to settle the soil, unless the plant was overwatered. Then let the soil dry out before watering again.

When is the best time to repot aloe?

Spring, when the plant is growing. You can repot at other times if the plant is struggling.

References

• Penn State Extension, Aloe, a hardy houseplant
• NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Aloe vera