How to Care for Your Aloe Plant in a Pot

Aloe plants are popular houseplants known for their succulent leaves and healing gel With their striking appearance and easy care requirements, it’s no wonder aloe plants in pots are a common sight in many homes Growing your own aloe plant is simple, but there are a few important care tips to keep in mind.

Choosing the Right Pot

Aloe plants have shallow root systems and don’t require very deep pots. Select a pot that is just 2-4 inches larger than the root ball of your plant Terra cotta pots are recommended because they allow air to pass through the sides of the pot and help prevent soggy soil. Plastic and glazed ceramic pots work too, just make sure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom.

Aloe plants look great in simple, plain pots that showcase the colors and textures of the leaves. Decorative pots can work as well, just avoid heavy stone containers that make it difficult to move the plant. Match the pot size to the size of your aloe – small juvenile plants look best in 4-6 inch pots while mature plants can handle 10-12 inch containers.

The Best Soil for Aloe

Aloe plants need a very fast draining soil mix. Regular potting soil tends to hold too much moisture. The best potting mix for aloe contains:

• Coarse sand – This provides drainage and aerates the soil. Aim for around 20-30% sand content.

• Perlite or pumice – These porous rocks help improve drainage. 20-30% is ideal.

• Peat moss or coconut coir – This retains a small amount of moisture and provides nutrients. Use 20-30% peat or coir.

• Compost or worm castings – Adds nutrients and organic matter. 10-20% is sufficient.

You can make your own aloe soil or purchase cactus/succulent soil mixes from a garden center. Just be sure to amend any bagged soil with extra perlite or sand to improve drainage. The end result should be a loose and gritty soil.

Choosing the Right Location

Aloe plants thrive in bright, direct light. For the best growth and deepest green colors, place your aloe plant near a sunny window where it will receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. South or west facing windows are ideal. An east facing window can work too, just make sure to provide some supplementary lighting.

If kept indoors near a window is not possible, consider placing your aloe plant outside during the summer and bringing it back inside for the winter. Put it in a spot that receives full sun – aloes will even tolerate intense desert sunlight when acclimated properly.

Just make sure to bring your potted aloe back inside before nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F. Aloe is not cold hardy and requires warm temperatures year round.

Water Requirements

Aloe plants are drought tolerant and actually prefer being on the dry side. Wait until the soil has completely dried out before watering again. In the summer, this means watering about every 2-3 weeks. In the winter, you can go 4-6 weeks between watering.

Always check the soil before adding water instead of sticking to a fixed schedule.Insert your finger into the soil to a depth of 2 inches – if it feels dry and crumbly, it’s time to water. Another sign your aloe needs water is when the leaves start feeling soft or concave.

When watering, thoroughly drench the soil until excess runs out the bottom of the pot. This encourages the roots to grow downwards in search of moisture. After watering, empty out any water that collects in the saucer so your aloe’s roots don’t end up sitting in water.

Aloe prefers infrequent but deep watering over frequent light watering. Letting the soil get bone dry between watering encourages good root growth. Just don’t leave your aloe dry for too long or the leaves will start to shrivel.

Fertilizer Needs

During the active growing period from spring through summer, fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Good options include:

• Houseplant fertilizers
• Fish emulsion
• Seaweed solutions
• Compost tea

Avoid over fertilizing – twice a month is plenty. Feed less often in the winter when growth slows. If new leaves are smaller or paler, increase fertilizer frequency. Leathery dark green leaves indicate a happy, well fed plant.

As an alternative to liquid fertilizers, you can top dress your aloe with worm castings or use a slow release pelleted fertilizer a couple times per year. This provides a gentle, steady supply of nutrients.

Repotting Aloe Plants

Aloe plants have relatively small root systems and don’t need frequent repotting. Only move your aloe to a larger container when it’s severely rootbound – about every 2-3 years.

Look for these signs it’s time to repot:

• Roots growing out the drainage holes
• Plant wobbles or tips over easily
• Soil dries out very rapidly
• New growth is stunted

When repotting, gently loosen the root ball and move the plant to a pot that’s 2 inches larger. Use fresh potting mix and don’t bury the base of the leaves. Water well after repotting to settle the roots.

Hold off on fertilizing for a month after repotting to prevent fertilizer burn. Your aloe may be stressed and show slower growth for a few weeks as it adjusts to its new container.

Common Pests

Aloe plants are prone to some of the same pests that bother other succulents and houseplants. Here’s how to identify and manage problems:

Mealybugs – These small white cottony insects suck sap and leave sticky residue on the leaves. Wipe off with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or spray neem oil.

Aphids – Green or black soft-bodied insects that cluster at leaf tips or joints. Knock off with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal soap.

Fungus gnats – Tiny flying insects and larvae in moist soil. Let soil dry out completely between waterings and apply a layer of sand on top.

Root mealybugs – White cottony masses on roots. Replant in fresh sterile soil and sanitize pot with bleach.

Isolate infested plants and treat pests quickly before they spread. Remove severely infested leaves or throw out the plant if pests can’t be controlled. Maintaining good growing conditions also helps prevent pest problems.

Common Problems

Here are some other common issues you may encounter with potted aloe plants:

• Brown leaf tips – Caused by dry air or inconsistent watering. Increase humidity or water more regularly.

• Yellowing or pale leaves – Usually a sign of too little light. Move plant to a brighter location.

• Leggy growth – When an aloe plant spreads out instead of growing compactly, it needs more sunlight.

• Brown spots – Can be sunburn in very bright light. Move to a shadier spot or gradually acclimate to increase sunlight tolerance.

• Root rot – Caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Repot in fast draining soil, water less frequently, and don’t allow plant to sit in water.

• Pups falling over – New plantlets need more light to grow stronger. Move mother plant to a sunnier location.

Address any issues right away to keep your aloe looking its best. A basic understanding of aloe’s needs goes a long way when troubleshooting problems.

Fun Facts About Aloe Plants

• There are over 500 species of aloe, mainly native to Africa. Aloe vera is the most common.

• Mature aloe plants may produce offsets or “pups” – new baby plants attached to the mother. These can be removed and repotted.

• Aloe flowers are tubular and come in colors like orange, pink, yellow, and red. Only mature plants bloom.

• The gel inside aloe leaves has been used medicinally for thousands of years to treat burns, wounds, and other skin conditions.

• Aloe can be toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach of curious cats and dogs.

• NASA conducted studies on using aloe plants to help purify air in sealed environments like space stations.

• Some aloe species can grow over 6 feet tall in the wild. Container plants stay much smaller.

• In many warm climate regions, aloe can be grown outdoors year round as landscape plants. They make striking succulent garden specimens.

With their sculptural foliage and carefree nature, it’s easy to see why aloe makes an excellent houseplant. Follow these tips and watch your potted aloe thrive indoors!